The Road to Repeat will feature 2016 high school football state champions as they attempt to defend their title and repeat as state champions – an effort that requires program-wide collaboration, hard work and development.

Team: Whitehaven (Memphis, Tenn.)

2016 finish: 15-0; Division I Class 6A state champion

Head coach: Rodney Saulsberry

School/Team Twitter: @WhitehavenTiger

Key departures:

LB Aubrey Miller

DB Jabril Malone            

DL J’Len Smith

QB Lesley Mosby

RB Kylan Watkins

Key returners:

DB Rayshad Williams

DB C.J. Biggins

LB Joshua Gray

LB Bryson Eason

RB Chris Witherspoon

Spotlight matchup: @ East St. Louis, Sept. 2

Season outlook

Defense was the story of Whitehaven’s remarkable 2016 season, which culminated with a state title in Tennessee’s largest division.

Whitehaven allowed fewer than nine points per game and limited teams to fewer than seven points on seven different occasions.

However, the team graduated its six leading tacklers from last fall, including all-state pick Aubrey Miller Jr., who amassed an impressive 115 tackles.

The offense also takes a hit with the loss of All-State running back Kylan Watkins and All-State tackle Anthony Geter, as well as reliable quarterback Lesley Mosby.

The good news is that Whitehaven has plenty of pieces to work with as it mounts a title defense in 2017.

Defensive back Rayshad Williams, a 6-foot-4 cornerback with SEC offers, returns following an All-State campaign in which he made 41 tackles and three interceptions. Junior Sean Wilder, who stands 6-2, is also back, meaning Whitehaven will have one of the country’s tallest duo of cornerbacks.

Saulsberry, who was named the Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year, also has another key piece back in Bryson Eason.

Eason, a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker, burst onto the scene with 44 tackles and a sack, en route to earning MaxPreps Freshman All-American honors.

RELATED: Built by high school coaches, for high school teams: Sign up for a USA Football 7on7 event

Overall, the defense might not be quite as good as its 2016 version, but it won’t be too far behind.

On the opposite side of the ball, Chris Witherspoon returns following a season in which he rushed for 687 yards and eight touchdowns.

C.J. Biggins – the only returning receiver who caught a touchdown last fall – should be able to leverage his 6-4 frame to become an even bigger scoring threat as a senior. He’s on the radar of several Division I programs.

Overall, the offense may experience some growing pains, but it should improve before the season with participation in 7on7 events.

Though it returns just one full-time starter on offense, Whitehaven will once again vie for a state title. Along with the likes of Brentwood Academy (Nashville, Tenn.), Maryville and Baylor (Chattanooga), Whitehaven will be one of the state's top teams regardless of classification.

SEE ALSO: The Road to Repeat: Fayetteville (Ark.)

SEE ALSO: The Road to Repeat: Hoover (Ala.)

SEE ALSO: The Road to Repeat: Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)