2014 High School Football Preseason Top 25 Early Contenders presented by Eastbay: No. 19 Serra

Serra head coach Scott Altenberg has built the small Marianst school into not only a destination for college recruiters but also a routine participant in the CIF Bowl Games in nearby Carson.

Like several of the other top programs in the nation, Serra is short of roster numbers but long in talent. It has had receivers (Robert Woods and Marqise Lee) drafted in consecutive seasons and just graduated two other players (Dwight Williams and Adoree' Jackson) who could follow a similar path.

The team's M.O. will be similar for 2014: an impressive number of blue-chip recruits and a team that expects to be playing deep into December. But can it finish the job it fell short of in 2013?

Gone are Jackson, quarterback Jalen Greene, receiver Jordan Lasley and linebackers Dwight Williams and Malachi Magio, all key cogs to the Cavaliers' 13-0 start a year ago.



A loaded group of underclassmen and several key transfers keeps Serra in the discussion of Southern California's top teams.

Khalil Tate should be in the mix to take over for Greene, now at USC. He saw limited action in six games last season. He'll compete with 6-foot-5 signal-caller Caleb Wilson, originally from Georgia, who enrolled at Serra when his father took a job on the coaching staff at USC.

The running back position should be significantly improved with the return of Malik Roberson, who missed his entire junior season due to injury. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,506 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Jackson made several key plays at receiver last year, and he will no doubt be missed. However, Deontay Burnett and Brandon Burton should fill much of the void.



The defense is especially impressive. Rasheem Green, a 6-5, 275-pound defensive tackle who checks in at No. 12 overall in the 247Composite, is a game changer up front and needs to be accounted for on every play. Corey Adolphus will line up next to him at defensive end or play with his hand off the ground at linebacker.



John Houston, arguably the team's top linebacker last season, should have a major senior season in store. Junior Blake Walls should be next in line as Serra's future blue-chip linebacker. He was responsible for 77 tackles last year as a sophomore.

Transfer Stanley Norman, yet another coveted recruit, should help at cornerback (as well as receiver.) Cameron Hayes, a transfer from Diamond Bar, should do the same.



Quarterback play, as well as a matchup with Washington power Bellevue, will likely dictate the team's fate in the national rankings. By season's end, expect Serra to be fighting for a shot at the StubHub Center and competing for a Bowl Game title.


"Serra doesn't have a huge roster, and contrary to some of the other Southern California powers, the school is not located in an affluent area. And they don't care. This program has special athletes year-in and year-out and coach Scott Altenberg seems to always press the right buttons and put individual players in situations where they are likely to succeed."
- Leland Gordon, Editor, MaxPreps (@lelandmaxpreps)