CIS Preview: Laurier has big shoes to fill in 2012

In the third instalment of an ongoing series, I’m previewing teams from the OUA for the 2012 season. At Wilfrid Laurier, spring camp has just wrapped up. Head coach Gary Jeffries and his staff are looking to young talent to replace a quarterback who led the CIS in touchdown passes and two of the best receivers in the country.

Jeffries and crew have to replace more than just star power also. Four starting offensive linemen have graduated and the quick-strike spread offence of 2011 will have to change.

“Personnel dictates how you’re going to play and we’ve recruited some kids that are going to give us a little more versatility, “ says the head coach.

The loss of quarterback Shane Kelly and his 20 touchdown passes is lightened by an intense battle for the starting pivot job this spring. Five athletes are competing, including last year’s backup, Steven Fantham. Fantham has the most experience of the five and has impressed thus far. Also pushing for playing time are first-year players, James Fracas and Julien John. John, a 6’6” talent out of Burlington has shone in the spring.

“He’s pretty mobile and throws the ball well,” said Jeffries. “He’s also a smart kid. He’s a kid that really did step up.”

A Golden Hawk originally recruited as a quarterback will try to ease the loss of wide receivers Dillon Heap and Shamawd Chambers, both OUA all-stars last season. Greg Nyhof has switched positions to become a wideout. Big things are expected of the 6’4”, 215-pounder.

“He’s such an outstanding athlete and big target. He catches everything.” Jeffries continues that Nyhof has the talent to be a CIS quarterback, “but he’ll be on the field quicker as a receiver.”

Helping further at receiver will be the return of Alex Anthony from knee surgery. He worked extremely hard all winter in rehab and is back to 100%. Big things are also expected from Kelvin Muamba, who has two brothers playing in the CFL and hopes to join them one day. Coach Jeffries was effusive in his praise for Muamba, summing it up as, “he’s just a special talent.”

More Golden Hawks switching positions are last year’s running backs, Anton Bennett and Rashad La Touche. They’ll both move out of the backfield to use their size and blocking abilities as inside receivers. Tyrrel Wilson and Dillon Campbell will use their speed to carry the load rushing the ball, something Laurier will look to do more of this season.

“If you score fast, that’s fine. You don’t want to take points off the board,” said Jeffries. “I’d like to have an offence that can go out and grind it a bit, too.”

Grinding it out will help the defence. They spent more time on the field last season than all but one team in the CIS. This season there are big shoes to fill on that side of the ball also. Big defensive lineman George Kourtesiotis leaves a massive hole to be filled up front and linebacker Mitchell Bosch could go to the CFL in the upcoming draft.

“We’ll continue to be aggressive, put pressure on, and play a lot of man cover,” Jeffries said. “That’s how we’d like to play, but it’ll be determined by what we have.”

Recruiting was a major priority this winter and Laurier has 52 signees coming in September. It’s a challenge competing with the other OUA schools in the southwest Ontario region, but Coach Jeffries and his staff believe in Laurier athletics and that shows to recruits.

“You have to put your best foot forward and sell what you’re about and what you believe in. If you don’t win in the wintertime, you don’t win in September,” said Jeffries.

A big win this winter was signing local linebacker Andrew McWhinnie. McWhinnie is, according to his new coach, “about 6’3”, 220, an absolute horse. He’s a specimen and a very special football player.”

The linebacker was selected to Team World in February and beat the USA in the International Bowl. Golden Hawks safety Chris Ackie also played on that team and looks to lead the Laurier defence in 2012.

Jeffries knows his team started slowly last season and underachieved their way to a 4-4 record and early playoff exit. He says the purpose this season is to overachieve.

“Our goal every year is to get into the Yates Cup and nothing’s changed in that regard. We have a wonderful history here of success and I think we feed off that. Our alumni demand we be successful.”