Marauders announce 2017 defensive recruiting class

In the wake of February’s announcement of 30 new additions to the Marauders football family for the 2017 season and beyond, the program unveiled the balance of the recruiting class, predominantly made up of defensive players, on Tuesday.

Complementing those previously announced, 22 high-calibre student-athletes officially joined the McMaster program, adding a strong group of defensive players to the class and a number of exceptional athletes with the ability to feature on either side of the ball.

A few names remain outstanding, and could yet join that cast of 52 by month’s end.

“Our coaches are excited by the challenge of rebuilding this roster, and have worked tirelessly to build this recruiting class,” said McMaster head coach Greg Knox.

“Going into this recruiting cycle we knew we had to bring in a big class, as we had several key areas of need on our roster that had become more pressing in the past couple of seasons. We feel this class has addressed those areas, and I know I speak for our whole staff when I say that we are very excited to work with these young men.”

Graduation and professional interest, with five current Marauder signees on Canadian Football League rosters and eight invitees headed to coming CFL national and regional combines, will reshape McMaster’s roster in 2017.

Knox is not concerned, and is encouraged by both the work being done in the offseason by Mac’s returning group and the potential of the cohort heading to Hamilton this Fall.

“I believe we will have a strong core of returning players and I’m encouraged by their hard work and progress this offseason,” said Knox. “We will likely have to replace 12-14 starters this fall so I expect a competitive and productive spring camp this year and certainly a competitive camp this Fall.”

“It’s an exciting time. We’ve worked extremely hard to rebuild our roster in the year’s recruiting cycle and I believe the results speak for themselves. I want to thank all of the coaches on our staff who had an instrumental role in landing this class, led by our recruiting coordinator, Frank Gesztesi.”

With the 2017 class largely firmed up, Knox and his staff are already turning their attention to the needs of 2018. The extensive recruiting efforts of this season have gone a long way toward normalizing the Marauders roster, and attention will now turn to smaller, more targeted efforts moving forward.

Name:	POS:	H:	W:	Hometown:	Name:	POS:	H:	W:	Hometown
Teddy Mansell	LB	6’0	220	Niagara Falls, ON	James Bradley	DL	6’3	300	Saanich, BC
Noah Smith	DL	6’3	275	Sault Ste Marie, ON	Shaquille Lawson	DE/LB	6’2	225	Edmonton, AB
Mario Alyas	DB	5’11	190	Cambridge, ON	Nathan Kyeame	RB	6’0	200	Markham, ON
David Weldon	LB	6’0	200	Toronto, ON	Jacob Baker	LB	6’0	200	Hamilton ON
Tyler Munroe	LB	6’0	205	Ajax, ON	Blaise Barber	LS	6’3	215	Hamilton, ON
Matt McBain	DL	6’2	280	Toronto, ON	Joe O’Brien	DB	6’0	190	Hamilton, ON
Isaac Crawford	ATH	6’4	180	Etobicoke, ON	Sebastian Paciocco	DE	6’1	235	Hamilton, ON
Myles Baldwin	DE	6’5	230	Winnipeg, MB	Brian Dowling	LB	6’1	190	Hamilton, ON
Daniel Loggale	DB	6’4	200	Edmonton, AB	Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown	ATH	6’0	190	Hamilton, ON
Jayden Lawson	LB	6’2	225	Calgary, AB	Seymo Msiss	DL	6’2	280	Burlington, ON
Devin Joseph	LB/DB	6’2	210	Hamilton, ON	Jordan Arruda	DL/DE	6’2	250	Burlington, ON

Recruit Bios

Teddy Mansell

Position: Linebacker
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 220 lbs
Hometown: Niagara Falls, Ontario
High School: Royal Imperial College of Canada & St. Paul
Club Team: Niagara Spears
All Star Teams: Team Canada, Team Ontario – International Bowl, Ontario Prospects Challenge
Awards: Ontario Prospects Challenge Defensive MVP, Saint Paul Defensive MVP
HIGHLIGHTS

Noah Smith

Position: Defensive Lineman
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 275 lbs
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
High School: Superior Heights Collegiate
Club Team: Sault Saint Marie Sabercats
All-Star Team: Ontario Prospects Challenge
Awards: OFSAA Northern Bowl Finalist, Sault Ste. Marie Lineman MVP, OFSAA Simcoe Bowl Player of the Game
HIGHLIGHTS

Mario Alyas

Position: Defensive Back
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 190 lbs
Hometown: Cambridge, Ontario
High School: Jacob Hespeler
Club Team: Cambridge Lions
Awards: WCSSAA All-Star
HIGHLIGHTS

David Weldon

Position: Linebacker
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 200 lbs
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
High School: Lawrence Park Collegiate
Club Team: Metro Toronto Wildcats
Awards: Metro Toronto Wildcats Team MVP, Lawrence Park CI Team MVP
HIGHLIGHTS

Tyler Munro

Position: Linebacker
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 205 lbs
Hometown: Ajax, Ontario
High School: Ajax High School
Club Team: Durham Dolphins
All-Star Teams: OVFL Prospects Game
HIGHLIGHTS

Matt McBain

Position: Defensive Lineman
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 280 lbs
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
High School: St. Mike’s College
Club Teams: Mississauga Warriors, Toronto Jr. Argos
All-Star Team: Team Ontario – International Bowl
HIGHLIGHTS

Isaac Crawford

Position: Athlete
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 180 lbs
Hometown: Etobicoke, Ontario
High School: Richview
Club Team: Etobicoke Eagles
HIGHLIGHTS

Myles Baldwin

Position: Defensive End
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 230 lbs
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba
High School: Vincent Massey
All-Star Team: Team Manitoba U18
HIGHLIGHTS

Daniel Loggale

Position: Defensive Back
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 200 lbs
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
High School: W.P. Wagner
Club Team: Edmonton Huskies
All-Star Teams: Team Canada, Alberta Senior Bowl
Award: Alberta Senior Bowl MVP
HIGHLIGHTS

Jayden Lawson

Position: Linebacker
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225 lbs
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
High School: Western Canada High School
Club Team: Calgary Colts
All-Star Team: Team Alberta U18
Award: Calgary Colts Rookie of the Year
HIGHLIGHTS

Devin Joseph

Position: Defensive Back/Linebacker
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 210 lbs
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
High School: Bishop Ryan & Niagara Football Academy
Club Teams: Hamilton Hurricanes, Steel City Patriots and Hamilton Ironmen
All-Star Team: Steel City Bowl
Awards: Bishop Ryan Defensive MVP
HIGHLIGHTS

James Bradley

Position: Defensive Lineman
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 300 lbs
Hometown: Saanich, British Columbia
High School: East Lake High School
Club Team: Westshore Rebels
Award: Westshore Rebels Top Defensive Lineman
HIGHLIGHTS

Shaquille Lawson

Position: Defensive End/Linebacker
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225 lbs
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
High School: Archbishop O’Leary
Club Team: Kamloops Broncos
HIGHLIGHTS

Nathan Kyeame

Position: Athlete
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 200 lbs
Hometown: Markham, Ontario
High School: Proctor Academy, New England
Award: First Team All-New England
HIGHLIGHTS

Jacob Baker

Position: Linebacker
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 200 lbs
Hamilton: Hamilton, Ontario
High School: St. Thomas More
Club Teams: Hamilton Hurricanes, Jr. Ticats
All-Star Team: Steel City Bowl
Awards: 2016 St. Thomas More MVP, OFSAA Champion
HIGHLIGHTS

Blaise Barber

Position: Long Snapper
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 215 lbs
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
High School: St. Thomas More
Club Team: Hamilton Hurricanes
All-Star Teams: Team Ontario – International Bowl, Steel City Bowl
Awards: Special Teams Player of the Year, OFSAA Champion
HIGHLIGHTS

Joe O’Brien

Position: Defensive Back
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 190 lbs
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
High School: St. Thomas More
Club Team: Hamilton Ironmen
All-Star Team: Steel City Bowl
Award: St. Thomas More Defensive MVP
HIGHLIGHTS

Sebastian Paciocco

Position: Defensive End
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 235 lbs
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
High School: Cathedral
Club Teams: Hamilton Jr. Ticats, Hamilton Ironmen
All-Star Teams: Team Ontario – International Bowl, Steel City Bowl
Awards: Ironmen Defensive Line MVP, Defensive MVP
HIGHLIGHTS

Brian Dowling

Position: Linebacker
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 190 lbs
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
High School: St. Mary
Club Team: Hamilton Jr. Ticats
All-Star Team: Steel City Bowl
HIGHLIGHTS

Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown

Position: Athlete
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 190 lbs
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
High School: Cathedral
Club Team: Hamilton Ironmen
All-Star Teams: Team Ontario – International Bowl, Ontario Prospects Challenge, Steel City Bowl
Award: Cathedral Male Athlete of the Year
HIGHLIGHTS

Seymo Msiss

Position: Defensive Lineman
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 280 lbs
Hometown: Burlington, Ontario
High School: Assumption
Club Team: Burlington Stampeders
All-Star Team: Ontario Prospects Challenge

Jordan Arruda

Position: Defensive End/Lineman
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 250 lbs
Hometown: Burlington, Ontario
High School: St. Francis
All-Star Team: Team Ontario
HIGHLIGHTS

 

Source: McMaster Marauders