Acadia offers ‘great balance’ between sport, academics

Acadia adds one local commit, one provincial commit and one out-of-province commit to their 2019 class.

For linebackers Jaydon King from West Kings District High School and Matt Holmes from Horton High School, as well as receiver Brady Newcomb from Moncton High School, it was all about the vibe of the Acadia Axemen.

Jaydon King

For Jaydon King, committing to Acadia just felt right. “I chose to commit to Acadia U because of the atmosphere and the vibe you got,” he said. “It’s a hometown university where everyone is friendly, and everything knows everyone. Plus, it’s close to home.”

He added that the coaching staff is amazing. “One of the best in my opinion,” King said. “They work together to get what needs to be done and be successful in what they do.”

The 6’2, 210lbs product of Greenwood, Nova Scotia, will be taking kinesiology.

King has played for both the Valley Bulldogs (NSMFL) and the West Kings Wolverines (NSSAFFL). He was a Division 2 champion with the Bulldogs and was a three-time NSSAFFL all-star from 2016 to 2018. He was also ‘linebacker of the year’ in 2017 and ‘rookie of the year’ the year before. He was a two-time team MVP in 2017 and 2018.

Matt Holmes

Going to Acadia is a bit of a tradition for Matt Holmes’s family. “My brother is currently attending the school and playing football there,” he said. “It is also both of my parents’ alma mater.”

He said his major reason for committing, however, was the fact that “they offer a great balance and environment to thrive in both sports and academics…the football program has the necessary tools to grow and succeed as a football player and student.”

Holmes, who is interested in kinesiology, is from Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He said he has known Jeff Cummins, the team’s head coach, for most of his life. “Being brought up in a small town you get to know people,” he said, “and I have great opinions on him, and I believe he will be exactly what I’m looking for as a coach.”

As for the other coaches, Holmes said they were all very welcoming and “from very knowledgeable backgrounds, making it a great place for any player wishing to improve their abilities.”

The 5’10, 180lbs inside linebacker played minor league football in grade nine before joining the Horton Griffins (NSSAFFL) in grade ten. While he has played as an inside back for most of his career, he said the coaches have shown interest in moving him away from the box. In high school, Holmes won an MVP award and was defensive MVP and a 1st-team all-star in his conference for 2018.

Brady Newcomb

Brady Newcomb won’t have a hard time finding a familiar face in the Axemen locker room. “There were multiple reasons to go to a great school like Acadia. To start, many of the previous Moncton High School players went to play for Acadia,” he said. “Also, every year Acadia is able to put an amazing team together. The school itself also had such friendly professors and students. It just felt like a place I’d love to go to.”

Speaking of friendly, Newcomb said the coaches are “very nice people that just want what’s best for you. They obviously believe football is important but insist that we get the degree in our program of choice. They’re also encouraged us to study together as teammates.”

Newcomb, who is from Moncton, New Brunswick, will be taking engineering.

Newcomb has been playing football for the past 11 years. He spent seven in the Greater Moncton Football League and four with the Moncton Purple Knights (NBHSFL). He was named as the Knights’ offensive MVP. Last year he won the ‘Purple Steel Award’ because he missed only five or six practices in his four years with the team.

The 6’3, 180lbs athlete said he will start his career with Acadia as a wide receiver with the possibility of moving back to the quarterback spot in his second year.