EventsSaints standout just starting recruitment process.
A change of scenery is just what St. Andrew’s College Saints offensive lineman Gregor MacKellar needed to boost recruitment.
Gregor MacKellar:
Positions:
Offensive Line (Left Tackle), Defensive Line
Height/Weight:
6’5, 314 lbs
Teams:
St. Andrew’s College Saints (high school: CISAA)
Sir John A MacDonald Flames (high school: NSSAFFL)
Timberlea Renegades
Timberlea Titans
Commitment
None
Official Visits:
None
Considerations:
Open
Class:
2017
MacKellar began his gridiron career in 2009 with the Timberlea Titans Minor Football Association. That year, the lineman was named MVP for helping the atom team win the Provincial Championship.
He would move to play for both the peewee and bantam teams. Additionally, MacKellar has suited up for other teams during his career including Timberlea Renegades as well as Sir John A MacDonald Flames of the Nova Scotia Student Athletic Federation Football League (NSSAFFL).
Currently, the lineman is playing with St. Andrew’s College Saints of the Conference Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA).
Moreover, Mackellar has represented his province and country as a member of Team Nova Scotia’s under -17 squad at the Wilson Cup Challenge in Quebec (2012, 2013), Team Nova Scotia’s under-18 squad at Football Canada Cup tournaments in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (2014) as well as Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec (2015), Team Ontario’s under-18 squad at the International Bowl in Arlington, Texas (2015) and Team Canada’s under-18 team at the International Bowl in Arlington Texas (2015).
In 2013, MacKellar experienced of the two key highlights of his gridiron career.
“The first was winning the NSSAFFL Championship as a rookie starter for the SJA Flames (Nova Scotia),” recalled the Saints lineman. “We went into that game as the underdogs and we fought so hard as a team to win this Championship.”
“We gave it everything we had and left everything on the field. We beat the CPA Cheetahs by 1 point that day. I can still remember the feeling I had when the game ended. Complete euphoria and exhaustion! Our school and the entire community were behind us and they showed up in droves to cheer us on at Saint Mary’s University. It really was a highlight for me.”
However, there is another highlight in MacKellar’s career that was so surreal that he got to experience it again for a second consecutive straight time south of the border.
“Another equally memorable experience was getting to play football at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys last year,” added the lineman. “I was part of Team Ontario (U18) who competed at the 2015 International Bowl.”
This was definitely a football highlight. I was so excited to go back to the 2016 International Bowl for another year. This time, I played for Team Canada which has been a goal of mine. I was truly honoured to be named as a 2015 Canada Cup All Star and the only player from Nova Scotia in 2015 to be named to Team Canada under-18. My goal has always been to play hard For Team Canada and to proudly represent Nova Scotia, my Titans/ Flames family and my fellow Andreans from Saint Andrew’s College.”
MacKellar has received multiple honours including Nova Scotia Flag Football League MVP (2013), Ridgecliff Middle School Flag Football Team MVP (2013), Flames Offensive Rookie of the Year (2014), Football Canada Cup Offensive All Star (2015).
In his quest to continue achieving success on the gridiron, the Saint standout has consistently completed a rigourous training regimen throughout the year.
“In 2012 I began training at The Ultimate Athlete Company (Halifax, Nova Scotia), under the direction of Alan Wetmore,” described MacKellar. “I train with Alan whenever I come home to Nova Scotia.”
“I spend Christmas Break, March Break and my entire summer training at Ultimate Athlete. While at SAC I try to get a lift and/or cardio and footwork drills in six days a week. We have a state of the art weight room at SAC in the brand new LaBrier Athletic Complex and I train under Strength and Conditioning Coach John Murray.”
On and off the field, it is not lost on MacKellar that he would not have been able to excel without the encouragement and motivation of several individuals. It first starts off with his family.
“I would say the most influential people in my life would have to be my parents,” expressed the Saints lineman. “They have taught me to work hard in every aspect of my life whether it was schoolwork, football, music and even chores around the house.”
“My parents have supported me 100 percent in everything that I have undertaken. They have sacrificed a great deal of their time and money for both my sister and me. Without the support of my parents and my extended family I would not be able to attend St. Andrew’s College, one of the most incredible prep schools in the country.”
There have been some key figures in his gridiron life that he acknowledges as well.
“I have been fortunate to have some incredible football coaches over the years,” offered MacKellar. “Coaches who have not only taught me the game of football but who have instilled in me what it is to be a good teammate and what true sportsmanship is all about.”
“There is one assistant o-line coach that I had when I played on the Nova Scotia Provincial U17 Team who truly has influenced me and he has helped to make me the player that I am today and the player that I continue to grow into. His name is Riley Brown. He is from Calgary, Alberta and he played O-Line for the SMU Huskies (Halifax, Nova Scotia). Not only did Riley coach me on the Provincial Team but he also spent time with me in the off season teaching me footwork and OL skills. Never would he take payment for his time and expertise. He encouraged me to do field work outs with him at SMU and often times the SMU players would let me join in on their off season field sessions. This meant more to a young player than Riley would ever know. I got to know the SMU OL players and they would always take the time to stop and speak to me after their games and they had a genuine interest in how I was doing and how my football was progressing. I hope to be able to do the same for other young players. I definitely need to attend a university that encourages their players to get involved in their community and mentor young players.”
Not only does MacKellar excel on the gridiron, but he is also an accomplished musician and sees comparisons between music and the sport.
“Some people might not know that I am a Grade 1 competitive bagpiper,” offered the Saints standout. “I started piping when I was six years old; I know a strange combination football and piping.”
“Surprisingly playing on a football team and playing in a pipe and drum band is more alike than you think. You are expected to learn and perfect your position/music to contribute to the overall success of the team/band. As a football player/ band member you are also expected to work hard in the off season so that you are prepared for the upcoming competitive season.”
With graduation from St. Andrew’s only just over a year away, MacKellar is already envisioning the goals he wants to realize in the future.
“My goal is to complete a business degree at university while having a successful college football career as well,” said the Saints lineman. “I would love to play football for as long as I possibly can.”
“Playing in the NFL or CFL is obviously a dream of mine. I enjoy being outdoors fishing and four-wheeling and I would like to one day own or operate a business that caters to this outdoor lifestyle. Football will always be a part of my life, whether I am playing, coaching, mentoring or volunteering in my community.”
While he is in the early stages of recruiting and is open to all considerations from both sides of the border, MacKellar gives credit to his current coach for helping him gain exposure while doing his own part to promote himself.
“The official recruitment process has just begun for me,” reflected the Saints standout. “I am fortunate in that SAC really promotes their athletes and Coach [Len] Gurr takes every opportunity to tell CIS and NCAA coaches about his players.”
“I have been attending summer football camps and workshops since I started playing football. Getting to know coaches and showing them your work ethic really goes a long way. Playing in the Football Canada Cup for two years allowed me to meet CIS coaches across the country and to develop relationships with them. I also think that going to school in Ontario has definitely helped to expose me to CIS and NCAA coaches and recruiters. I will be attending camps and going on some official visits in Canada and the USA this spring. So far the process has been positive and the coaches have been very helpful. It will come down to me doing my research on the schools and whether their academic and football programs will be a good fit for me. I am very excited to see what the next year brings.”
MacKellar has learned a tremendous amount from playing the sport. However, things were put in perspective recently with the passing of a former teammate who has had a profound impact in his career and the way he will continue to forge his career in future years.
“I think that football teaches you what it is to be part of a “family”,” elaborated MacKellar. “As a football player your teammates and coaches become an extension of your family.”
“The football family teaches you the importance of working hard and making a commitment to your team. You are taught respect and integrity. You experience success and disappointment together and this helps to make you stronger. You are taught to support each other in good times and bad. I think no matter how many teams you play on and how many teammates you have over the years, you are always part of that family. This became apparent to me in November when Jadon Robinson, a former Nova Scotia teammate of mine died as a result of a car accident. I was devastated to hear this news and being at school in Ontario away from my SJA Flames family was difficult. My SAC family was very supportive until I was able to come home from school to attend Jadon’s funeral in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. In true form, my Flames family was there to welcome me back and we were able to support each other at this difficult time. I travelled to Yarmouth that day with the football team and I was honoured to be pallbearer for Jadon. I think of Jadon often. He was that guy who could always make you laugh even when you didn’t feel like it. Although not physically there with me, Jadon’s presence was felt when I took the field at the 2016 International Bowl in Texas. #JSTRONG.”
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