Despite a 3-6 record last season, there is a lot to like in Rochester this fall.
After taking some bruises last fall and losing six of their final seven games, coach A.J. Easley is making some key adjustments heading into year four.
Leading a “more adaptable” offense under center in Week 1 will be Carson Rotter, who won the QB job out of camp over Kole Smith.
Rotter showed flashes throughout camp of athleticism and the ability to lead the offense, and he started games as a freshman in 2021.
Rotter will be protected by three returning linemen in Jaden Nichols, Asher Neff and Wyatt Dahl, and the guard spot was bolstered over the offseason with the addition of Quentin Clevenger, who transferred from Raymond-South Bend.
The strength of this unit is in the backfield, however, as Palmer Watt, Mason Armstrong and Tate Quarnstrom are set to lead a deep running back room.
Easley said last year, the unit would see a dip in production when the top three were not on the field. But this year, he doesn’t see the production level falling off if they need to go to the bench.
The defense will also have multiple returning starters, but an infusion of talented sophomores are also set to boost the unit as a whole.
Jay Johnson and Xander Peterman are all set to see expanded roles this fall, and Easley says they are just the tip of the iceberg of the underclassman that Easley will have at his disposal.
“We have a really good group that will fill in,” Easley said of his sophomore class. “We (also) got a really good, large freshman class, but you like to let those guys go play and have success at their level, at least for their first year.
The infusion of talent combined with another year of experience has the Warriors set for a bounceback season.
