Video: Top 25 Preseason Early Contenders No. 14 Colerain
View images by photographer Wayne Litmer from his preseason photo shoot with the Cardinals. Colerain football coach Tom Bolden did a lot of hosting during the spring. Not at home with barbecue and swimming, but around the Colerain campus with lifting and football.
Bolden said some 115 college coaches patrolled the team's gridiron, recruiting Cardinals to be future standouts at the next level.
Head coach Tom Bolden
Photo by Wayne Litmer
"It's busy but a good kind of busy," Bolden said. "It means we're probably doing something right."
Colerain has been doing better than all right lately.
Under the 10th-year head coach, Colerain has gone 109-17, including 12-2 last year when it lost in the OHSAA Division I semifinals.
With nine starters returning on defense alone, including eight who have been offered FBS scholarships, the Cardinals are the state Division I favorites.
See the Colerain Early Contenders photo shoot Their five top recruited seniors are all on the defensive side of the ball. Even though last year's squad allowed less than two touchdowns a game, the 2016 squad should be even stronger defensively.
"We're very talented on offense too, but at least early, the defense should carry us," Bolden said. "But both sides of the ball, this is a special group."
The Players
Cornerback Amir Riep is the 14th best at his position in the nation, according to 247Sports.
Photo by Wayne Litmer
Bolden knows that very well.
He grew up with many among the senior class because his son
Kyle Bolden, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound middle linebacker, is one of the team leaders.
Kyle Bolden, the 55th top linebacker in the country according to
247Sports Composite, has six college offers including from Cincinnati, Illinois and Indiana.
"He's kind of the prototypical middle linebacker," his dad said. "He's highly intelligent kid who has been calling plays the last two years. Plus he can go sideline-to-sideline."
The team's top prospect is cornerback
Amir Riep, the 14th best player at his position, according to 247Sports. Riep has almost 50 offers, but appears to be leaning toward Ohio State or Michigan State.
Linebacker Kyle Bolden
Photo by Wayne Litmer
"He's as good as it gets at his position," Bolden said. "He's tall (6-1 and 185) and long and a big-time physical cover kid. He has all the tools."
But Riep will be the last person you hear boasting about, well, Riep.
Amir Riep Ultimate Highlights
"He's a quiet kid," Bolden said. "Very reserved. A lot of top-end kids at his position are extroverts, but Amir just goes about his business. He's extremely focused. He's on a mission."
As are the rest of the Cardinals on defense including safeties
Keontae Jones (6-1, 175) and
Darrian Beavers (6-4, 210) and tackle Howard Watkins (6-5, 283).
Jones is the younger brother and All-State quarterback Deshaunte Jones, who is now at Iowa State.
Keontae Jones is a blur and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. He has 18 college offers, but appears leaning toward Louisville and Cincinnati.
"He's a physical specimen," Bolden said. "So are a lot of kids in that secondary."
With two more Boldens at linebacker, Colerain is stacked there as well. Junior
Dan Bolden (6-1, 218) is the coach's nephew and sophomore
Luke Bolden (6-1, 180) is the coach's youngest son.
On offense, Colerain will largely put the ball in the hands of 5-11, 207-pound senior running back
Monalo Caldwell, a third-year starter who has 10 college offers.
Replacing Deshaunte Jones at quarterback won't be easy, but junior
Gunnar Leyendecker, a wingback last year, has the inside track.
"He's extremely fast and gives us lots of options in the spread," Bolden said.
The Keys
Head coach Tom Bolden is surrounded by a wealth of top recruits and has nine returning starters on defense alone. The Cincinnati skyline is shown in background.
Photo by Wayne Litmer
Leyendecker's development will be vital, but more so will be starting five new offensive linemen.
Bolden doesn't seem overly concerned, probably because the Cardinals won't have to score much to be successful.
"I think the defense will carry us early on but offensively we're very talented," Bolden said. "It just might take us a little time to get things rolling."
Not that Colerain has much of that.
The Cardinals open with Indianapolis (Ind.) power Warren Central, then take on cross-town rivals and state powers St. Xavier and La Salle, the defending state Division II champs.
"It's going to be a neat year," Bolden said. "We have a great group of kids with an awesome senior class. Will find out just where we're at those first three weeks. But no matter how they turn out, we'll be a better football team."
