2016 CIS team preview: University of Calgary Dinos

Source: Ben Matchett, Dinos Athletics 

 

2015 regular season record: 8-0

2015 regular season standings: 1st, Canada West

2015 playoff record: 1-1

2015 playoff finish: Lost 34-26 to UBC in conference final
General Write-Up:

The 2016 edition of the University of Calgary Dinos football team represents a changing of the guard as the team refocuses after a heartbreaking end to the 2015 campaign.

Gone are six of the team’s nine first team All-Canadians from the record-breaking offensive squad a year ago, with four – QB Andrew Buckley, RB Mercer Timmis, OL Sean McEwen, and K Johnny Mark – having spent time with CFL teams while a fifth, receiver Rashaun Simonise, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals. The offence returns just seven starters from 2015, while the defence has nine first-stringers back.

With the inevitable change in university football, however, comes opportunity – and Jimmy Underdahl will finally get his chance at quarterback. The fifth-year Notre Dame High School product ably backed up Buckley during his last two Hec Crighton-winning seasons, finishing in the top-10 in passing in Canada West last season and seeing significant playing time with an offence that averaged nearly 59 points per game last year.

Underdahl will be protected by four of the five starting offensive linemen from 2015, while Quentin Chown, Bryce Harper, and Jeshrun Antwi provide a plethora of different looks out of the backfield to replace the yards churned up by Timmis over his career.

The defence could be the strength of this team, with nine players – including four former All-Canadians: DB Adam Laurensse, DB Robert Woodson, DL Connor McGough, and LB Micah Teitz – returning to take their spots. The defensive coaching staff will be led by 32-year CFL veteran Tom Higgins, who rejoins the program where he got his start in coaching in the early 1980s as defensive coordinator.

Quote from head coach: Wayne Harris 

“Our guys have responded very well and have been training very hard since day one when we started workouts in January. New leaders do emerge – that’s the one thing you know will happen in university football, each team is going to be a little bit different in its character and I think the character of this team is outstanding. We’ve lost some great talent, but we’ve also added some great skill and character as well.

“There has certainly been some big change at main positions, like at quarterback with Andrew Buckley. But Jimmy Underdahl has been with the program for five years now and has been a strong leader. He has all the skills necessary to be very successful.

“We expect to still be able to have lots of offensive production. I think we’re in a good situation right now – our offensive line is pretty much intact. Sean McEwen is hard to replace, but the O-line has been doing an outstanding job for us.

“Defensively, we haven’t had quite as many changes with most of the backfield returning and the defensive line back entirely. We feel confident that we have a good program moving forward, but certainly there’s a lot of work still to do.

“Tom (Higgins) brings a wealth of experience and a broad perspective to the program. He’s such a positive coach, and he brings that to all of our players. They have really responded well. It’s also nice to have new blood into the coaching staff to get some different perspective and bounce some ideas off.”

Head Coach: Wayne Harris

– Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2016): 2

– Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2016): 2

– Career regular season record with team: 8-0

– Career regular season record in CIS: 8-0

– Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 9-1

– Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 9-1
OFFENCE

Number of returning starters: 7 

Key returning players:

QB Jimmy Underdahl takes the reins after backing up for the last four seasons, but he’s hardly inexperienced. He saw plenty of action last year as the Dinos built up big leads before the half, finishing in the top 10 in passing in Canada West. Underdahl was invited to the Montreal Alouettes’ training camp this season and saw action in a pre-season game. 

OL Braden Schram is a returning first team All-Canadian who anchors an offensive line also returning Ryan Sceviour, Jordan Filippelli, and Ryan Preuter. Centre Sean McEwen has moved on to the pros, but the O-line is veteran and experienced and will anchor the Dinos’ run game. 

RB Quentin Chown was sidelined through much of 2015 with injury but is back and ready to top the Dinos’ depth chart at tailback. Sophomore Jeshrun Antwi and seniorBryce Harper will also rotate through, providing different looks out of the backfield. 

R Austen Hartley was a reliable target last season and will be a significant part of the offence going forward. His 26 receptions for 469 yards and four TDs in 2015 placed him second on the team in each category.
Key recruits or transfers:

R Whitman Tomusiak has all kinds of experience, spending two seasons on the B.C. Lions practice roster after a career in junior football. Along with local product Kelton Bailey, the Henry Wise Wood grad who was Calgary high school player of the year last season, the receiving corps will have plenty of weapons.

RB Cole Kussmann joins the Dinos from London, Ont. where he was the leading rusher and MVP of the Ontario Varsity Football League last season. 

QB Adam Sinagra and QB Josiah Joseph provide options for the Dinos at quarterback, with Sinagra joining after a three-year CEGEP career at John Abbott College while Joseph led the Okanagan Sun to a BCFC championship a year ago.

Key losses:

QB Andrew Buckley – now with Calgary Stampeders

RB Mercer Timmis – now with Hamilton Tiger-Cats

WR Rashaun Simonise – now with Cincinnati Bengals

SB Brett Blaszko – now with BC Lions

OL Sean McEwen – now with Toronto Argonauts

DEFENCE

Number of returning starters: 9

Key returning players:

DL Cory Robinson and DL Connor McGough were key players as the Dinos allowed just 131 rushing yards per game last season, and they anchor a defensive line that is back in its entirety. McGough was a second team All-Canadian in 2014. 

LB Micah Teitz had a breakout season last year, leading the Dinos in tackles en route to a second team All-Canadian selection.

DB Adam Laurensse and DB Robert Woodson were both first team All-Canadians a year ago and anchor a defensive backfield that is largely intact. Woodson led the conference with five interceptions last year
Key recruits or transfers:

DB Brennan Van Nistelrooy joins the Dinos after being drafted by the BC Lions 48th overall in last spring’s CFL Draft. The Lethbridge, Alta. native spent a season with the Alberta Golden Bears early in his career. DB Treshaun Abrahams-Webster is a promising prospect joining the Dinos from Pickering, Ont.

LB Jakub Jakoubek is expected to step in to a starting linebacker role after gaining experience with the Calgary Colts last season.

Key losses:

LB Doctor Cassama

LB Tanner Doll

SPECIAL TEAMS

Key returning players:

K/P Alec Curtis is a fourth-year kicker who will battle it out with other newcomers for the kicking position vacated by perennial All-Canadian Johnny Mark. Curtis

Key recruits or transfers:

K Niko DiFonte is a promising kicking prospect, joining the Dinos from Oak Park High School in Winnipeg.

Key losses:

K/P Johnny Mark, the CIS all-time leader in scoring and field goals, completed his eligibility last season. He signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and saw game action earlier this season against the Calgary Stampeders.

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