Program Preview: Bishop Gorman Gaels

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Bishop Gorman comes into the 2024 season ranked as the nations #2-team, fresh off an undefeated 2023 campaign that saw them finish as the top-ranked high school team in the country. The Gaels reloaded and retained elite talent on both sides of the ball, including bringing in one of the top DE prospects in the class of 2026. They'll face one of the tougher preseason schedules in the country that includes four teams ranked inside the top-30 and a highly anticipated matchup with the preseason #1-Mater Dei on September 6th. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners: [player_tooltip player_id='820599' first='Derek' last='Meadows']</strong> (WR, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820606' first='Brandon' last='Gaea']</strong> (WR, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820591' first='Douglas' last='Utu']</strong> (OL, 2025), <strong>Seuseu</strong> <strong>Alofaituli</strong> (OL, 2025), <strong>Alai</strong> <strong>Kalaniuvalu</strong> (OL, 2025), <strong>Alema</strong> <strong>Iosua</strong> (OL, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1195263' first='KJ' last='Hallums']</strong> (OL, 2025), <strong>Sione</strong> <strong>Motuapuaka</strong> (DL, 2025), <strong>Tamatoa</strong> <strong>Gaoteote</strong> (LB, 2027), <strong>Prince</strong> <strong>Williams</strong> (DL, 2026), <strong>Jett</strong> <strong>Washington</strong> (ATH, 2026), <strong>Champ</strong> <strong>Kapanui</strong> (LB, 2025), <strong>Hayden</strong> <strong>Stepp</strong> (DB, 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch: Melvin Spicer</strong> <strong>IV</strong> (QB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1209599' first='Myles' last='Norman'] </strong>(RB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1195280' first='Stewart' last='Taufa']</strong> (OL, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1110876' first='Kaina' last='Watson']</strong> (WR, 2026),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='820638' first='Eli' last='Yamauchi']</strong> (TE, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1173821' first='James' last='Carrington']</strong> (DL, 2026), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323325' first='Brayton' last='Correa']</strong> (DB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1213809' first='Alex' last='Perez']</strong> (DB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1330857' first='Aksel' last='Ferry'] </strong>(DB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402173' first='Isaiah' last='Nickels']</strong> (ATH, 2026), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820594' first='Landon' last='McComber']</strong> (LB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1325734' first='Aloisio' last='Maluia'] </strong>(LB, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1326392' first='Cecil' last='Rabb']</strong> (ATH, 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='704776' first='Greg' last='Toler']</strong> (WR, 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Schedule</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>8/16 vs. Kahuku (HI)&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>8/24 @ St. Thomas Aquinas (FL)&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9/6 @ Mater Dei (CA)&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9/13 vs. Orange Lutheran (CA)&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9/27 @ Liberty&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10/5 vs. Foothill&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10/10 @ Arbor View&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10/18 vs. Basic&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10/24 vs. Desert Pines&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>11/1 @ Coronado<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gorman's offense will look to replace multi-year starter and one of the most efficient and productive QBs in the nation (Micah Alejado- Hawaii) with another D-I prospect in <strong>Melvin</strong> <strong>Spicer</strong> <strong>IV</strong>, who holds offers from Portland St. and Hawaii. He's a mobile, athletic passer that can extend plays with his legs and find receivers downfield with a strong, accurate arm. He'll look to get the ball in the hands of one of the top WR prospects in the country- <strong>Derek</strong> <strong>Meadows</strong> (LSU commit) and a new transfer from Arizona in <strong>Greg</strong> <strong>Toler</strong>, who holds five D-I offers from the likes of Arizona, Arizona St., and UTEP. Toler's speed and quick-twitch skillset should provide a nice complement to Meadows' physical talent and open up looks for the 6'6"/200 wideout. Senior RB <strong>Myles</strong> <strong>Norman</strong> looks to take over some of the volume and production left behind by one of the most explosive RB combos in the country last season (Micah Kaapana- Michigan, DeVon Rice- Kansas St.). The OL unit returns elite talent with multiple P-4 commits in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820591' first='Douglas' last='Utu']</strong> (Tennessee), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820592' first='Seuseu' last='Alofaituli'] </strong>(Miami), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820593' first='Alai' last='Kalaniuvalu']</strong> (Oregon), <strong>Alema</strong> <strong>Iosua</strong> (Arizona St.), and a transfer from Utah- <strong>Stewart</strong> <strong>Taufa</strong>, who holds 10+ D-I offers including Iowa St., Baylor, Fresno St., and Boise St. Taufa's a physical IOL that could play multiple spots for arguably the top OL unit in the country. Look for converted-TE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820638' first='Eli' last='Yamauchi']</strong>, who's added offers from Washington St. and Puget Sound this offseason, to breakout as the replacement for last season's elite TE prospect- Elijah Lofton (Miami). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gaels' DL unit boasts elite talent from the 2026 class including last season's team leader in tackles (96), sacks (10), and TFLs (24) in DE <strong>Prince</strong> <strong>Williams</strong> and incoming transfer DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1173821' first='James' last='Carrington']</strong>. Carrington's a major disruptor and one of the top DE prospects in the country holding over 20 P-4 offers. He's an elite athlete for the position with rare power and explosiveness in his skillset, he totaled 15 sacks and 22 TFLs as a sophomore. The interior returns the top DT prospect in Nevada's 2025 class in Utah-commit <strong>Sione</strong> <strong>Motuapuaka</strong>. Sophomore LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='940635' first='Tamatoa' last='Gaoteote'] </strong>totaled 84 tackles and 7 TFLs as a freshman and will look to lead the ILB unit alongside senior LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1325734' first='Aloisio' last='Maluia']</strong>, who picked up an offer from Tuskeegee this offseason. Maluia's a violent defender that'll bring a downhill, physical skillset to the run defense. Senior OLBs <strong>Champ</strong> <strong>Kapanui</strong> (San Jose St. commit) and <strong>Landon</strong> <strong>McComber</strong> (Stanford commit) are physical athletes that can play in space and fly to the football. The secondary is led by younger talent including one of the top S prospects in the 2026 class, <strong>Jett</strong> <strong>Washington</strong>, who's added offers from Texas, Alabama, Michigan, and Tenneesee in recent months, along with up-and-coming 2027 prospect <strong>Hayden</strong> <strong>Stepp</strong>. Stepp's a lengthy cover-corner on the perimeter that flashed tremendous upside in his playing time as a freshman. He's added offers from Miami, Cal, San Diego St., and Boise St. this offseason. Senior DBs <strong>Aksel</strong> <strong>Ferry</strong>, <strong>Brayton</strong> <strong>Correa</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1213809' first='Alex' last='Perez'] </strong>were contributors on defense last season that should step into bigger roles this season- each holds D-I offers. Junior DB <strong>Isaiah</strong> <strong>Nickels</strong> sat out last season after transferring from Desert Pines and should provide value as a slick playmaker at the nickel- he holds offers from Boise St., Hawaii, and UNLV.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->