Gryphons’ commit excited by OUA challenge

Guelph welcomes an out-of-province commit to their 2019 class.

Justin Lauzon, a linebacker from Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, is ready to take the OUA, and the University of Guelph Gyrphons, by storm.

When Lauzon heard that his former trainer, Shea Pierre, was now the Gryphons’ strength and conditioning coach, it piqued his interest. “I had been to his gym last year for training and I absolutely loved my experience with him. So, I started to look up Guelph University,” he said.

During his visit to Guelph, Lauzon said he was impressed with the team’s football pavilion and facilities. “I felt completely at my place. I loved everything and just knew it was my place,” he added.

For Lauzon, probably one of the biggest attention grabbers was the OUA itself. He said he loves the league and that “there are 11 teams, so you’re never playing the same team during the regular season, an experience by itself.”

When he reaches U Sports, the 5’8, 190lbs outside linebacker will be entering into a league that is unacquainted with him. “I am challenged by the fact that nobody knows me in Ontario, so I want to go there as a nobody and mark my team and the league my way,” Lauzon said.

It will be the Guelph coaches who will be there to guide Lauzon on his quest. “The coaching staff is awesome. The coaches know what they’re doing, and they have a lot of experience. They also have this mentality that better players are going to play no matter what year you are,” he said.

“They aren’t only looking at size in order to make an opinion about a player. They’re ready to give me a try even if some considered me too small for my position and that’s all that matters,” he added. “I can’t wait to play for them.”

From 2012 to 2015, Lauzon played with Les Patriotes d’École Secondaire Saint-Joseph (RSEQ). The product of Sainte-Hyacinthe, Québec, then joined Les Géants du Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (RSEQ Division 1). He was a team MVP in his final year of high school and a defensive MVP in his rookie year with Les Géants. He also won an academic award from the RSEQ this year and was a two-time defensive player of the week. He was sidelined with an injury in his second year of cégep ball.

Lauzon is interested in taking accounting. He said that Guelph appealed to him because it gave him the opportunity to better his English skills. “In brief, I think Guelph is the better place for me in order to develop myself as a person and a player,” he said.

When Lauzon joins the Gryphons, he will be in a unique position. “The fact that I’ll be the first guy from Saint-Jean in Guelph improved my excitement,” he said. “Also, this commitment would not have been possible without the excellent coaching staff at Saint-Jean. One last thing: Saint-Jean, c’est la place!”

From the Géants of the
Cégep Saint-Jean-sur Richelieu
We Welcome the #NextGryphon
LB Justin Lauzon#StriveForExcellence #GryphonFamily pic.twitter.com/MUklKcws0k

— Gryphon Football (@GryphonFootball) November 20, 2018