RICHMOND, Ind. — The season may be a month away on the calendar, but the
Earlham College squad was recognized on Tuesday as the results of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference football coaches poll was announced.
Earlham had eight players selected on the HCAC Players to Watch list as the Quakers were picked to finish eighth in their first year in the league.
Offensively, the group included seniors
Mike Liby,
Kyle Ripperger and
Bryant Foreman. On the other side of the ball seniors,
John Metcalf,
Ben Randall,
Dan Kelich,
Austin Manahan and junior
Chad Wertman were selected.
Liby is a three-year starter on the offensive line, while Ripperger was second on the team last season with 23 catches for 351 yards and four touchdowns. Foreman, one of Earlham’s most versatile players, was second on the team in all-purpose yards.
Metcalf started three games at linebacker last fall before suffering a season-ending knee injury and he was granted another year of eligibility. In 2008, he started all 10 games and was second on the defense in tackles for loss.
Randall, who became a starter in the middle of his first year in 2007, was third on the squad in tackles with 68 last season. Kelich played in all 10 games in 2009 with 43 tackles. Manahan moved to defense in 2009 and had 47 tackles and an interception in 10 games.
Wertman was named North Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week late in the season in 2009. He had 35 tackles last fall.
The
College of Mount St. Joseph was selected by the coaches as the pre-season favorite with
Franklin College finishing second.
The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology was third, while two other 2009 opponents were picked ahead of the Quakers.
Manchester College, which Earlham defeated 31-21, tied for fourth with
Hanover College.
Anderson University was seventh. The Quakers won 37-34 on the road over the Ravens last fall.
Earlham opens the 2010 campaign at home against the University of the South on Sept. 4. Following a trip to former conference foe
Denison University the next week, the Quakers start play in the HCAC at
Manchester on Sept. 18.
HCAC Release
HCAC Schedule