There's nothing soft about the 2012 Southfield Bluejays football team.

They're as hard as an iceberg, sharp as a knife.

And if you're perennial league juggernaut Farmington Hills Harrison, I'd be watching your back 'cause the 'Jays are coming full throttle for your OAA White crown.

At the front of the attack for head coach Tim Conley and his SOUTHTOWN GRIDIRON GLADIATORS is a rock solid group of returning stars, that when you combine with the team's killer crew of underclassmen, you're going to have quite the powerful potion to contend with.

Making the switch from wide receiver, where he starred last year as a junior, Tre Walton will spend his senior season under center as the Bluejays' starting quarterback, returning to a position he excelled at in little league and on JV.

He'll have lots of explosive toys to play with and enjoy in his new position, no doubt, throwing to a receiving corps loaded with playmakers like senior captain Brandon Bean and quick-ascending DIAPER DANDIES like sophomores Dior Johnson and Ray Buford. Seniors Jalen Phillips and Mark Lincoln will also contribute in Southfield's passing game, with Phillips being a possession-receiver specialist lining-up in the slot and Lincoln, a big and fast banger-type seeing time as the squad's starting tight end.

Speedster Gerald Gates, who was timed as fast as 4.4 in the 40 this summer, will be the team's No. 1 running back, after spending the past two years as a third-down back, spelling standout tailbacks Brandon Watkins and Daevon Robinson and has a good chance at being a big-time pleasant surprise.

Protecting Walton and clearing a path for Gates in the trenches this year will be a beefy line led by D1 recruit, Collin Buchanan, returning starter Chris Williams and the Sanders brothers, Lance and Londale.

Transfer Chukes Okafor (Detroit Mumford), an imposing and athletic force on both sides of the line, will spark the defensive front, alongside up-and-comers Lion King Conway (best name in Oakland County prep scene) and Lawrence Marshall, a pair, much like Okafor, that is equally adept stop-gapping the run as bringing pressure on the quarterback.

The real strength of the TEAM CONLEY defense is its linebacking corps. First you've got the all-league tandem of Willie Duncan and Jeff Madison, an aggressive, speedy and intelligent duo that can go sideline-to-sidelines with the best in the state and that will also see action in the backfield spelling Gates. Then you've got junior Jordan Cry, an on-the-move junior projected as one of the breakout stars of the upcoming campaign by a lot of scouts.

Cornerbacks Darius Danzy, first cousin to departed three-year starting quarterback Justin Danzy and a transfer from Orchard Lake St. Mary's, and Jacob Studdard and safety Carteris Carter will lead a secondary that should be a force to be reckoned with considering all the ferocity that will be taking place in front of them.

The Southfield football program is in the midst of a glory period in the record books. Over the past four seasons, Conley and his staff have navigated the program to three district championships and a trip to the final four in 2008.

Last season, the Bluejays won a Division 2 district title before losing to eventual state champion Birmingham Brother Rice in the regionals.

The Bluejays season will kick-off with a bang, as they clash with fellow state power Detroit King at Wayne State on August 25.