Team Preview: Bloomington
EDGYTIM.com previews the 2017 Bloomington Purple Raiders here. For more in depth preseason coverage including state wide team coverage along with daily recruiting news and updates, make sure to subscribe to the EDGY Nation today.
School: Bloomington
Mascot: Purple Raiders
Conference: Big 12 Conference
Team Twitter:
Head Coach: John Walters
Assistant Coaches: Luke Drone Eric Lyons Tyler Noonan Niall Mulcahy Marcus Lewis Chad Millikin David Wolfe Trammell Westbrook Chip Mosley Cole Trickle Justin Francois
2016 results: 5-4 (4-4 Big 12 Conference ). The Purple Raiders failed to qualify for the 2016 IHSA state playoffs (low playoff points).
2017 Bloomington Purple Raiders schedule
vs Peoria Manual
@ Normal
vs Champaign Central
vs Kankakee
@ Peoria
vs Normal West
@ Peoria Richwood
vs Urbana
@ Danville
Returning Offensive Starters
Colton Sandage QB/DB, 6-2, 185, 2018
James Ellis WR/DB, 6-0, 170, 2018
Jamel Sturdivant OL, 6-1, 225, 2018
Mark Marshal OL, 6-0, 220, 2019
DeeJay Lewis RB, 5-10, 185, 2019
Sam Warren RB, 5-10, 175, 2019
Drew Crooks, WR, 6-1, 170, 2019
Jackson Wilson TE, 6-0, 200, 2018
Returning Defensive Starters
Josiah Heinz DL/OL, 6-0, 210, 2018
Cole Bahan DL, 5-11, 200, 2018
Kamarion Chestnut DL, 6-1, 290, 2018
Donovan Hunter ILB, 6-0, 220, 2018
James Ellis DB, 6-0, 170, 2018
DeeJay Lewis ILB, 5-10, 185, 2019
Holden Snyder, Safety, 5-10, 165, 2019
Drew Crooks, DB, 6-1, 170, 2019
Darius Gunn, DB, 6-1, 175, 2018
Jackson Wilson OLB, 6-0, 200, 2018
Newcomers to Watch
Holden Snyder, RB, 5-10, 165, 2019
Griffin Moore, QB or TE, 6-3, 225, 2019
Anthony Anderson, RB, 5-10, 175, 2020
2017 Bloomington Purple Raiders summer Camp/7on7 plans
Illinois College Overnight Team Camp
7 on 7's at Normal West 7 on 7's at home with Bloomington Central Catholic
Top Impact Player for Bloomington in 2017? Senior QB Colton Sandage. Sandage, who is also a standout player on the Purple Raiders basketball team is already a school record setting quarterback and has a real chance at adding onto his school passing records in a big way this fall.
Biggest Concern heading into 2017? Can the Purple Raiders pull off a few wins against the upper tier of the Big 12 conference in 2017? Last season Bloomington's four losses came at the hands of four state playoff teams while it's five wins came against opponents with a combined 8-37 record.
EDGYTIM's Way Too Early Take on the 2017 Bloomington Purple Raiders?
With an impressive 18 starters back from a season ago (8 offense 10 defense) along with head coach John Walters starting his second season at Bloomington ahead, I fully expect a team on the rise here. Walters, who had a successful 6 year run at Peoria Notre Dame before taking over at Bloomington for Hall of Fame head coach Rigo Schmeltzer will again have a big task in chartering the Big 12 power. Yet I see the Purple Raiders having a good shot at earning a state playoff spot.
EDGYTIM's Way Too Early regular season record prediction for the Bloomington Purple Raiders? 6-3/5-4