Video: 2017 Elite 11 QuarterbacksWatch highlights of the nation's top passers, including Coeur d'Alene standout Colson Yankoff.
MaxPreps 2017 Idaho Preseason Football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Rocky Mountain (Meridian)
2016 record: 9-3
Head coach: Scott Criner
The Grizzlies are loaded thanks to the return of 14 starters, including seven each on offense and defense. Rocky Mountain, which won a state title in 2015, also returns its starting quarterback and its top running back.
Carter Kuehl (5-9, 180) returns in the backfield after earning All-State honors last year.
Tre Page, a junior, returns a quarterback after starting as a sophomore.
Keeghan Freeborn (6-2, 305) is the top returning offensive lineman for the Grizzlies, however Rocky Mountain lost three Division I starters from last year's team.
See the MaxPreps Idaho Football Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard2. Coeur d'Alene
2016 record: 6-4
Head coach: Shawn Amo
Colson Yankoff
Courtesy 247Sports
In
Colson Yankoff, the Vikings have one of the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks. The state Player of the Year as a junior by the Idaho Statesman, Yankoff threw for 3,154 yards and rushed for 978 in just 10 games. He also accounted for 27 touchdowns passing and 27 touchdowns rushing.
The offense returns six starters, with wide receiver
Cole Ramseyer, running back
Caleb Beggerly and guard
Noah Gunn (6-4, 290) joining Yankoff. The defense is also solid with five returning starters.
Coeur d'Alene has not won a state title since 2013, but has won three state crowns in the past seven years. The Vikings play a decidedly tough non-league schedule that includes a preseason opener in Sacramento against Folsom. The Vikings also take on Washington powerhouse Camas on Sept. 22.
See the MaxPreps Idaho football stat leaders3. Highland (Pocatello)
2016 record: 6-4
Head coach: Gino Mariani
Highland sports one of the nation's top defensive lineman and that could be reason enough to get the Rams to the state finals.
Tommy Togiai (6-3, 290) was the High County Player of the Year last season as a junior and ranks as the nation's No. 19 defensive lineman according to 247Sports.
However, Togiai is not the only standout returning for the Rams.
Kyle Taylor, an all-conference receiver, returns along with
Kolmon Farnsworth, an all-conference linebacker.
The Rams have won four straight conference titles and 13 league titles in the past 14 seasons. Highland won its last state championship in 2014.
See the MaxPreps Idaho football playoff brackets
4. Mountain View (Meridian)2016 record: 11-2
Head coach: Judd Benedick
The defending Class 5A state champions will have to replace league Player of the Year Tucker Rovig, who was also an All-State quarterback. The top returning player for Mountain View is
Gatlin Condie, who earned second team all-conference honors at offensive lineman.
Mountain View outscored opponents by an average of 30 points a game and defeated Capital (Boise) 48-21 in the state finals. Mountain View won the Class 5A state title despite not finishing in first place in the Southern Idaho Conference.
See the MaxPreps Idaho football photo galleries5. Skyline (Idaho Falls)2016 record: 12-0
Head coach: Scott Berger
The Class 4A champions appear poised to repeat this year thanks to the return of six starters on offense and five more on defense. The Grizzlies also have a 6-2 junior varsity football team moving up to help out. Skyline should be particularly strong at the running back position with second-leading rusher
Kyler Morgan back for his senior season.
Carter Josephson (6-1, 220) leads the defense at linebacker.
Skyline completed the first undefeated season in school history last year and won the first state title since 1992. The Grizzlies won their games by an average of 26 points last year, but held on for a 50-49 win over Bishop Kelly in the state final.
