Rams to report for training camp Friday

REGINA, Sask. – The University of Regina Rams will kick preparations for the 2016 season into high gear this weekend, with players reporting for training camp on Friday and the first on-field session scheduled for Saturday.

It will be the first training camp under the direction of first-year head coach Steve Bryce, a former Rams offensive lineman who originally hails from Regina but comes to the U of R following a seven-year stint as the head coach at Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

“I’m extremely optimistic as we head into camp and I’m excited to see what we’ve put together,” Bryce said. “Our top priority as a staff is to clearly define our depth chart. We’re going to put the best 12 players out there on the field, and I expect to see some great competition at a lot of positions throughout camp.”

The Rams expect to have a total of 88 players in camp – 57 of which are returning from last season’s roster, and 31 newcomers to the program. Many of the returning offensive players had key roles last season, including quarterback Noah Picton, running back Atlee Simon, the receiving quintet of Mitch Thompson, Mitchell Picton, Andrew Bennett, Riley Wilson, and Davin Johnston, linemen Nathan Cugnet and Matt Degelman, and fullback Jens Johnson. The team also returns several major contributors on the defensive side of the ball, as linemen Bryce McKinnon and Eric Wicijowski, linebackers Zack McEachern, Danny Nesbitt, and Michael Stefanovic, and defensive backs Joey Dwyer, Korey Greene, Travoy Martinez, and Mason Rossler are all back.

Bryce’s staff includes seven coaches from last year’s team. Both coordinators also coached with the Rams last season, as Mark McConkey retains his role as offensive coordinator and Sheldon Gray makes the move from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator. The other returning coaches are Steve Hanson (offensive line), Nathan Hoffart (receivers), Dwayne Masson (running backs), Sheldon Neald (offensive line), and Greg Nesbitt (defensive line).

Six new position coaches join Bryce’s staff, including Campbell Antonini (quarterbacks), Mark Becker (tight ends & scout team), Ventson Donelson (defensive backs), Derek Lamer (linebackers), Kevin Pierce (special teams), and BK Woldu (defensive backs).

Beginning with Saturday, the first six days of on-field sessions are all power practices which stretch from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the U of R Field. The team shifts to nightly practices (7 to 9 p.m.) beginning on Saturday, Aug. 20 leading up to the exhibition game on Thursday, Aug. 25 against the University of Calgary in Medicine Hat, Alta.

After the tune-up against the Dinos, it’s straight into preparations for the season opener which is set for Friday, Sept. 2 at Saskatchewan. The team’s home opener is the following Thursday, as the Rams host Manitoba on Sept. 8.

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