Countdown to Kickoff 2018: Class A Sleeper
Story No. 6 in NFN’s 2018 sleeper series features a program with a rich football tradition in southwest Minnesota. A coaching changed switched some things up last season, but year two should see the team get back to its winning ways.
NFN’s 2018 Class A sleeper: Adrian
2017 Record: 2-8
Returning starters: Dakota John RB/LB, Skylar Dingmann OL/DL, Braxton Vortherms OL Ian Stamer WR/S, Lance Luettel OL/DL, Scot Edwards OL/DL, Brandon Schnoor RB/LB Trace Kremin WR/DB, Tucker Wieneke OL, Devin Frodermann DL
Head coach Randy Schettler enters his second year at the helm of the Adrian Dragons with a ton of reasons to think 2018 will start the program back to where it was just two years ago. Last season’s two-win campaign was not the norm for this program. The previous half dozen years has seen them win at least seven games and one playoff game. The foundation is there and this year so is the experience.
On the offensive side of the ball, Adrian returns its entire offensive line and four skill position players. They do need to find a quarterback – sophomore Marshall Wagner is the expected starter. With five seniors to surround the young signal caller with, the Dragons already have a good start.
They are just as experienced on the defensive side of the ball and return their entire front seven but only one starter from the secondary. Luettel, Edwards, John, and Stamer – at least one player from each level of the defense will be counted on to lead the defense and improve on a defense that allowed at least thirty points in eight of ten games.
Depth could be a concern. Coach Schettler told NFN they have roughly 30 players in grades 9-12.