2014 High School Football Preseason Top 25 Early Contenders presented by Eastbay: No. 13 Bishop Gorman

Tucked away in the desert in the outskirts of Las Vegas, Tony Sanchez has built a bona fide national high school football powerhouse.

Amazing facilities. Division I recruits. A loaded schedule featuring teams from across the country. Bishop Gorman has proven to be one of the country's top programs each season, and 2014 should be no different.

This year's squad is led by a dynamic offense with plenty of weapons surrounding quarterback Danny Hong.

Hong started his career at Bishop Gorman before moving to Southern California to attend Westlake as a sophomore. He returned to Bishop Gorman as a junior last fall and has comfortably assumed the starting job. He saw action in eight games.

He has the luxury of throwing to one of the nation's premier targets, Alize Jones, a UCLA commit who is the No. 48 recruit in the 247Composite and the No. 1 tight end. He hauled in 10 touchdown passes as a junior.



Cordell Broadus, a transfer from Southern California and the son of rapper Snoop Dogg, enters the fold and provides another big-play threat for Bishop Gorman's offense. He caught 15 touchdown over his sophomore and junior seasons and is another athletic, rangy target for Hong.

Running back Russell Booze, who rushed for over 100 yards against the star-studded Booker T. Washington defense a year ago, returns to run behind an offensive line that returns two starters.

Also pushing for carries is Biaggio Ali Walsh. The subject of a MaxPreps Beyond the X, Walsh is the grandson of Muhammad Ali. He's a top-notch athlete who Sanchez will have a hard time keeping off the field.

The defense returns a half-dozen, led by safety Nicco Fertitta, and will be equally formidable.

Fertitta, a Notre Dame commit, is physical and fearless. He's a hard-hitter who also offers great support stopping the ground game. Cornerback Jabari Butler is another asset the Gaels will once again possess in 2014.



Bishop Gorman's defensive line will be another strength. Two players who saw major reps last year, Ryan Garrett and Noah Tialavea, return as does Michael Geraghty, who impressed in limited action as a sophomore by registering 4.5 sacks, good for second on the team.

Outside of Nela Otukolo, the linebackers lack seasoning. Junior Ikem Okeke could blossom into a very productive player this fall with his blend of size and athleticism.

Bishop Gorman's schedule is almost unfathomably hard, with contests against Servite, Corona Centennial, Bingham and St. John Bosco. However, the potential payoff of a national title is well worth the challenge.

"The thing I’m curious about is how the quarterback situation plays out. I know Hong is a senior and has offers, but he’s got very little experience. They’ve got Cordell and Alize, but getting them the ball will be what defines Gorman. Sure, they’ll win the local games, but how will they do in these national games with an unproven quarterback."
- Raymond Brewer, Las Vegas Sun (@raybrewer21)