Whenever I can’t answer an obscure question about sports — like the height and weight of a backup offensive lineman, for example — my dad always has his line ready.

“C’mon. I thought you were a sports editor?”

It was funny the first 10 times, but you know how dad jokes go . . .

With fall around the corner, some high school sports questions are tricky to answer, too.

When I’m asked what team will win a state championship, it’s just too difficult. There could be injuries or a game could be affected by rainy weather, among other factors.

Well, the other day, someone asked me about high school football and if there are any local players to keep an eye on.

This one? I answered in about two seconds.

It was Rowan Merryman, an incoming senior running back/linebacker for St. Mary’s.

He has always delivered for the Spartans. He’s strong, committed during the offseason (when he’s not thriving on baseball diamonds or basketball courts), and you can hear his tackles loud and clear from the Manning Field press box.

During his junior season, he rushed for more than 900 yards, recorded 53 tackles, and found the end zone a dozen times.

St. Mary’s is sporting a younger roster this fall, so Merryman will be heavily leaned on during the last dance of his career.

Here are four other players who I think are locked, loaded, and poised for big seasons.

KIPP Academy’s Aavian Peña defines the word “speed.” He compiled 1,223 total yards and 15 touchdowns during his junior season, concluding with 141 yards rushing and three scores against Lynn Tech on Thanksgiving Eve.

Marcus Taylor, the Panthers’ new head coach, said his excitement level is “through the roof,” so let’s see what this offense is capable of . . .

Of course, you’ve got St. John’s Prep’s Riley Selvais, a Marblehead native who is arguably New England’s top wide receiver. He’s received Div. 1 offers from Rutgers, Boston College, and Louisville.

Last season, against top-tier competition, he hauled in 68 passes for 1,149 yards and 13 touchdowns. Even during his team’s Super Bowl loss against Xaverian, he caught three balls for 81 yards, including a 48-yarder from his gunslinger Chris Vargas, who recently committed to Ohio State.

Not a bad duo . . .

Swampscott’s Doyle Delano is coming off a tremendous junior season — a year after missing his entire sophomore stretch with a broken collarbone. The Big Blue standout recorded eight sacks, 15 tackles for losses, and 28 solo tackles.

Offensively, he chipped in 21 receptions, 215 yards receiving, and a pair of touchdowns. Delano said track and field helped him sustain the “muscle memory of running and staying in shape.”

Is it Sept. 10 (St. Mary’s at Swampscott) yet?

Wrapping up my list is Lynn Classical’s Kalu Nasky, a strong two-way player who lines up at receiver and defensive back for the Rams.

The senior particularly showcased his skills against Malden last fall, scoring a 36-yard touchdown through the air and snatching an interception on the defensive end.

Nasky, second-year coach Brian Smith, and company return Thursday, Sept. 10 in Winchester at 6:30 p.m.

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