PREVIEW: Blues host Hawks Labour Day

The Varsity Blues football team kicks off their 2014 regular season campaign versus the Laurier Golden Hawks this Monday night, September 1, at 7 p.m. at Varsity Centre.
 
The game will be streamed live and live stats will be available on OUA.tv.
 
“Although we are coming off one of our strongest finishes in several years, there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Varsity Blues head coach Greg Gary, who enters his fourth season at U of T. “We’ve got a great group of veterans back with us and a large recruiting class coming in so I’m excited for this year to get started. We’re going to build on our successes, learn from our mistakes and take this season one game at a time.”

Let’s take a look at the 2014 squad:
 
WHO’S GONE
Receivers Paul de Pass and Alex Pierzchalski; Running back Aaron Milton; linebackers Harrison Beeforth and Christopher Johnson; Safety Kevin Kinahan;
 
WHO’S BACK
Quarterbacks Simon Nassar and Chris Jugovic; Receivers Boris Isakov, Llevi Noel and Michael Kanopoulos; Offensive linemen Aaron Wheaton and Danny Spruklis; Linebackers Dylan Gordon; Safety and returner Kevin Bradfield; Defensive Backs Jaiden McBride and John Connors.
 
WHO’S NEW
Running back Divante Smith; Offensive Lineman Ryan Searle; Receiver Rahul Madan; Linebacker Robert Welch; Defensive linemen Gurjant Singh and Javin Haughton.
 
Offence
 
All eyes will be on fourth-year veteran quarterback Simon Nassar, who is expected to make the start in the Blues season opener this Monday night. The Toronto native threw for 1549 yards in four starts last season and will be backed up by third-year pivot Chris Jugovic. Jugovic also had a stellar 2013 season, posting 909 passing yards before succumbing to injury.
 
The duo is under the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Luigi Costanzo. Costanzo is coming off an impressive 2013 season, where he helped lead the Ottawa Gee-Gees to the nation’s second best offence in total yards.
 
Boris Isakov and Michael Kanopoulos are set to fill the void of graduating receivers Paul de Pass and Alex Pierzchalski. Llevi Noel is also another target to keep an eye on, after ranking third on the team with 26 catches for 502 yards in his rookie season last year.
 
The Blues have a couple of running backs looking to jump into a starting role this season. Sophomore Alex Malone and third-year standout Lukas Gavac are poised to step up this season, after the departure of starting running back and CFL draftee, Aaron Milton.
 
At 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, fifth-year veteran Aaron Wheaton leads Toronto’s offensive line. He, along with 2013-14 U of T male rookie of the year Danny Sprukulis, will be relied upon heavily to establish a pocket and protect their quarterback.

Defence
 
Toronto’s defence is under the leadership of three-time CFL all-star Kevin Eiben. Eiben sees the return of an all-veteran defensive line, including Everton Williams, Zack Lukings and Aaron Jervis.
 
Dylan Gordon is coming off another successful season that saw him rank sixth in the OUA and 13th in the country with 47 tackles in eight games.  He, along with veteran Dave Green, will be relied upon to lead a young corps of linebackers this season.  
 
The Blues secondary will be highlighted by free safety John Connors, who returns from injury after missing the majority of 2013, as well as corners Jaiden McBride and Jimmy Ro.
 
Special Teams
 
2013 CIS all-Canadian returner Kevin Bradfield returns after a record-breaking season in 2013. The Toronto native etched his named into U of T’s record book, passing Glenn McCausland’s (1990-94) career punt return yardage record of 1,135 yards. He also set new U of T records for the most punt returns (59) and punt return yardage (734) in a single season and led all players in the CIS in punt return yardage last year.
 
Quarterback Marcus Hobbs will resume punting duties this season, making him a lethal weapon, while Eric Hewitson is back for his second season of place kicking duties for the Blues.

(Source:  University of Toronto Varsity Blues Sports Information)

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