Prime prospects

Jeff Lindquist

QB, 6-3, 225, Sr., Mercer Island

Strong-armed Husky commit had impressive summer.

Tyler Hasty

CB/QB, 5-11, 185, Sr., Bellevue

Colorado has offered; others are interested.

Nathan Dean

OL/DL, 6-5, 270, Sr., Juanita

First of state's top offensive linemen to pick UW.

Jordan Todd

RB/CB, 5-6, 177, Sr., Interlake

Speedy back makes Saints tough to slow.

Jake Eldrenkamp

OT, 6-5, 290, Sr., Bellevue

Oregon State and Utah have offered.

Josh Mitchell

OL/DL, 6-3, 275, Sr., Mount Si

State wrestling champ chose Oregon State for football.

Anthony Olobia

DE/OT, 6-4, 220, Sr., Liberty

Part of scary Patriot line with Jalen Robinson, Kevin Ahrens.

Fun fact

Liberty's Hamilton Noel might be KingCo's best all-around athlete. The football RB/DB is state champion wrestler, and sprinter and pole vaulter in track and field.

Coaches' picks

Predicted order of finish in KingCo 3A/2A in survey of coaches, with 10 points for first-place vote, nine for second, etc. (first-place votes in parentheses). Coaches not allowed to vote for their own teams.

KingCo 3A/2A team capsules

Bellevue Wolverines

Location: Bellevue

Coach: Butch Goncharoff (17th year)

2010: 13-1 overall, 7-0 league

Returning starters (8 offense, 7 defense): C Mike Kneip, Sr.; OT Jake Eldrenkamp, Sr.; OT Kyle Bentz, Sr.; RB Ari Morales, Jr.; RB Myles Jack, Jr.; RB Joey Moore, Sr.; K Mitch Johnson, Sr.; LS/RB/DB Dakota Jones, Jr.; P/WR/QB/DB Jack Meggs, Jr.; LB Sean Constantine, Jr.; DB/QB Tyler Hasty, Sr.; DB Michael Carlson, Jr.; DE Kyle Bentz, Sr.; LB Matt Gilbert, Sr.; NG Darien Freeman, Jr.

Other key returners: TE/LB Sean Constantine, Jr.; TE Nathan Derider, Jr.; WR Scott Whiting, Jr.; OL/LB Reid Hartmann, Jr.; OL/DL Nick Santa, Jr.; DB/WR Devin Murphy, Sr.; RB/DB Bishard Baker, So.; RB/LB Andy Boulware, Sr.

Outlook: New year, same routine. The Wolverines, state champions in eight of the past 10 seasons, are loaded again and getting national attention. They open against heavyweights Oaks Christian (Calif.) and Skyline.

Interlake Saints

Location: Bellevue

Coach: Jason Rimkus (second year)

2010: 4-9, 1-8

Returning starters (7 offense, 8 defense): FS/WR Jacob Marks, Sr.; RB/CB Jordan Todd, Sr.; LB/RB Alex Giseburt, Sr.; QB/DB Kamana Adriano, Jr.; OL/DL Netto Cancilla, Sr.; OL/DL Chad Peterson, Sr.; WR/DB Ryuji Kawashima, Sr.; OL/DL Sean Foy, Sr.; WR/DB Evan Turman, Jr.; WR/LB Ryan Turman, Jr.

Other key returners: OL/DL Fine Ngauamo, Jr.; OL/DL Chris Paukstis, Jr.; OL/DL Evan Prince, Jr.; OL/DL Cameron Cole, Sr.; LB/RB Nick Halvorson, Jr.; TE/LB Sean McElhone, Sr.

Outlook: The 2A Saints are thick in talent and depth on both lines. Add speedy running back Jordan Todd to the picture and Interlake should keep foes off balance and guessing.

Juanita Rebels

Location: Kirkland

Coach: Shaun Tarantola (third year)

2010: 9-2, 6-1

Returning starters (5 offense, 3 defense): OL/DL Nathan Dean, Sr.; TE/DE Matt Nilsson, Sr.; OL/DL Hobie Sisk, Sr.; LB/OL Dom Chadwick, Sr.; RB/LB Darrin Laufasa, Jr.; K/P Colton Blaisdell, Sr.

Other key returners: WR/LB Ryan Reid, Sr.; OL/DL Dillon Crum, Sr.; WR/LB Kolben Christenson, Sr.; DB/WR Besser Fuentes, Sr.; RB Travis Marshall, Sr.; WR/DB Conner Jackson, Sr.; S/RB Elijah Propapenko, Sr.; S/TE Reece Valley, Sr.; RB/DE Anthony Havea, Sr.; K Nick Horne, Jr.; WR/DB Jared Coleman, Sr.

Outlook: The Rebels appear to have a penchant for destruction with a big, talented line to go with some exceptional speed at the skill positions. Could be a league dark horse.

Lake Washington Kangaroos

Location: Kirkland

Coach: Steve Supple (second year)

2010: 4-5, 3-4

Returning starters (3 offense, 3 defense): OT/DT Ben Pliska, Sr.; TE/DE Jack Michaels, Sr.; OT/DE Mike Matthews, Sr.

Other key returners: RB/S Tad Iba, Sr.; DT/C Richard Tirado, Sr.

Outlook: The Kangaroos sprang to life last season in Steve Supple's first season. This team has only nine seniors but three of them are special and anchor both lines. Lake Washington is looking to build on its momentum.

Liberty Patriots

Location: Renton

Coach: Steve Valach (13th year)

2010: 8-4, 5-2

Returning starters (6 offense, 4 defense): DB/RB Hamilton Noel, Sr.; DE/OT Anthony Olobia, Sr.; DT/OL Jalen Robinson, Sr.; DT/OL Kevin Ahrens, Jr.; DB/WR Josh Gordon, Sr.; LB/TE Shane Small, Sr.; DB/WR Tynan Gilmore, Jr.

Other key returners: QB Jordan West, Sr.; LB/TE Sean Komendat, Sr.; LB/RB Alex Batali, Jr.; DB/WR Scott Dean, Jr.; WR Connor Hudson, Sr.; LB/OL Noel Brandon, Sr.

Outlook: Liberty appears playoff primed again, led by three top linemen, a strong quarterback and dangerous receivers.

Mercer Island Islanders

Location: Mercer Island

Coach: Brett Ogata (third year)

2010: 4-6, 2-5

Returning starters (8 offense, 8 defense): QB Jeff Lindquist, Sr.; WR/DB Connor Bernal, Sr.; WR/DB Eric Stefanchik, Sr.; RB/LB Blake Johnson, Sr.; OL/DL Sean Pyne, Jr.; OL/DL Josh Skelly, Sr.; OL/LB Max Dammeier, Sr.; TE/DL Zach Bucklin, Jr.; RB/DL Alberto Gonzalez, Sr.; OL/DL Alex Himstead, Jr.; RB/LB Phil Frazier, Sr.; WR/DB Parker Scott, Sr.; WR/DB Kyle Reitinger, Sr.; K/P Alex Wood, Sr.; WR/LB Nicky Sinclair, Sr.

Other key returners: TE/LB Cam Ogard, Sr.; RB/DB Risley Lesko, Jr.; QB/DB Brian Higgins, Jr.; WR/DB Milan Gallevo, Sr.; WR/LB Brent Tsang, Sr.; TE/LB Brian Rauzi, Jr.; OL/LB Matt Hassall, Jr.; OL/DL Brad Kimball, So.; OL/DL Alex Emanuels, Jr.

Outlook: Anything's possible with Lindquist at quarterback. And this time, Mercer Island is seasoned, deep and ready to take another step.

Mount Si Wildcats

Location: Snoqualmie

Coach: Charlie Kinnune (20th year)

2010: 6-5, 4-3

Returning starters (2 offense, 3 defense): DB Connor Deutsch, Sr.; OL/DL Josh Mitchell, Sr.; DB Hunter Malberg, Jr.; P/K Cameron Vanwinkle, Jr.; OL Kolton Auxier, Sr.

Other key returners: OL/DL Brian Copeland, Sr.; TE/DE Griffin McLain, Jr.; WR/DB Jimbo Davis, Jr.; WR/DB Tyler Button, Jr.; OL/LB Sherman Hutcherson, Sr.; RB/LB Eli Mayfield, Sr.

Outlook: Mount Si, which has gone to the state playoffs four times in the past five years, will certainly be battle-tested as the season progresses, with nonleague games against 4A Woodinville and Bothell. The Wildcats are young in many spots, but as Kinnune says, "I like my team."

Sammamish Totems

Location: Bellevue

Coach: Brian Tucci (third year)

2010: 2-8, 0-7

Returning starters (8 offense, 7 defense): QB/S Austin Lee, Sr.; RB/LB Acie Black, Sr.; RB/CB Nick Myers, Sr.; RB/LB David Stevens, Sr.; WR/CB Joey Sullivan, Sr.; OT/DE Jacob Shenderovich, Sr.; C/DT Chance Griffin, Sr.; G/DT Shane Kuloloia, Sr.

Other key returners: OT/DE Kai Engevik, Sr.; G/DT Nam YunSung, So.; RB/LB Stephen Fry, So.; WR/CB Andy Luna, Sr.; RB/LB Cody Arviso-Nelson, Sr.; OT/DT Samy Luna, So.

Outlook: Although Sammamish hasn't won a league game in five years, the Totems have players with a lot of experience, including three returning starting offensive linemen. But depth is a concern.

Ron Newberry