MaxPreps 2017 CIF Central Section preseason high school football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Justin Mcgill's highlights State Game 1 Del Oro
See the Bakersfield High star in action last season.


1. Bakersfield
2016 record: 11-3
Head coach: Paul Golla

The Drillers return 15 starters from last year's squad including eight on offense. The section champs return their top running back receiver, defensive player and quarterback.

Their top prospect is 5-foot-11, 165-pound receiver Justin McGill (35 catches, 876 yards, eight touchdowns), but Golla returns much more. That includes quarterback Cameron Williams, who last season as a sophomore threw for 1,407 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 339 yards and three more scores.

Leading rusher Shane Jones (835 yards, 10 touchdowns) also returns for the Drillers.

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2. Clovis West (Fresno)
2016 record: 8-4
Head coach: George Petrissans The Golden Eagles return one of the best quarterbacks in the state in 6-2, 198-pound senior Adrian Martinez, ranked the seventh-best dual threat QB in the country.

Martinez, a Tennessee commit, threw for 2,562 yards last season, 25 touchdowns and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,462 yards and 14 more scores.

Second-leading rusher Rodney Wright, also the team's leading receiver with 63 catches for 836 yards and five scores, returns with four other top receivers who combined for 132 catches.

Top inside linebacker Dusty Schramm (6-1, 215) also returns for the Golden Eagles.

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3. Central (Fresno)
2016 record: 11-2
Head coach: Kyle Biggs

The Grizzlies should score bushels of points in 2017 with nine returners on offense from last year's squad, including senior running back Jevon Bigelow (6-2, 190).

Jacob Torrez (5-8, 165) has 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash and is another big offensive threat. Jaden Williams, a 6-0, 185-pound senior free safety, leads a young defense that returns just three starters.

Depth and team speed are strengths, according to Biggs, who is somewhat concerned about the inexperience on defense.

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4. Liberty (Bakersfield)
2016 record: 8-4
Head coach: Bryan Nixon

The Patriots return 12 starters, six on each side of the ball, and plenty of talent from a stout 8-2 junior varsity team.

Among the top returners are 6-foot junior quarterback Isaiah Hill, senior two-way lineman Michael Bray (6-3, 270) and junior running back/linebacker Sam Stewart Jr. (5-11, 210).

With four of five returning starters on the offensive line, Nixon feels very good about the offense - especially with Hill and Stewart doing the bulk of the ball-handing. An inexperienced secondary is the team's only real concern.

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5. Sanger
2016 record: 13-1
Head coach: Jorge Pena

Pena replaces legendary Chuck Shidan, who resigned after the most successful season in the Apaches' 117-year history. Shidan, a extremely popular figure in the section, went 203-11 in his career.

His last game was a tremendous, but bitter 49-36 loss Serra in the CIF State North Division 2-A Regional Final at Sanger's Tom Flores Stadium.

The Apaches not only lost a slew of seniors but one the section's most dynamic juniors in 6-foot, 160-pound quarterback Jalen Cropper, who transferred to Buchanan. The team is led this year by quarterback Blake Wolf and running back Sebastian Alba.