By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

High school football preview capsule for the Kent Roosevelt Rough Riders’ 2022 season.

Head Coach: Alan Vanderink, 4h year; 11-15 record at Kent Roosevelt; 32-36 career record.

Coaching Staff: Bryan Kover, defensive coordinator; Al Ehlert, linebackers; CJ Dennison, defensive backs; Gary Kanaga, defensive line; Al Hodakievic, offensive line; Tom Hannan, running backs; Josh Jakacki, wide receivers.

2021 Recap: 2-7 overall record; 1-6 Suburban League.

Returning Lettermen (14): Donovan Daetwyler, sr.; Cameron Dent, sr.; Cayden Foreman, sr.; Michael Bonanno, sr.; Justin Schwaben, sr.; Marcus Boyd, sr.; Brandon Melin, sr.; Dom Iacco, sr.; Jason Spurlock, sr.; Jack Reed, sr.; Matt McCann, jr.; Jeremy Reiger, jr.; Lincoln Wade, jr.

Offensive Outlook: The Rough Riders will once again incorporate a spread offense.

Quarterbacks: Junior Matt McCann (6-foot, 170 pounds) will be the team’s starter, with freshman Yahntae Smith (5-4, 140) slotted on the depth chart as the backup.

Running Backs: A pair of seniors, Michael Bonanno and Cameron Dent (6-1, 190) will share duties out of the backfield.

The group is coached by by Tom Hannah, who was head coach Alan Vanderink’s head coach when he played at Crestwood High School.

Offensive Line: Seniors Brandon Melin and Jack Reed are the standout returners for the Rough Riders.

Tight Ends: The starters for Roosevelt will be senior Marcus Boyd (5-10, 225) and senior Justin Schwaben (6-foot, 175).

Wide Receivers: The athletic Donovan Daetwyler, a senior, gives McCann a top-level target. Daetwyler is great in open space and can be a gamebreaker for the Riders.

Additional aerial targets include senior Jon Jon Smith, junior Tyrel Ellington and junior Lincoln Wade.

With another Crestwood influence, the receivers will be coached by Red Devils basketball coach and longtime assistant football coach Josh Jakacki.

Defensive Outlook: Expect the Rough Riders to line up in a 3-3 Stack.

Defensive Line: Melin and Schwaben will anchor the defensive line as well, while sophomore Jerome Norton has also made an early impression.

Linebackers: Starters will include Boyd and Bonanno, along with sophomore Karlito Britt.

Defensive Backs: Daetwyler, Smith, Wade and Ellington, along with Cayden Foreman will make major contributions.

Special Teams: Daetwyler will be Roosevelt’s punter, while Ben Young, Alex Horak and Sam Lanier will handle kicking duties.

Underclassmen to Watch: Jerome Norton, soph.; Parker D’Sidocky, soph.; Karlito Britt, soph.