TORONTO β The York University Lions football team has built a strong offence for next season and got another boost this week with the commitment of three additional standout recruits to the program for 2015.
Running back Jesse Amankwaa, receiver Myles Gardener and quarterback Harrison Mancuso all signed their letters of intent and will join the Lions this summer. All three of them bring tremendous football resumes to the program and will make a strong impact on the team in the years to come.
βWe were already very happy with our recruiting class for 2015 and the addition of Jesse, Myles and Harrison puts it over the top,β said Lions Head Coach Warren Craney. βItβs not often that you get three players of their calibre to commit together late in the recruiting season, and we were thrilled to hear from each of them in the last couple of weeks.”
“We have definitely set the bar with this recruiting class and we canβt wait to see what they can do on the field next season.β
Amankwaa, 5β11, 210 lbs., was the starting running back at Michael Power / St. Joseph C.H.S. and with the Etobicoke Eagles in the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL). He was an OVFL all-star in 2013 after rushing for 555 yards in eight games and averaging 6.1 yards per carry. His brother, Kingsley, is also a running back in the OUA, playing for the McMaster Marauders.
Gardener, 6β0, 155 lbs., joins the Lions from St. Marcellinus C.S.S. and the Mississauga Warriors OVFL team. He helped his high school team go undefeated in league play last fall and reach the ROPSSAA final, and he also scored the winning points on a 75-yard punt return touchdown to help the Warriors win the junior varsity championship in 2012.
Mancuso, 6β3, 180 lbs., comes to the Lions from the successful Huron Heights H.S. football program. He was part of the team that won the 2012 Metro Bowl championship, and in 2013 he was named the York Region offensive MVP. He also played for the York Simcoe Bucks in the OVFL.
These three join an impressive recruiting class that also includes five tremendous players from Alberta β receivers Colton Hunchak and Jacob Janke, quarterback Brett Hunchak and linebackers Jakob Butler and Jakub Jakoubek β as well as a number of other local athletes who bring exceptional skill to the line-up.
Amankwaa, Gardener, Mancuso and the rest of the commits will be on campus in August when training camp opens. The Lionsβ first game is on Sunday, Aug. 30 when the squad hosts the Laurier Golden Hawks at York Stadium.
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