Hobart: He’s catching on

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:42AM

Before last season, Pete Otero had never played football. He played a little baseball as a freshman, but was mainly a basketball player.

Then assistant coach Steve Balash noticed him in physical education class. Balash, who was a four-sport athlete in high school, told then-head football coach Wally McCormack and assistant Ryan Turley about Otero.

Now the 6-foot-2 senior loves football and loves playing tight end. It’s just a matter of Otero growing as a player and a leader this season as he tries to help the Brickies return to the winning ranks and help his own future.

“Last year was my first year playing football, so I’m still getting used to it, used to being a leader,” Otero said.

Turley, who starts his first season as head coach, likes what he sees in Otero.

“He has good hands and is definitely a college prospect — he’s on some schools’ radar,” Turley said. “Pete is a leader by example. We’d love for him to be more vocal, however, he’s done a great job in the offseason.”

Part of that work involves blocking, which can be a challenge for new tight ends. At more than 240 pounds, Otero can provide extra protection for his quarterback. But it’s still a process of learning, and wanting.

“I like catching the ball; don’t like blocking so much,” he joked.

“If he wants to catch balls, he needs to block,” Turley said, not joking as much.

Otero will continue to play basketball, though he admits he likes football a little more after just a year on the field.

“I’m a little undersized for a center (in basketball),” he said. “I had to go up against some 6-10, 6-8 guys from Munster and Crown Point.”

Turley countered with, “He’s better than he thinks at basketball.”

Some coaches may have a problem with a key starter playing two sports. Turley relishes it.

“That’s something that’s very important to me,” he said. “I want my kids playing other sports. They need to get away from us and the football field. I was a multiple-sport athlete.

“I think the way things are today, coaches are with their kids all year. The key is to encourage them early on and tell them to be involved with other sports.

“There’s no guarantees. There are a lot of parents out there who think their kid is going to play in the NFL or the NBA. Bottom line is when you look at the players in the NFL or NBA, the majority were multi-sport athletes.”

It’s definitely worked out for Otero, who said he’s “not college material” in basketball. But 6-2, 240-pound tight ends are hot commodities in football.

Coach

Ryan Turley

record

Overall: 0-0 (first year)

Last season

Lost 58-21 to Morton in sectional semifinals

Key returnees

QB Sam Kosich, Sr.

RB Ian Drobac, Jr.

WR/DB Anthony Burgos, Jr.

TE Pete Otero, Sr.

OL/DL Gerald Valenzuela, Sr.

Key Losses

RB Jamar Merritt (transfer)

S Mike Crew

OL/DL Jim Walsdorf

College prospects

OL/DL Jeff Noworolink, Jr.

TE Pete Otero, Sr.

Season outlook

It’s a new era for Hobart football, as Ryan Turley will now be head coach at his alma mater. And he’s been beaming with optimism even before the opening kickoff.

“We’re a lot bigger than we have been in the past and we’re young,” he said. “That’s a good sign.”

Yes, the Brickies lost standout running back Jamar Merritt to a transfer back to Illinois, but those bigger linemen have Turley convinced his current crop of backs can get the job done. He’ll also be focusing quite a bit on defense, since that’s been his specialty as an assistant at previous schools.

“We’re going to come after you,” Turley said, almost salivating at the defensive possibilities. “But first, we have to worry about ourselves and our work ethic. If we get that done, football will take care of itself.”

Postseason

Class 4A Sectional 10 (Hobart, Kankakee Valley, Lowell, Mishawaka, New Prairie, South Bend Clay, South Bend Riley, South Bend Washington)

Schedule

Aug. 19 West Side

Aug. 26 at Crown Point

Sept. 2 at Griffith

Sept. 9 Kankakee Valley

Sept. 16 at Andrean

Sept. 23 Lowell

Sept. 30 Munster

Oct. 7 at Morton

Oct. 14 at Highland

HISTORY LESSON

Season Record

2001 6-6, 2-5

2002 2-8, 1-6

2003 5-7, 3-4

2004 9-2, 7-0

2005 6-6, 3-4

2006 10-2, 7-0

2007 8-4, 5-1

2008 9-2, 5-1

2009 4-8, 1-5

2010 5-6, 3-3

Sectional titles: 1979-97

Regional titles: 1979-85, 1987, 1989-93, 1995-96

Semistate titles: 1982, 1984-85, 1987, 1989-91, 1993, 1996

State titles: 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993

Roster

No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos.

1 Drey Devereaux 5-8 150 10 WR/DB

2 Alex Metz 5-8 145 11 RB/DB

3 Andrew Barras 5-11 150 11 QB

5 Brandon Clemmons 5-7 155 10 RB/LB

6 Zac Randall 5-7 165 12 RB/DB

7 Anthony Burgos 5-11 185 11 WR/DB

8 Robby Steele 5-9 210 12 DL

9 Renodol Erving 5-9 145 10 WR/DB

10 Zack Satterfield 5-9 150 9 K

11 Mike Swiney 6-0 160 11 WR/DB

12 Frank Vitalone 5-11 180 12 DL

14 Sam Kosich 5-11 170 12 QB

15 Chris Kingsland 5-7 155 12 WR/DB

17 Ryan Malott 5-10 140 10 WR/DB

18 Nicholas Bokun 6-2 215 10 TE/DL

20 Ian Drobac 6-2 200 11 RB/LB

22 Daniel Stewart 5-8 160 11 WR/DB

23 Ronald Shackelford 6-0 170 10 RB/DB

24 Aaron Lafty 5-10 170 12 RB/LB

25 Bobby Huber 6-1 165 11 WR/DB

28 Gio Guarnero 5-7 150 10 WR/DB

31 Ben Johnson 5-10 180 10 RB/LB

32 Levettus Spencer 5-11 160 11 RB/DB

33 Drew Volochati 5-8 155 10 RB/LB

38 R.J. Housley 5-9 150 12 WR/DB

39 Rob Freeville 6-2 180 12 WR/LB

40 Mike Halloran 5-9 185 12 FB/LB

43 Ricardo Vargas 5-9 170 12 LB

44 Pete Otero 6-1 245 12 TE/DL

45 Jeff Stone 5-8 150 11 LB

48 Tyler Donahoe 5-10 165 10 WR/DB

49 Brandon Coubal 5-9 200 12 RB/LB

52 Tommy Anderson 5-11 190 12 OL/DL

54 Cody Forney 5-10 180 11 OL/DL

55 Jarrett Colvin 6-5 215 11 OL/LB

56 Justin Fidnarik 5-11 195 10 OL/DL

57 Zach Duffy 5-4 185 10 LB

58 Fernando Romero 5-9 165 12 LB

59 Jon Ramirez 5-11 225 10 OL/DL

60 Zach Schoenborn 5-5 195 11 OL/DL

61 Ricardo Loera 6-0 185 11 LB

63 Mike Branham 6-1 190 10 DE

64 Matt Potts 5-9 195 10 OL/DL

65 Jacob Woerner 6-0 185 10 DL

66 Vince Grahovac 5-11 200 12 OL/DL

68 C.J. McLean 5-10 205 10 OL/DL

70 Kyle Botts 6-1 205 10 OL/DL

71 Brian McClellan 6-0 255 12 OL/DL

74 Steven Robb 6-3 210 10 OL/DL

75 Jeff Noworolnik 6-6 310 11 OL

76 Noah Madvek 5-11 285 10 OL/DL

77 Nathanial Wilfong 6-0 215 10 OL/DL

78 Gerald Valenzuela 5-10 265 11 OL/DL

79 Ryan Potosky 5-7 285 10 OL/DL

80 Mike Muniz 5-7 135 10 WR/DB

81 Elijah Walker 6-5 180 11 WR/DB

82 Steve Oglesby 5-7 130 11 WR/DB

83 Anthony Peek 5-11 180 11 TE/DL

84 Max Wilson 6-0 180 12 WR/DB

85 Ernie Ray 5-11 170 10 TE/DE

88 Brandon Murray 6-3 180 10 WR/LB

90 Aaron Delgrosso 5-10 175 11 K

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