Gee-Gees load up on linemen

uOttawa adds a local commit, a southern Ontario commit and an out-of-province commit to their Class of 2018.

Linemen Nicolas Coutu from Champlain College Lennoxville, Greg Harris from Holy Trinity Catholic High School and Jaden Lattamore from London South Collegiate are heading to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees with one particular intent in mind, to grow and develop as both a player and as a man.

Nicolas Coutu

By Maxime Bellemare.

After injuring his leg, Nicolas Coutu was sidelined for two years. That didn’t make him any less attractive to the Gee-Gees. “Even after my leg injury…they still believed in me and my potential,” he said.

“I chose Ottawa because I believe in their potential to accomplish big things and their coaching staff. I think that Carl, the offensive line coach, will really help me develop as a player but also as a better person,” Coutu said.

He added that he loves the city of Ottawa, and “the OUA is way more attractive than Québec.”

Coutu spent his high school career with Les Sphinx du Collège de L’Assomption (RSEQ) before playing for the Champlain College Lennoxville Cougars (RSEQ Division 1) for four years. In his first year with the team, his team beat Le Notre-Dame du Campus-Notre-Dame in the 2015 Bol d’Or. In his final season with the team, they beat the Vanier Cheetahs for his second Bol d’Or.

Coutu is from L’Assomption, Québec, which is outside of Montréal. The 6’3, 270lbs offensive lineman has been accepted into criminology.

Greg Harris

Courtesy of Greg Harris.

Already accustomed to football in his hometown of Ottawa, Ontario, Greg Harris saw little reason to leave. “I chose uOttawa because it felt like home. The coaching staff is one of the best in the country. Head Coach Barresi is one of the smartest coaches I have ever had the privilege to work with,” he said.

“My positional coach, Carl, is the best o-line coach I have ever met. He is dedicated, hard working and I cannot wait to be able to work with him for the next five years,” the offensive lineman added.

In his nine-year career, Harris has played with the Myers Riders (OVFL), the Ottawa Sooners (OFC) and the Holy Trinity Tornados (National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association). In 2016, he won an OVFL championship. He will be studying criminology.

“uOttawa is an up-and-coming football school,” Harris, who is 6’4, 275lbs, said. “I am excited to be apart of it.”

Jaden Lattamore

As a fresh-faced grade nine student, university football was a distant dream for Jaden Lattamore. His whole life consisted of hockey and baseball until he began playing football at the start of high school.

“I have never looked back. While I still love to play those sports, they have become secondary interests. When I started playing (football)…university football wasn’t even on my mind. I can’t believe that I am here now,” he said.

By Jessie Manuel.

“The young age of the (Gee-Gees) team appealed to me. It made me notice that a lot of young players can be really successful here, lots of opportunity to grow and develop,” he added. “I love the coaching staff. They are a great group of guys. I think I can learn a lot of useful things that I can use to make me a better person and a better football player.”

Lattamore has spent four years playing in his hometown of London, Ontario. He has suited up for the London South Lions (Thames Valley Regional Athletics), the Forest City Thunderbirds (OFC) and Team Ontario. He is a two-time all-star and offensive player of the year with the Thunderbirds in 2016 and 2017.

While with the dominate Lions program, he was apart of the 39-1 dynasty that won four city and four WOSSAA championships. They also capped off the 2016 season with an OFSAA win. Their only loss came at the hands of Holy Names, who beat the Lions in the 2017 OFSAA Bowl.

Standing at 6’4, 240lbs, Lattamore, who plays as a defensive end, is interested in business management.

“I cannot wait to move to the next level in football and see what I can do,” Lattamore said. “(I) still have lots to learn, but I feel confident (that the) Ottawa U coaches are going to help me get there.”

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