Team Preview: Rochelle

EDGYTIM.com previews the 2017 Rochelle Hubs 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: Rochelle

Mascot: Hubs

Conference: Northern Illinois Big 12 West

Team Twitter:

Head Coach: Kevin Crandall

Assistant Coaches: Kyle Kissack, Adrian Smith, Erick Olson, Mike Dale, Rich Harvey, Johnny Gonzales, Brian Worthington

2016 results: 6-5 (2-2 Northern Illinois Big 12 West). The Hubs made the 5A state playoff field, beat Ridgewood then lost to Sycamore in second round action.

2017 Rochelle Hubs schedule

8/25 Corliss

9/1 @ Johnsburg

9/8 Yorkville

9/15 @ Morris

9/22 Ottawa

9/29 @ Geneseo

10/6 @ Sterling

9/13 LaSalle-Peru

10/20 Sycamore

Returning Offensive Starters

Alex Harvey(FB, 5'10 200, 2018),

Noah Mershon (QB, 6'1 175, 2018)

Ehren Metzger (RB, 5'10 175, 2018)

James Kerfin (OL, 6'0 245, 2018)

Kyle Eyster (OL, 6'0 250, 2018)

Bazil Bennett (OL, 5'11 195, 2018)

Diquan Ishmon (OL, 5'10 200, 2018)

Blake Albers (TE, 6'4 215, 2018)

Returning Defensive Starters

Alex Harvey (LB, 5'10 200, 2018)

Brandon Johnson (LB, 5'11 235, 2017)

James Kerfin (DL, 6'0 245, 2018)

Kyle Eyster (DL, 6'0 250, 2018)

Edwin Vega (DL, 5'10 230, 2017)

Bazil Bennett ( DL, 5'11, 195, 2018)

Ehren Metzger ( FS, 5'10 175, 2018)

Brendon Danekas (C, 5'9 160, 2018)

Newcomers to Watch

Eddie Villalobos (RB-LB, 5'9 155, 2017)

William Jandak (OL-DL, 6'2 265, 2017)

James Hart (OL-DL, 6'1 265, 2017)

Noah Knight (RB-DB, 5'10 170, 2017)

Top Impact Player for Rochelle in 2017? Senior RB/LB Alex Harvey. Harvey falls in line with a long tradition of speedy and hard nosed back who also play linebacker in the Rochelle system. Harvey is also a multi-year starter for the Hubs and is a leader for a very good senior class in 2017.

Biggest Concern heading into 2017? The overall strength of schedule. Nothing comes easy ever in the Northern Illinois Big 12 West for the Hubs. The 2017 slate is loaded with potential playoff teams including a tough early non conference game at Johnsburg plus three rough crossover games against Morris, Yorkville and Sycamore.

EDGYTIM's Way Too Early Take on the 2017 Rochelle Hubs?

No one plays harder or more physical than Rochelle under veteran head coach Kevin Crandall year in and year out. The Hubs this season bring back a good sized group of 15 returning starters and several of the same starters are multi-year varsity contributors. The bottom line is Rochelle will need to find a way to get at least 5 wins out of a very rough schedule. Expect Rochelle to run power and to outrun and out physical all comers in 2017.

EDGYTIM's Way Too Early regular season record prediction for the Rochelle Hubs? 5-4