Andrews soaking in recruitment process (VIDEO)

Pair of Ontario schools atop Niagara Spears’ recruit Andrews’ CIS totem pole 

Niagara Spears and A.N. Myer Marauders standout Jake Andrews is relishing early stages of recruitment

Jake Andrews

Positions:
Defensive Back, Running Back, Wide Receiver, Special Teams (Kick Return)

Height/Weight:
6’0, 170 lbs

Teams:
Niagara Spears (OVFL)
A.N. Myer Marauders (high school: NRHSAA)

Commitment:
None

Official Visits:
2

Consideration:
McMaster, Guelph, Open

Class:
2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jake Andrews is a vastly versatile player.

“Since I started playing football I’ve gotten to play mostly every position except for offensive line,” he states. “Now that I’ve gotten older and started taking the game more seriously I’ve focused mostly on defensive back and kick returner but i still play a lot of slot back and running back for my high school,” mentions Andrews.

“I like to think of returning kicks as like running the football on offence just with more room to work with.”

Jake has been playing the sport for six years in his hometown of Niagara Ontario. He got his start as a 10-year-old in the Niagara Regional Minor Football League (NRMFL). He then moved to the Niagara Generals of the Ontario Minor Football League (OMFL) and subsequently to the Niagara Spears of the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL).

He has earned prestigious awards early in his gridiron career. He has been named an OVFL All-Star twice in his career (2013 and 2015) and holds 3 OVFL records in the Bantam and Junior Varsity divisions.

Additonally, he owns the bantam record for highest kick return average in a season, while authoring the junior varsity records for most punt return touchdowns in a season and in a single game. He also took home Defensive MVP honours for the Spears in 2013.

Andrews also merited Marauders MVP honours in 2014 as a second-year junior. Additionally,  he won the OFSAA Metro Bowl with his high school in 2013 as well as participated in the 2015 International Bowl (Under-16) this past January in Arlington, Texas.

Interestingly, Jake said there was no single moment stood out for him last season.

“There is no one moment that stands out to me when looking back at last season,” states the Spears’ standout. “The whole season was a highlight because I was able to be a part of the best defence i have ever played with.”

Jake is still very early in the recruiting process, as he gets set to enter his Grade 11 year.

“The recruitment process has been enjoyable thus far and I look forward to continue and visit and look into more schools,” he says. “I’m currently very open when considering CIS schools; two schools I am most interested in currently are McMaster and Guelph.”

However, he wouldn’t be where he is today if it weren’t for a couple of special people he has in his life.

“For me one of the most influential people in my life is my grandfather and coach,” elaborates Jake. “For all of my life my grandfather has encouraged me to do whatever makes me happy and has always supported me no matter what I was doing.”

“Being around my grandfather has influenced me to try and be as caring and respectful he is.”

It is fascinating to note that the man Jake speaks so highly of is Glenn Timlock, who spent three seasons with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1955-57 and is now apart of their alumni association.

Knowing he has a bright career ahead of him, Jake continues to partake in a very strict and demanding training regimen to ensure he stays in optimum and pristine condition.

“The majority of my training works on speed and explosiveness as well as agility,” says Jake.  “I also do weight training four times a week in season and six times a week off season.”

Jake is also well aware of the fact that, as is every athlete’s game, his is also a work in progress. “To improve for next season I’m going to focus on not only being a athletically talented player but to also be a mentally talented player,” alludes the Spears stud.

This attitude goes right along with the seemingly never-ending training schedule he employs, as he continually tries to make himself a better and stronger football player in all facets of the game.

While football is his main focus right now, Jake  is also working hard on setting himself up for great success outside the game.

“My future plan school wise is to get in a good school that sets me up to be successful in football and life after football,” he mentions.

He understands that, while the game has brought him a lot very early in his life, he can’t count on playing football forever, and that a backup plan is crucial to maintaining success in life after his career.

http://youtu.be/dyaAjD3pEsQ