CIS preview: Regina Rams hope veteran team leads them to championship season

The University of Regina Rams return almost the entire roster from last year’s team that finished in third place in the Canada West standings with a 5-3 conference record.

Three fifth-year players are expected to lead the Rams’ offence this season, one of which will be quarterback Marc Mueller. Mueller attended the Edmonton Eskimos’ training camp earlier this summer and has led the conference in passing yards in both of the past two seasons. Running back Adrian Charles and slotback Brenden Owens, both entering their final season of CIS eligibility, will again play a big role when the Rams have the ball.

Cornerback Jamir Walker will return for his fourth season of eligibility after a breakout campaign in 2010 that saw him become the first University of Regina defensive back to be named a first-team All-Canadian. Also returning is defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, who was named a Canada West all-star in his first year of Canadian football. The Rams return nine starters on the defensive side of the ball but will need to find replacements for middle linebacker Bruce Anderson and safety Matt Yausie, who both graduated after being named conference all-stars last season.

The Rams open up their 2011 schedule with a non-conference game against Manitoba on Saturday, Aug. 27 and host UBC in the Canada West season opener on Friday, Sept. 2.

Quote from head coach:

“Our players have all worked very hard through the off-season and I expect the team to be well conditioned, strong, and well prepared for a tough Canada West schedule this year. We return a strong veteran core this year and I expect some of the newcomers to be able to step in and contribute immediately.” – Frank McCrystal

Head Coach: Frank McCrystal

– Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2011): 13
– Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2011): 13
– Career regular season record with team: 44-51-1
– Career regular season record in CIS: 44-51-1
– Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 50-60-1
– Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 50-60-1

2010 regular season record: 5-3
2010 regular season standings: 3rd, Canada West
2010 playoff record: 0-1
2010 playoff finish: Lost 40-33 to Calgary in Canada West semifinals

OFFENCE

Number of returning starters: 9

Key returning players:

RB Adrian Charles (5-9, 184 – Scarborough, Ont.) – Charles was named a first-team All-Canadian and a Canada West all-star last season after breaking the U of R’s single-season record with 972 rushing yards. Charles, who also led the conference with nine rushing touchdowns, is in his final season of CIS eligibility.

WR Mark McConkey (6-2, 190 – Calgary, Alta.) – McConkey led Canada West with 45 receptions last season and finished second on the team with a total of 509 receiving yards. McConkey, who still has two seasons of eligibility remaining, enters the 2011 season tied for sixth on the school’s all-time list with 109 career receptions.

QB Marc Mueller (6-0, 200 – Regina, Sask.) – Mueller attended Edmonton Eskimos training camp this summer and will return for his fifth season with the Rams and third as the team’s starting quarterback. Mueller led Canada West in passing yards in both 2009 and 2010 and needs just 190 to hit 5000 for his career.

SB Brenden Owens (6-1, 185 – Regina, Sask.) – Owens was named a second-team All-Canadian and a Canada West all-star last year despite missing two starts due to an injury. He finished second in Canada West in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches in 2010 and enters his final season of CIS eligibility ranked fifth on the U of R’s all-time list with 13 career TD receptions.

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

OL Joel Hrycyk (6-3, 295 – Saskatoon, Sask.) – Hrycyk was a CJFL first-team All-Canadian and a PFC all-star last season for the Saskatoon Hilltops and could step into a role with a Rams team that loses starters John Hashem and Devin Hillier from the line.

SB Addison Richards (6-4, 172 – Regina, Sask.) – Richards was an RHSAA all-star slotback as a Grade 12 with Sheldon-Williams Collegiate, helping the Spartans finish with a 6-3-1 overall record last season.

WR Jay Smith (6-0, 200 – Regina, Sask.) – Like Hrycyk, Smith was also a CJFL first-team All-Canadian and a PFC all-star in 2010. He was named the PFC’s Outstanding Receiver, leading the league in receptions (52), receiving yards (721), and touchdown catches (10) for the Regina Thunder.

Key losses: RT John Hashem, LG Devin Hillier, WR Chris King.

DEFENCE

Number of returning starters: 10

Key returning players:

DB Steve Famulak (5-10, 185 – Regina, Sask.) – Playing in a dimeback role for the Rams, Famulak started all eight Canada West games for the Rams and tied for second in the conference with 4½ sacks. He also had 27 total tackles, 6½ tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup.

DT Akiem Hicks (6-6, 306 – Elk Grove, Calif.) – Hicks was named a Canada West all-star at defensive tackle in his first season with the Rams, ending up with 24 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and 1½ sacks during the 2010 campaign.

OLB Chris Sciog (6-1, 224 – Kelliher, Sask.) – Sciog ended up with a team-high 43 total tackles last season, a total which ranked third among Canada West players. He also had 2½ sacks and a forced fumble during the conference season.

CB Jamir Walker (5-11, 181 – Regina, Sask.) – Walker became the first Canada West player since 1986 to record at least three interception return touchdowns in a single season. He ended up with a conference-leading five interceptions during 2010 and was named a first-team All-Canadian and a Canada West all-star.

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

DB Kahlen Branning (5-11, 165 – Moose Jaw, Sask.) – Branning registered 890 passing yards for Central Collegiate last season to lead all Moose Jaw High School Football League quarterbacks, but will be transitioned to a defensive back with the Rams.

LB Adam Grilj (6-1, 220 – Grimsby, Ont.) – Grilj hails from southern Ontario but comes to the Rams from the Westshore Rebels. He had 36 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles, and three sacks last season for the Rebels and was named a BCFC all-star.

DB Cody Johnstone (6-0, 174 – Moose Jaw, Sask.) – Johnstone was a league all-star in both 2009 and 2010 for the Regina Thunder and was also named the PFC’s Outstanding Defensive Back following the 2009 campaign. Johnstone had four interceptions for the Thunder last season.

Key losses: MLB Bruce Anderson, S Matt Yausie.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Key returning players:

P/K Chris Bodnar (5-11, 190 – Saskatoon, Sask.) – Bodnar was named a Canada West all-star last season after leading Canada West with an average of 41 yards per punt. He was also 12-for-18 on his field goal attempts and was 30-for-32 in point-after attempts. Bodnar has two seasons of CIS eligibility remaining.

Source: Braden Konschuh, Regina Sports Info

Incoming Recruiting Class:

Regina 14

Derek Yachison – REC – Murdoch Mackay / Team Manitoba (Winnipeg) Verbal
Joel Hrycyk – OL – Saskatoon Hilltops Verbal
Anthony Dale – OL – Saskatoon Hilltops Verbal
Ian Miller – REC – Saskatoon Hilltops Verbal
Addison Richards – REC – Regina Sheldon / Team Saskatchewan (Regina) Verbal
Nathan Schulte – REC – Regina Sheldon / Team Saskatchewan (Regina) Verbal
Kahleen Branning – DB – Moose Jaw Central (Moose Jaw, SK) Verbal
Mark Coons – RB – Regina Thunder (Regina) Verbal
Cody Johnstone – DB – Regina Thunder (Regina) Verbal
Jay Smith – REC – Regina Thunder (Regina) Verbal
Ryan Barton – DB – Toronto Thunder (Toronto) Verbal
Tevaughn Campbell – DB – Toronto Thunder (Toronto) Verbal
Zack Rensby – DL – Estevan Elecs (Estevan, SK) Verbal
Adam Grilj 6-1, 220 LB – Westshore Rebels (Grimsby, ON) Verbal

CLICK HERE for all CIS teams recruiting classes

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