The Eastern Shore football teams should once again rule Baldwin County’s football kingdom in 2011, but other teams may surprise those who discount them at first glance.

Daphne, Fairhope and Spanish Fort have the county’s top talent, with FCS recruits up and down the shore of Mobile Bay. Daphne leads the way with Auburn committment T.J. Yeldon at running back and Alabama defensive committment Ryan Anderson.

Yeldon, who is considered the state’s top running back by most and Alabama’s top overall recruit by others, racked up 1,112 yards and 18 touchdowns in Daphne’s run to the 6A championship last season. He scored the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Trojans’ eventual title game win over Hoover last December. When the game was on the line, Trojan head coach Glenn Vickery gave the ball to Yeldon to close out the victory.

Anderson, who switched from defensive end to linebacker in the off season, is one of the state’s top defensive recruits. At end in 2010, he had 81 tackles, 13 tackles for losses, and 10 sacks and was a part of a Trojan defense that was ranked at the top of Class 6A most of last season. Daphne held Hoover’s high-powered offense to just six points in the state championship game win.

Daphne defensive lineman Eric Lee and defensive back Torren McGaster are also FCS recruits. Lee had 39 tackles and three sacks last season and has offers from Florida State, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Missouri and at least 10 other schools. McGaster had 50 tackles and three interceptions for the state champions and has offers from several Division 1 schools.

Daphne’s Eastern Shore 6A rival Fairhope could also make a run at the state championship this season. The Pirates return outstanding offensive lineman Kyron Samuels, who has offers from Ole Miss, Kentucky, Southern Miss, East Carolina and UAB. Samuels will protect senior quarterback Chase Domino, who had 1,851 passing yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for seven touchdowns in 2010. Fairhope also returns several key skill players from last year’s playoff team.

Spanish Fort will seek to defend its 5A state championship with a new coach and a host of new offensive players.

Former Gulf Shores head coach Mark Freeman takes over for Bryant Vincent, who left the school shortly after the championship win to join the University of South Alabama football staff. Freeman won a host of AISA championships at Bessemer Academy and led Gulf Shores to its best season ever in 2009. The Toros must replace quarterback Ameriol Finley, current Auburn center Reese Dismukes and current Texas Tech linebacker Blake Dees and several other key players from last year’s squad.

Defensive lineman Demarco Montgomery will anchor the Toro defensive front after recording 95 tackles and eight sacks in 2010.

Fans should not discount the Gulf Shores Dolphins, who head into the season with new head coach Ben Blackmon.

Freeman left the Dolphins to coach their biggest rival, but as long as quarterback Brandon Silvers and receiver Chris Tilley are on the field Gulf Shores will have a chance to be successful.

Silvers showed signs of greatness in his first season as a starter in 2010. He threw for 269 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for another in a win over Piedmont last season as a junior. Silvers had 17 touchdown passes in the Dolphins’ four wins over Piedmont, Saraland, Faith Academy and Bayside Academy last season. Tilley had 81 catches for 942 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2010.

If the Dolphins can play consistently well on offense this season, they could make a run at a playoff spot in 5A Region 1.

Eric Mann is the Sports Coordinator for Gulf Coast Newspapers.

Reach him at emann@gulfcoastnewspapers.com