Ten questions heading into 2017 USA Football/MaxPreps Media Day

Video: USA/MaxPreps Media Day 2015-2016
Former 49ers coach Jim Tomsula made a surprise appearance at the 2015 event. 

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — For one day at least, players from 30 San Francisco Bay Area high school football teams will get a chance to feel like a professional.

The San Francisco 49ers, USA Football and MaxPreps will host the third annual Bay Area High School Football Media Day at Levi's Stadium — home of the storied NFL franchise — on Wednesday.

Coaches and a handful of players from each team will participate in a Heads Up Football seminar on the 49ers' practice field, which includes tackling demonstrations and equipment fitting with representatives from Riddell. They'll also view NFL-provided media training videos that are viewed by NFL players, participate in a photo shoot with MaxPreps and be interviewed by local and MaxPreps media members on the outlook to their upcoming seasons.

Players and coaches from the past have raved about the experience, especially after the 2015 event when then-49ers' head coach Jim Tomsula made a surprise appearance and an impassioned speech. We'll see if new 49ers' coach Kyle Shanahan breaks away from his busy schedule as well.

"This is huge man," Tomsula said at the time. "This is high school football and this is your senior year. It's huge and exciting and it should get you fired up. It should be the last thing you think about before you fall asleep and the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning."

Longtime Lowell (San Francisco) coach Danny Chan told MaxPreps the first year: "It doesn't get any better than this."

Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) lineman Tony Orlando said at the same time: "You feel like you're in the pros."

Most of the same teams will return in 2017. Here are 10 queries we expect to have answered on Wednesday to some of the confirmed teams. 1. How can Campolindo (Moraga) and coach Kevin Macy possibly top the last six seasons?

During that span, the Cougars are 77-9 with two state titles and a second-place finish, despite only having one FBS signee out of high school — tight end player (tight end Tyler Petite to USC). Last year's 12-3 team was particularly thin on talent and depth, but somehow rallied late to win a state 4-AA crown.

2. Will Deer Valley (Antioch) get back into the BVAL mix?

The Bay Valley Athletic League — with talents like Najee Harris (Antioch) and Joe Mixon (Freedom) — has emerged as one of the state's best. Deer Valley, once in the thick of things, has fallen on hard times with just eight wins over the last three seasons. Coach Robert Hubbard, in his third full season, should have the Wolverines pointed in the right direction.

3. Which arrows will Riordan keep?

The bad news for Riordan's football team is Kevin Fordon, who seemed to have the Crusaders pointed in the right direction, resigned after last season. The good news is that Jay'Sen Morris, a Riordan graduate and six-year assistant in the program, takes over. How many of Fordon's directives will Morris keep and what new wrinkles will he add for a program that has won 22 games over the last nine seasons, including a 9-4 campaign in 2015?

4. Who will play quarterback for Miramonte (Orinda)?

Tim Tague threw for almost 7,000 yards and 83 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Now that he's graduated, who will take the snaps for one of the Bay Area's most prolific offenses.

5. Who will play quarterback at Serra (San Mateo)?

Much like Miramonte, Serra has similar big shoes to fill after Leki Nunn did it all for the Padres. Unlike Tague, a pro-style signal-caller, Serra relied on the legs and arm of Nunn, who earned a full ride to San Jose State after leading the Padres to a Northern California title last season. 6. How many rushing yards will Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) churn out?

Offenses by Tim Murphy always churn out big chunks of rushing yards, epitomized by the last two seasons when the Eagles averaged 334 and 350 yards, respectively. Clayton Valley, 60-9 under Murphy since he arrived in 2012, seems to reload every season.

7. How quickly will Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) reload?

Third-year coach Adhir Ravipati went from 6-5 his first season to 12-3 and a Northern California championship last year. But the Bears lost almost all of their main offensive weapons to graduation. He returns 11 starters including his top offensive lineman Noa Ngalu and two potential stars in running back/linebackers, Kilifi Leaaetoa (6-1, 220) and Daniel Heimuli (6-2, 210).

8. Can Pittsburg break the De La Salle (Concord) streak?

The Pirates are the last Northern California team to beat the Spartans of De La Salle — a remarkable streak of 26 years and 281 games. The Spartans again look loaded, but so, too, does Pittsburg, especially on defense where it returns eight starters. Some believe this is Pittsburg's best team in decades.

9. Will Granite Bay rebound?

It had been 18 seasons since Sac-Joaquin Section power Granite Bay had its last losing season, but at 4-7 in 2016, the Grizzlies did lots of soul searching this offseason. With 15 starters returning, including four-star lineman Will Craig (6-5, 275) and some gems off a 9-1 JV team, there's reason to believe Granite Bay will bounce back quickly.

10. Will Palo Alto return to glory?

Jim Harbaugh's alma mater had it rolling from 2004-12, with a combined 93-28-2 mark, including an undefeated state championship run in 2010. The Vikings haven't had a winning season since, going a combined 18-32 including 4-7 last season in Danny Sullivan's first season. With his system, staff and 15 returning starters in place, Palo Alto should be in excellent shape to return to glory. Among the returners are starting quarterback Jackson Chryst — brother of Stanford quarterback Keller — and leading rusher Paul Jackson III (1,266 yards, 12 touchdowns). 

Other teams scheduled: Live Oak (Morgan Hill), Santa Clara, Gilroy, Pacific Grove, Hillsdale (San Mateo), Monte Vista Christian (Watsonville), Independence (San Jose), Encinal (Alameda), Wilcox (Santa Clara), Oak Grove (San Jose),  Los Gatos, Stagg (Stockton), Scotts Valley, California School for the Deaf (Fremont), Christopher (Gilroy), Los Altos, Lower Lake, Piedmont Hills (San Jose), Fremont (Sunnyvale) and Pioneer (San Jose).