No. 14 Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) - Team preview / Preseason photo gallery
Strengths: Line play has been a staple of Hamilton football for years, and 2013 will be no different. Former USC commit
Casey Tucker, ranked No. 152 in the 247Sports Top 247, is the next great tackle to emerge from Hamilton.
Bryce Holland, already committed to Army, is another key lineman.
Salvador Lopez also saw some starting action a year ago.
Qualen Cunningham, another top-notch recruit, powers the defensive line while junior
Caleb Peart and sophomore
Garrett Rand are standouts in their respective classes.
Derek Andersen was expected to start last year before blowing out his knee. Put simply, the defensive line might be even more impressive than its offensive counterpart.
Question marks: Head coach Steve Belles believes that
Sam Sasso will debut as the team's starter at quarterback. He was impressive in limited action a year ago but is largely unproven. Despite returning most of the secondary, losing standout Cole Luke will be difficult to overcome. The offensive line will open up some gaping holes, but the Huskies still need a reliable running back to emerge. It could use more offensive weapons to complement
Izzy Simpson and
Elijah Williams.
Outlook: Despite the question marks at the skill positions, Steve Belles is not concerned. With the way he runs the program, players will step up, emerge and fill those spots. After a slow start, Hamilton was dominant by season's end, notching victories over Desert Vista, Desert Ridge and Mountain Pointe. This year's team could exceed the accomplishments of any Hamilton team that has come before it.
