BACK FOR MORE: La Habra's Ronnie Hillman will be one of the top returning running backs in the county in 2008. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Related links Spring football spotlight: Key losses, returns (Part II) Spring football spotlight: 10 questions that need an answer

Spring football spotlight: Key losses, returns, questions

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The county's top teams in 2007 take stock of their rosters for 2008.

A look at the big names who will have to be placed on each side of the ball by the county's top teams in 2007, and the key players who will be returning for those teams.

(The final media poll for 2007 is the basis for the top 10, and Steve Fryer’s final 11-25 rankings for '07 are used for the rest of the top 25.)

1. Orange Lutheran (10-2)
Say goodbye: TE Blake Ayles, LB Ricky Pemasa
Say hello: RB Exavier Edwards, DB Gabriel Lemon

2. Mater Dei (9-2)
Say goodbye: OL Khaled Holmes, DB Robert Mojica
Say hello: QB Matt Barkley, DB Christian Maldonado

3. Servite (9-3)
Say goodbye: RB/DL D.J. Shoemate, OL/DL Matt Kalil
Say hello: RB Greg Portis, DB Bijon Samoodi

4. Esperanza (10-2)
Say goodbye: OL Kyle Grosky, LB Brady Lukas
Say hello: RB Jared Moore, DT Sean Avila

5. Edison (8-4)
Say goodbye: QB Nick Crissman, LB Earnie Sagiao
Say hello: WR Jeff Crissman, DB Mike Rivera

6. El Dorado (13-1)
Say goodbye: RB Devin DeLeon, DL Anthony Laurenzi
Say hello: QB Kane Wilson, DB Kevin O’Connell

7. Tesoro (7-4)
Say goodbye: OL Tim Hodgdon, RB/DB Harold Williams
Say hello: QB Robbie Picazo, LB John Michael Davis

8. Los Alamitos (7-3)
Say goodbye: OL Steve Fallon, LB Kameron Jones
Say hello: QB Clark Evans, DB Josh Barut

9. Santa Margarita (5-5)
Say goodbye: RB Carlo Audagnotti, DL Logan Harrell
Say hello: WR Gavin Escobar, DB A.J. Cruz

10. Trabuco Hills (12-2)
Say goodbye: RB Matt Wagner, DB Gabriel Lemon
Say hello: OL/DL Kyle Pruitt, LB Aaron Henry

>>> Click here to see the rest of the top 25

Contact the writer: amaya@ocregister.com