These are just my initial rankings without digging a ton into each class. I do my best to try to figure out who is returning lineman but that can be difficult. Anyway this is what I have.
5A
1. Southeast Polk
2. Dowling
3. Cedar Falls
4. Johnston
5. Pleasant Valley
6. Waukee NW
7. Ankeny Centennial
8. Kennedy
9. Valley
10. City High
Others: Ankeny, Liberty, Prairie, Ames
Metro dominating again, and honestly I may not have enough of the power suburb schools. I like what SEP returns as the state champ, Dowling is always a safe pick, Cedar Falls was super young and inconsistent but I think they could be a real contender, after that it is the usual suspects.
4A
1. Xavier
2. ADM
3. Lewis Central
4. Boundurant Farrar
5. Western Dubuque
6. Newton
7. Glenwood
8. Spencer
9. North Polk
10. North Scott
Others: Waverly Shell Rock, Indianola, Burlington
To me 4A is kind of open, I start with Xavier because they are always there. ADM is moving up but loaded and I don't think 4A for them will be a big deal. After that it is kind of hazy, I have Lewis Central because they have always been there, BF has a stud. Western Dubuque was very young.
3A
1. Humboldt
2. Harlan
3. Mount Vernon
4. Fort Madison
5. Independence
6. Benton
7. Solon
8. Nevada
9. Central DeWitt
10. Sioux Center
Others: Williamsburg, West Delaware, Creston, Wahlert
Very similar to 4A there isn't a team that just blows me away as a clear favorite. I like what Humboldt returns and has been very consistent the last couple of years. Harlan loses a lot but I think they're back. Mount Vernon returns their QB who was hurt for the title game, and Fort Madison may be a reach at 4 but they return a bunch from a good team dropping down. After that there are a ton of teams that I could see in the dome or maybe losing early.
2A
1. West Lyon
2. Van Meter
3. Central Lyon GLR
4. Monticello
5. Greene County
6. Spirit Lake
7. West Marshall
8. North Fayette Valley
9. Western Christian
10. Waukon
Others: DSM Christian, PCM, Roland Story, Mediapolis
I like what West Lyon returns and obviously the tradition that they have makes them an easy top pick, Van Meter I feel will continue to roll even moving up, they have been so good for so long. Central Lyon GLR still brings back a bunch but I got the feeling that they had a special senior class last year. Monticello has that guy, and Greene County brings back a bunch off of a talented team.
1A
1. Underwood
2. MFL MarMac
3. Grundy Center
4. Pella Christian
5. Sigourney Keota
6. West Sioux
7. DNH
8. Cascade
9. Treynor
10. Regina
Others: West Branch, AP, Denver, Wilton, Alburnett, AHSTW
Underwood loses their QB, but return a lot of other pieces and I think they have been very consistent as a program. I really like what MFL has been doing the last few years and I think they just continue to build. I would not be surprised at all if Grundy Center wins it all, they are moving up but they return a ton off of their title team and their younger levels have been very good. After that I think it is pretty wide open but a lot of quality teams.
Class A
1. West Hancock
2. Lynnville Sully
3. East Buchanan
4. Woodbury Central
5. ACGC
6. Columbus
7. Wapsie
8. Southwest Valley
9. South Central Calhoun
10. Southwest Valley
Others: Saint Ansgar, Madrid, LoMa, Nashua Plainfield, Lisbon, Maquoketa Valley
The top 4 teams were all very good teams last year that return a ton, honestly I am just going off how I would have ranked them at the end of the season last year, I think West Hancock is the favorite with what they bring back, but all of the top 4 could challenge, ACGC is dropping down and I think they could be a true contender, after that it is a bunch of teams who should be solid.
8 Man
1. Gladbrook Rienbeck
2. CAM
3. Don Bosco
4. Central City
5. St Marys
6. Fremont Mills
7. WACO
8. Montezuma
9. Southeast Warren
10. Newell Fonda
Others: Baxter, Lenox, Turkey Valley, Easton Valley
I will be the first to admit I struggle the most with 8 man, most of the teams are traditional teams, G-R does return a ton off of a solid team so that is why I have them at #1.
These are meant more as a conversation starter then anything else.