Class 2012: Harland Hastings is going home (Video)

Harland Hastings has spent the past three years playing cornerback for the Centennial Coyotes in South Calgary. It is because of his play in the past three years that he will now be making the move out east to Acadia University.

Harland Hastings

Position:

Cornerback/Punt Returner/Kick Returner

Height & Weight:

5’11, 165 lbs

Teams:

Centennial High School (Calgary)

Commitment:

Acadia University

Class:

2012

Before grade ten Harland had never played football. As a matter of fact he was new to contact sports altogether. Harland grew up competing in gymnastics, which is where a lot of his physical ability can be traced back to. When the high school football season came around, Harland decided he would give it a try and strapped on the pads. As it just so happened, Harland liked contact.

If it wasn’t for one of his biggest influences in life, Harland might not have even given football a try. Harland’s older brother Rodrick played for Centennial a couple of years before him. Rodrick was in the same position, never having played football before high school. Rodrick was relatively successful, being the teams leading receiver and making it to represent South Alberta at the Alberta Senior Bowl. Witnessing how much fun his brother had playing this game was a major influence on Harland’s decision to play.

From the moment that Harland put on the pads, he knew this game was a fit. That doesn’t mean he didn’t have some nerves in the beginning however.

“My most memorable football experience has got to be the first day of contact. After getting our pads, the team began hitting drills and I was nervous… That was probably the scariest day of my life. I had no experience with tackle football, and they decided to mix the junior and senior teams for that day of practice! Once I got into it though I realized it wasn’t as bad as I had expected, and I actually enjoyed it,” says Harland.

The contact is something that Harland enjoys about the game, but there are other aspects to it that he loves.

“Having a gymnastics background, I am very used to routine. I love how in football there is constant change and new challenges. Every week you have to prepare for new opponents, critic your play, and try to grow as a player and as a team… I really enjoy that.”

Harland is taking an honest approach to the coming years of university.

“Honestly, I just hope that the classes aren’t too hard for me. I am kind of nervous about how big of a jump it is really going to be.”

As for football, he has some specific goals in mind that he considers to be realistic.

“I want to be a starter after two years, and I want it to be at cornerback… I know Acadia is pretty set at corner right now, so they are considering switching my position… but I love corner, so if I can I would like to make it at that position.”

“Really though I am just going to be happy playing for Acadia. I look forward to living back in Nova Scotia, that’s where I am from originally and all of my family is back there, it should be a good four years”