Costa Mesa will use a decal this year.
“It’s very similar, just a little different,” said Osso, who led Costa Mesa to a 3-8 record, 2-1 in league in 2007. “Logos kind of help create the pride in a program.”
Having eight starters return on both sides of the ball should already lift a team’s confidence.
Here’s a position-by-position look at the Mustangs, who start the season with a nonleague game against Corona del Mar at Newport Harbor High on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.
Quarterback: A new face emerges in junior Todd Davis. He was academically ineligible last season after transferring from Edison.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Davis will start despite junior Brian Waldron returning after starting last season.
“[Davis] is just a little more of a quarterback type, where Brian is really athletic,” said Osso, whose team struggled to score last season, when it averaged 6.9 points per game. “We did [struggle passing the ball]. Our struggle was a combination of things. We didn’t catch the ball. We were young. At one time, we started six sophomores.
“Waldron was a sophomore. He kind of learned quarterback on the fly.”
Waldron, a 5-10, 160-pounder, will focus on defense at strong safety, but will be a backup to Davis, along with senior Brett Farthing.
Running backs: Osso moves another experienced player to a different position.
Antwon Byrd, the leading rusher last season with 481 yards, will mainly be a wide receiver in an attempt to keep him healthy and better utilize his speed.
In steps senior Robbie Gemayel, who is smaller and slower than Byrd, who is a 100-meter sprinter.
Osso is counting on the 6-2, 180-pound Gemayel to carry the load.
