With at least four returning FBS prospects,
Chandler remains the top team as the 2020 high school football season gets underway Friday in Arizona. The Wolves, the two-time defending state champions, ride a 26-game win streak heading into the season.
Among the top prospects is 5-foot-11, 175-pound quarterback
Mikey Keene, who last year threw for 2,835 yards and 23 touchdowns against five interceptions. He also gets to throw to two college-bound wide receivers in 6-foot-190-pound
Eli Sanders and 6-foot, 175-pound
Jalen Richmond (41 catches, 725 yards, 9 touchdowns).
On defense, 6-1, 235-pound outside linebacker
Brandon Buckner leads the charge. He had 53 tackles, 24 of them going for losses including 16 sacks last season.
With all that talent back and a history of winning, the Wolves were the obvious team to start the season at No. 1 in the Arizona MaxPreps Top 25 preseason rankings.
The top 10 teams to start were all among the top 15 to end 2019, including No. 2
Saguaro (Scottsdale) which finished last season at No. 3.
The Sabercats have won eight state titles since 2010 but last year lost to Chandler (42-35) in the inaugural Open Division title game.
They return five of the Top 20 2021 recruits in the state — according to 247Sports — including three of the top four.
The No. 1 recruit is 6-4, 270-pound offensive tackle
Bram Walden, an Oregon commit, while defensive end
Quintin Somerville (6-1, 230) and wide receiver
Denzel Burke (6-0, 185) rank No. 3 and 4, respectively. Burke is headed to Ohio State.
Arizona high school football rankings1.
Chandler, 13-0
2.
Saguaro (Scottsdale), 11-2
3.
Queen Creek, 9-4
4.
Salpointe Catholic (Tucson), 10-1
5.
Hamilton (Chandler), 9-3
6.
Casteel (Queen Creek), 9-4
7.
Desert Ridge (Mesa), 7-5
8.
Highland (Gilbert), 8-4
9.
Chaparral (Scottsdale), 8-3
10.
Higley (Gilbert), 8-4
11.
Pinnacle (Phoenix), 8-3
12.
Desert Edge (Goodyear), 10-4
13.
Centennial (Peoria), 9-2
14.
Williams Field (Gilbert), 12-2
15.
Liberty (Peoria), 10-4
16.
Boulder Creek (Anthem), 4-7
17.
Red Mountain (Mesa), 12-2
18.
Campo Verde (Gilbert), 10-4
19.
Mesquite (Gilbert), 11-3
20.
Horizon (Scottsdale), 9-2
21.
American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek), 13-1
22.
Corona del Sol (Tempe), 4-7
23.
Sahuaro (Tucson), 9-3
24.
Phoenix Christian (Phoenix), 12-2
25.
Round Valley (Eagar), 11-2
Chandler and Saguaro met in last season's Open Division championship game and are favored to meet again for that title in 2020.
File photo by Mark Jones
