Divergent Kodiak

 

OUA & NCAA Division 2 schools among early considerations for Kodiak standout.

This fall, River East Kodiaks linebacker Josh Bevan will be a completely different player.

 

Josh Bevan

Positions:
Linebacker

Height/Weight:
6’2, 208 lbs

Teams:
River East Kodiaks (high school:  WHSFL)
Eastside Eagles

Commitment:
None

Official Visits:
None

Consideration:
Carleton, Simon Fraser (NCAA Division 2) Open

Class:
2016

Josh Bevan began his football career at age twelve with the Eastside Eagles. In his first season on the gridiron, Josh was named Eagles MVP.

In 2013, the defensive standout began his four-year campaign with the River East Kodiaks of the Winnipeg High School Football League (WHSFL). In his first season with the Kodiaks, Josh garnered Defensive MVP honors and earned a spot on the WHSFL’s Honour Roll.

Josh believes that he has been improving since his first day on the field and hopes the trend will continue this season.

“The highlight of last season was just getting better every single game from the start of the season to now,” says Josh. “I am a completely different player in terms of weight, height, and football IQ”.

Josh hopes the time he has spent working on his speed and quickness during the offseason will translate to more minutes played on the field.  Furthermore, he believes that his increased speed will enhance his all around game.

Overall, the Kodiak linebacker is confident he will succeed this season, as he has dedicated a significant amount of his summer to improving his game.

“This season I think I am where I need to be physically,” says Josh. “I need to improve my decision making, work on my reads and trust my decisions. I think that will make all the difference”.

The Winnipeg native has benefitted from a support system that has helped him since the beginning.

“The most influential people in my life are my two grandpas,” explains Josh. “A few years ago they both had strokes.”

“This was very hard on my entire family. I have always looked up to them because they are such hard workers and really taught me the value of hard work and how important it is in life”.

Aside from a family support system, Colton Smith has been a key influence on and off the field.

“Throughout the summer I have been on a training program with a guy who I owe a lot of my success to” says the Kodiak linebacker. “His name is Colton Smith, he plays for the Winnipeg Rifles and has helped me out a lot in and out of the gym.”

“He has helped we achieve significant gains on my bench press, squats, and deadlifts. He has also helped me become faster; something I lacked a little last season. Off the field and out of the gym, Colton makes sure I get good grades, something not many people would do”.

Josh is dedicated to improving his game and hopes that his play will attract university recruiters. He has yet to make any official visits; however, his goal is to play at the CIS level.

“I haven’t really thought about visiting universities yet but next summer me and some friends may go down to the States and attend some college camps there” adds Josh. “I haven’t had much interest yet but I have talked to Carleton and Simon Fraser over Facebook”.

Aside from athletics, the Kodiak linebacker would like to attend university in order gain a degree in either business or kinesiology with the hopes of becoming an athletic trainer.