CIS preview: Manitoba Bison’s “youngest team in the history of this program” says Dobie

After missing the playoffs last season with a record of 2-6, the Manitoba Bisons are going to be a young team heading into the 2011 season.

“This could be the youngest team in the history of this program,” said coach Brian Dobie. “But it’s a great group and we’re all excited to work with them this season.”

The team will be filled with mostly limited and unproven CIS athletes, with the nucleus being made up of newly recruited players from the 2010 and 2011 recruiting classes.

Defensively, Thomas Hall returns after leading the team in solo tackles with 33 and total tackles with 42.5. The team is also looking for rookie Thomas Miles to take the next step forward this season.

The secondary is anchored by a number of veterans, with Pete Adams entering his fifth season after racking up 30 solo tackles last season. Joining Adams is Teague Sherman (25 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery in 2010). David Ferrier and Grayson Wells also return for the Bisons after having 23 and 13 tackles respectively, with Wells playing in one less game.

On the offensive side, Khaleal Williams returns for his second full year at the starting quarterback position. Williams is coming off a season in which he threw for 1,760 yards on 123 completions, and a completion percentage just shy of 57%. Williams also ran for 250 yards, good enough for second on last year’s team behind only Matt Henry.

It will be Henry and James Gerardy’s running back positions that will need to be filled this season, as both have finished their five years of eligibility. Kienan LaFrance will be one of the three players vying for that those spots. LaFrance comes from the Winnipeg Rifles of the Canadian Junior Football League, where he picked up CJFL Player of the Week Honours twice, Prairie Football Conference Player of the Week once, and was also named a CJFL All-Canadian, a PFC All-Star, and won the PFC Most Outstanding offensive player and Most Outstanding offensive back last season.

LaFrance will battle Nic Demski who played for Oak Park in the Winnipeg High School Football League where he was the MVP of the championship game won by Oak Park, and was named Elite Offensive Player of the year and all-star for the WHSFL.

The third back in the mix is Anthony Coombs from the Sturgeon Park Huskies, who was the leading rusher in the WHSFL with 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns on 100 carries, giving him a 11.3-yard average. Dobie compares Coombs to Charles Roberts in that Coombs may not be the biggest back, but he is extremely evasive.

Veterans Scott Johnson and Landon Rice will anchor the offensive line, but there is an open spot with offensive tackle Sam Nemis having finished his five years of eligibility.

Dobie says the focus is to work on building this year’s team toward the big move from University Stadium to the brand new stadium currently under construction a the Fort Garry Campus.

Key Returnees:

Khaleal Williams (QB), Scott Johnson, Landon Rice, Stu Schollaardt, Jared Ralko, Adam Hindley, Jesse Schryver, Lauren Kroeker, Evan Gill, Thomas Hall, Pete Adams, Teague Sherman, Grayson Wells, David Ferrier

Key Additions:

Anthony Coombs, Kienan LaFrance, Nic Demski, Akeeno Williams, Chad Treleaven, Kwinn Albino, Mitch MacKay, Shahpour Birjandian, Kieran Beveridge, Lincoln Bryan, Gabriel David, Eric Vincent, Dylan Von Doelln, Marlin Azurdia, Michael Aikens, David Berg

Key Departures:

Matt Henry, James Gerardy, Sam Nemis

2010 regular season record: 2-6
2010 regular season standings: Tied for 5th in Canada West
2010 playoff record: Did not qualify
2010 playoff finish: Did not qualify

Source: Chris Zuk, Manitoba Sports Info

INCOMING RECRUITING CLASS

Manitoba 34

Mitchell MacKay – OL – West Kildonan / Team Manitoba (Neepawa, MB) Signed
Nic Demski – RB – Manitoba high school offensive player of year / Oak Park (Winnipeg) Signed
Kieran Beveridge – OL – St. Paul’s / Team Manitoba (Winnipeg) Signed
Eric Dasset – DL – Grant Park / Team Manitoba (Winnipeg) Signed
John Kiesman – QB – Oak Park (Winnipeg) Signed
Shahpour Birjandian – OL – Oak Park (Winnipeg) Signed
Jordan Linnen – DB – Langley Rams (Vancouver, BC) Signed

Bami Adewale – DB – Notre Dame / Bulldogs / Team Ontario West (Brampton, ON) Verbal
Kwin Albino – OL – Okanagan Sun / Mississauga Warriors (Mississauga, ON) Verbal
Akeeno Williams – REC – Grimsby (Grimsby, ON) Verbal
Lincoln Bryan – DL – Langley Rams (Toronto, ON) Verbal
Mike Goldring – FB – Edmonton Huskies (Edmonton, AB) Verbal
Kienan LaFrance – RB – Winnipeg Rifles (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Thomas Cuddy – FB – Vincent Massey / Team Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Ray Thornson – OL – Winnipeg Rifles (Starbuck, MB) Verbal
Clay Scheller – OL – Vancouver Island Raiders (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Cole Scheller – OL – Vancouver Island Raiders (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Eric Vincent – LB – Winnipeg Rifles (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Marcus Gordon – REC – Langley Rams (Calgary, AB) Verbal
Gary Parmar – OL – Langley Rams (Delta, BC) Verbal
Ben Allen – REC – SFU tansfer / Kelvin (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Michael Akins – DB – Oak Park (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Nick Boyd – K – Langley Rams Verbal
Calvin Birdsall – LB – Oak Park (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Nick Evans – REC – Ft. Garry Lions (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Gabriel David – DE – Edmonton Wildcats (Edmonton, AB) Verbal
Nick Duncan – DB – Victoria Rebels / Mt.Douglas Rams (Victoria, BC) Verbal
Connor Gudziunas – LB – Minot St. transfer (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Zack Sandulescu – DB – Victoria Rebels / Mt.Douglas Rams (Victoria, BC) Verbal
Cam Teschuk – DB – St. Paul’s / Team Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Dylan Von Doelln – LB – Langley Rams (Aldergrove, BC) Verbal
Cam Watkins – DB – Churchill / Team Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB) Verbal
Chad Treleaven – OL – Langley Rams / Terry Fox (Maple Ridge, BC) Verbal
Delano Tennent 6’2″ 305 – DL – Edmonton Wildcats/Minot State (Edmonton) Verbal

CLICK HERE for list of all teams recruiting classes

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