PLAYERS TO WATCH
Max Alba, sr., QB, Franklin: The Sabers’ signal caller was simply outstanding in his first season as a starter. He completed 58% of his passes for 2,544 yards and 29 touchdowns and led the team to the Division 1 state final. A standout in basketball and baseball, Alba will play college baseball at North Carolina. Alex Anthony, sr., WR, Whitefish Bay: The all-region performer broke every single-season school record with his 75 -catch, 1,159-yard and 12-touchdown performance last season. Not a bad showing for someone less than a year removed from ACL surgery. Mike Bruner, sr., LB, Homestead: The 6-3, 210-pounder is drawing Division I interested and for the Highlanders is expected to be an anchor for a defense that returns seven starters. He had four sacks and 12 tackles for loss last season and was a beast on special teams with three blocked three kicks. Seth Bickett, sr., RB-DL, Pewaukee: The 5-11, 234-pound allstate pick is a unique breed. The two-time Woodland West defensive player of the year, he made 111⁄2 sacks and a team-high 98 tackles for a team that reached the D3 semifinals. He also rushed for 1,100 yards. Da’Shaun Brown, jr.,QB, Racine St. Catherine’s: The Angels are expected to be one of the top small-school teams in the state in large part because of return of the 6-1, 180-pound dual threat. He accounted for 2,916 total yards in his first year as the starter, 1,855 passing. R.J. Clarke, sr., OL-DL, St. Francis: The 6-4, 265-pound all-league performer enjoyed a strong off-season that resulted in four Division I offers. He had 11 tackles for loss from his spot at defensive end and was second on the team with 45 tackles. Xavier Davis, sr., QB, Milwaukee Hamilton: The 5-11, 150pounder has posted almost 4,700 yards rushing and passing in his three seasons as a starter. Last year he threw for 1,852 yards and ran for 505 for his most productive season so far. Erick Doke III, sr., Kenosha Bradford: The 6-1, 195-pound back ran for 1,214 yards and 17 touchdowns in 223 carries last season, a 5.4-yard average. He drew Big-Ten-level interest before committing to Northern Illinois. A.J. Frisby, sr., QB, Wilmot: If the Panthers dethrone Badger in the Southern Lakes, you can bet that this three-year starter had a big year. A threat to gain 1,000 yards rushing and receiving, the 6-4, 212-pound player enters the year with 2,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards over the past two seasons. Cade Garcia, sr., QB, Whitefish Bay: The first-year starter made the Blue Dukes go with a great feel for the game and the ability to make throws all over the field. He completed 55% of his passes for 2,550 yards and 26 touchdowns, both school records. Joe Garcia III, sr., QB-RB, Racine Horlick: No matter where Garcia lined up, he produced. The multi-talented 6-3, 185-pound back led the Rebels in rushing (1,580) while ranking second in passing yards (267) and receiving yards (186). Coaches in the Southeast Conference named him the league’s offensive player of the year. C.J. Goetz, sr., LB, Catholic Memorial: The Wisconsin recruit is a specimen whose play lived up to his 6-4 225-pound dimensions. He led the D3 state champs with 120 tackles, 50 solo, and six sacks. He’ll also play tight end this season. Reggie Jennings, sr., LB, Brookfield Central: One of the things that makes the Northern Illinois recruit special is his ability to make plays in space. The 6-1, 215-pounder rarely missed a tackle, and he had plenty of opportunities. He averaged six tackles per game, posted 14 tackles for a loss and six sacks. Peter MacCudden, sr., Waukesha West: The reigning Classic 8 offensive most valuable player has a Division I offer from Ohio and a handful of D2 tenders. Counting playoffs, he led the area with 2,040 yards while earning first-team all-league honors at linebacker. Will McDonald, sr., DE, Waukesha North: The 6-5, 215-pounder committed to Iowa State in the spring. A phenomenal athlete who used his skills to register 111⁄2 sacks and nine tackles for a loss last season. He tied for the team lead in tackles. Ben Nimz, sr., QB, Catholic Memorial: Crusaders coach Bill Young thinks his 6-3, 175-pound signal caller has scholarship potential. He completed 62.8% of his passes in 2016 for 2,032 yards and 18 touchdowns. Chandler Pulvermacher, sr., DB, Arrowhead: The North Dakota State recruit has been a stud at safety the past two seasons. This year the Warhawks will count on the 6-2, 190-pounder to take on a multiple roles. Jordan Schroeder, sr., DL, Homestead: North Shore coaches respected his game so much they named him the league’s defensive lineman of the year. At 6-4, 275 pounds, he provided an imposing presence for the Highlanders. He had three sacks, six tackles for loss and forced two fumbles. A.J. Spychala, sr., LB, Muskego: The 6-2, 220-pounder is a rare four-year starter who helped the Warriors win Classic 8 titles in 2014 and 15 and should help the squad contend this year. He had finished last season with 110 tackles, 78 solo, with five sacks and nine tackles for a loss. Caleb Wright, sr., RB-DE, Brookfield East: The three-year starter on defense is another area player headed to Northern Illinois. What will be interesting for him this year is his role on offense. A 6-4, 240-pound back with track speed is going to be hard to bring down. Isiah Wright, sr., QB, Milwaukee Bay View: Although he plays quarterback for the Redcats, the 6-1, 202-pound back has drawn the interest of scholarship schools due to his athleticism and ability to play offense or defense. He finished the regular season as the state’s leading rusher (1,870) and threw for 1,072 yards. That’s 2,942 total yards for those counting.