Video: Early Contenders presented by Shock DoctorWe set the tone for 2018 by looking at high school football's elite.
Head coach: Jason Negro
Last season: 12-3, No. 8 national ranking, lost 49-24 to Mater Dei in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship game.
Last decade: 100-29; two state titles.
Famous alumni/players: Nomar Garciaparra, former MLB shortstop and six-time All-Star; Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants third baseman; Damien
Mama, Kansas City Chiefs OG; Aaron Pico, Bellator MMA fighter; Josh Rosen, Arizona Cardinals QB.
Star power (According to 247Sports): 5-star recruits — 1; 4-star recruits — 5; 3-star recruits — 17
Head coach Jason Negro sits in front of the school's new stadium under construction.
Photo by Heston Quan
— The 5-star quarterbacks checks in as the No. 1 gunslinger from the Class of 2020 and you could make a strong case he is the best player in high school football.
CB Chris Steele (6-1, 190, Sr.) — He is one of the most well-rounded cornerbacks in high school football and the 2019 USC commit will be the leader on defense for the No. 1 team in the country.
WR Kris Hutson (5-10, 170, Jr.) — Expect a monster junior season from the talented 3-star wide receiver.
DE Cole Aubrey (6-3, 225, Sr.) — The 3-star defensive end led the Braves with 11.5 sacks in 2017.
WR Colby Bowman (6-3, 190, Sr.) — The 4-star wide receiver is a 2019 Stanford commit.
Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei
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— vs. Timpview (Provo, Utah), season opener at new stadium
Aug. 31 — vs. Mililani (Hawaii)
Sept. 14 — at Chaminade (West Hills)
Oct. 5 — vs. Orange Lutheran (Orange)
Oct. 12 — at No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Cornerback Chris Steele
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• The Braves enter the season as the national No. 1 for two reasons — talent and team chemistry.
• St. John Bosco returns a ton of talent from last year's team and Uiagalelei will be the starting quarterback from the beginning. The Braves were a different team in 2017 once Uiagalelei took over under center. The preseason No. 1 is also loaded in the trenches and at the skill position. Steele is one of the nation's best defensive players and one of the best leaders in high school football.
• Since Jason Negro took over in 2010, the Braves have done nothing but win building them into a national powerhouse. An 87-12 mark with two state titles is the proof.
St. John Bosco has the chemistry and talent to finish as national champions in 2018.
Photo by Heston Quan
