By Don Ketchum

Like other schools in the Phoenix Union High School District, Phoenix Camelback has struggled on the football field for several years as players have migrated to suburban programs.

But the Spartans appear to be recapturing some ground under the leadership of coach Brandon McNutt and his staff.

Camelback went 3-7 in McNutt’s first season and was 5-5 in 2011, and he is optimistic that he will have a significant increase in depth this fall.

As he prepared to lead his team into competition in last week’s 7-on-7 passing event at Arizona State University, McNutt said he expects to have between 60 and 70 players combined for the varsity and junior-varsity teams in 2012.

McNutt was pleased with the turnout at ASU.

“This is a good start,’’ he said. “We are building confidence.

“The game speed out here is quite different than you would have in practice. You just can’t simulate another team’s speed. So we are getting used to that.’’

Of the possibility that his team will finish above .500 and challenge for a playoff spot, McNutt said, “That is our goal. We are trying to get out of that hole. We’ve got a lot of kids out here working very hard.’’

The Spartans’ top athlete appears to be Antonio Zepeda, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound senior-to-be.  He provides a big passing target at tight end and can flop over and be a productive player on the defensive line.

The player who took a lot of snaps at quarterback during action at ASU was Noah Diffederfer, a 6-2, 190-pound senior.

McNutt said Diffenderfer has a powerful arm “and is a sleeper. He has the chance to become a pretty good player.’’

The versatility of senior Angel Medina also should be a factor. The 6-1, 185-pound Medina can play quarterback as well as other positions on offense, and is one of the defensive anchors at free safety.