ChaminadeMadonna, a defending state champ, is just as motivated.

Heading into last season, Chaminade-Madonna entered with a strong desire to win the Class 3A state championship after getting there the previous year but losing in the final.

So now, coming back as a defending state champion, does the attitude change as the Lions, along with most teams across Florida, began practices ahead of the fall football season on Monday?

“It’s not different at all,” said senior defensive end and Miami commit Cameron Williams. “We’re still hungry. We’re coming for it all.”

Safety Keontra Smith, another UM commit who plays linebacker a lot on this defense, agrees there’s no drop-off in intensity, and it’ll be that way as long as he’s there to lead his unit.

“It’s the same because you got me out here [with] these kids, pushing them to be better,” Smith said. “We still got that same mentality, that dog mentality on that defense, and that’s going to stay there. What’s new is, we just got to pick up the pace. We’re still a new team. We’re still building.”

While the mentality may not change, there is still a significant amount of turnover. The Lions have to make up for running back Shaun Shivers, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s backto-back small schools Player of the Year in Broward County, going to Auburn, All-American receiver Xavier Williams now calling Alabama home, three key players now at Kentucky and several other departures.

“It’s different because you got new faces and incoming dudes, but it’s still the same because we teach our players to always be hungry and to always want for the best,” said cornerback James Williams, Xavier Williams’ younger brother who is committed to Wisconsin. “We always want to make it to the state championship. We want to go repeat. Even if you weren’t here last year, you still want to go and get your title.”

With a new season comes new leaders, and that’s the role now for Smith, Cameron Williams, James Williams, cornerback Te’Cory Couch and quarterback Daelen Menard, who was not at practice Monday but will return Tuesday, according to coach Dameon Jones.

Chaminade also gets a boost in Penn State-commit wide receiver John Dunmore transferring in from American Heritage-Delray. He immediately provides further leadership among wideouts.

“We’re just being better leaders from the spring,” Dunmore said.

CARLINE JEAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Coach Dameon Jones talks to a player during practice Monday, the opening day for high school football preseason workouts.