2017 Green Valley Football Capsule

GREEN VALLEY

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Brian Castro, seventh season (40-23)

2016 record: 4-5 (1-4 Southeast League, fifth)

Returning starters: Seven offense, six defense

Base offensive set: Spread

Base defensive set: 3-4

Top offensive players: WR Christian Mayberry (Sr.); WR Kalyja Waialae (Jr.); RB Julian Hulse (Jr.)

Top defensive players: DB Braxton Harms (Sr.); LB Reyden Morett (Jr.); DE/LB Nick Daniel (Jr.); DE Branden Lopez (Sr.)

Top newcomers: QB A.J. Barilla (Sr.); LB/WR Chase Kopp (Sr.)

Key losses: LB C.J. Araujo; DE Brock Hershberger

Outlook: Injuries helped derail the Gators last season, and they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

The quarterback position was hit especially hard, forcing receiver Mayberry to take over at one point in the season after Waialae went down.

Barilla should take over at quarterback, allowing Waialae, who passed for 1,051 yards, to move to receiver.

Mayberry was the team’s leading receiver last season, with 31 catches for 349 yards, and is poised for a big season with some stability at quarterback.

Hulse, who rushed for 717 yards as a sophomore, will look to improve on his average of 4.0 yards per carry.

Castro said the defensive unit is solid and has good speed, led by second-team All-Southeast League pick Harms (37 tackles) and Lopez (five sacks). But replacing Araujo (99 tackles) and Hershberger (68 tackles, 10 sacks) could prove difficult.