USA Football/MaxPreps High School Football Media Day Primer: 10 things to watch

Media will descend upon Levi's Stadium Wednesday for the USA Football/MaxPreps High School Football Media Day hosted by the San Francisco 49ers.

Most of the area's top teams and players will be in attendance for the event, which will feature an open media session for participating teams, as well as an introduction to USA Football's Heads Up Football program and proper equipment fitting.

Here are 10 topics that media members might address when players take the stage on Wednesday.

1. Top-ranked De La Salle attempts to live up to the hype
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) is a fixture in preseason national rankings each year, but this year, it begins at the absolute peak of the football landscape.

The Spartans debuted at No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25 Early Contenders, presented by Dick's Sports Goods and Under Armour.

With a half-dozen starters back on both sides of the ball, De La Salle will be extremely difficult to knock off in 2015. However, a season-opening road game against Euless Trinity (the program's first against a Texas foe) will be a huge challenge.

2. Can Campolindo repeat?
Last season was one for the ages for Campolindo (Moraga, Calif.), which finished 16-0 and took home a CIF Bowl Game title.

Quarterback Jack Stephens (3,564 yards, 37 touchdowns) and running back Nick Fadelli (1,870 yards, 32 touchdowns) are both gone from that squad, but 6-foot-4 receiver Max Flower returns. He caught 13 touchdowns a year ago.

Sterling Strother, a 6-foot-5 tackle committed to Yale, is also back. Perhaps 16-0 is unrealistic, but Campolindo will be very strong again.

3. What's the latest with Jordan Parker?
Pittsburg (Calif.) cornerback Jordan Parker, a four-star recruit, announced last week that he was decommitting from UCLA.

He had been committed to the Bruins since April. Media Day could shine some light on his recruitment moving forward.

Whoever lands Parker is getting quite a talent. He recorded 32 tackles and five interceptions last fall.

4. Replacing Ernie Cooper
Granite Bay (Calif.) coach Ernie Cooper stepped down in 2013, only to return after a year in 2014. Now, it appears he's going to hang it up for good, as he stepped down again in February.

That paved the way for offensive coordinator Jeff Evans to take the reins after over two decades with the program.

He'll look to build on last year's 9-4 season that ended with an overtime loss to Tracy.

5. What to expect from Serra this season?
Serra (San Mateo) head coach Patrick Walsh decided — with the support of the school's administration — to not play the team's consolation football game against Milpitas in December, citing safety concerns.

Ultimately the school received a postseason ban as a result.

With no possibility of playoff football, how Serra will respond this season is one of the area's most intriguing storylines.

6. Will Clayton Valley Charter be back in a Bowl Game?
Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) has been in the news for a variety of off-field happenings in recent years. However, one thing is clear: on the field, this team wins.

Head coach Tim Murphy led the Ugly Eagles to within one point of a CIF Bowl Game title.

Quarterback Nate Keisel returns, in addition to linemen Jalen McKenzie and Heikoti Vaisima. If skill players can emerge, Murphy's squad has the potential to be highly potent.

7. The Najee Harris show
Antioch (Calif.) junior Najee Harris is the nation's No. 1 running back in the Class of 2017, according to 247Sports.

He was sensational as a sophomore, rushing for 2,263 yards and 23 touchdowns.

The hulking, 6-2, 220-pound phenom will have to deal with opposing defenses scheming to slow him down. Still, it's possible he improves upon his eye-popping numbers from a year ago.

8. A Del Oro bounceback
Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.) missed having a winning season last year for the first time since 2008.

Casey Taylor's squad finished 6-6, with victories over Granite Bay and Vista Murrieta, and dropping games to De La Salle, Folsom and Helix.

This year's schedule, which features Punahou (Hawaii), Bellarmine (San Jose, Calif.) and Pleasant Grove (Utah), is equally daunting. Still, Del Oro should improve. It was very young on defense and returns two of its leading rushers from a year ago.

9. Is Aptos poised for another title?
Aptos (Calif.) has lost just three times in the last two seasons. It will be breaking in a new quarterback this fall, but it appears to have the horses to make a run at another Division III title.

Junior running back Tate Stone-Hinds showed flashes of brilliance as a sophomore. Zak Pepperdine, a 6-3 receiver, is another weapon on offense. Defensive end Jason Bonsall is back from a defensive unit that allowed just over eight points per game a year ago.

It will open with Salinas, Mitty and Bellarmine -- a good barometer for Randy Blankenship's squad.

10. Who is the area's top recruit?
NorCal seems particularly ripe with talent this season.

Jonah Williams of Folsom (Calif.), Devin Asiasi and Boss Tagaloa from De La Salle, and Lamar Jackson of Franklin (Elk Grove, Calif.) are all Top 100 recruits according to the 247Sports Composite.

None is a five-star recruit, however, a distinction that Antioch junior Najee Harris enjoys.