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