Sun staff excited about what 2011 brings (spring camp video)

The first game of the 2011 season is still over two months away, but the Okanagan Sun has what it considers it’s first win of the season after a top recruit signed with the club immediately following Sunday’s scrimmage.

Quarterback Jeremy Joseph (Elmwood High School, Winnipeg), who played last season with St. Francis Xavier University informed GM Howie Zaron and head coach Jason Casey he would don the brown jersey in 2011. While players coming directly from high school cannot be signed to Canadian Junior Football League contracts until June 1, university players can be signed immediately, so locking up Joseph was priority one for the Zaron and Casey this weekend.

There were 8 quarterbacks in camp, and while all impressed Casey, there was little doubt that incumbent Bobby Davis and Joseph were the best two signal callers on the field.

Joseph attended the spring camp of the Westshore (Victoria) Rebels in April and was heavily pursued by the island team. With the Rebels current returning quarterback having limited junior experience, Joseph’s prospects to take over the starting role there were excellent.

So why did he choose the club that already has one of the top two quarterbacks in the British Columbia Football Conference? Surprisingly, Sun quarterback Bobby Davis was one of the reason’s Joseph chose the Sun.

“It’s awesome (his relationship with Bobby). That’s one of the reasons I’m comfortable here, he has been really good to me since I got here. Bobby and I joke around a lot; we had a lot of laughs. Not just over the weekend but during the full week I was here. I’m going to enjoy being his teammate this year. I am looking forward to that. I know that there will be situations where we will both be on the field at the same time, and who is going to stop us?

While the camp was a three day affair, Joseph arrived in town over two weeks ago and has been attending the club twice weekly workouts and getting to know Sun veterans and rookies attempting to crack the roster.

“Everything about the Sun, it really felt like a family here. The coaches here were great, even the players. Everyone here was really welcoming here. I’ve made some friends on the team since I’ve been here.

“I much appreciate everything Howie Zaron has done, convincing me to get out here. He was straight up with me when I came in. I understand Bobby is the starting quarterback, but that doesn’t mean I can’t find a way to contribute and get on the field too and help this football team win a championship.”

Jason Casey was obviously excited about having Davis and Joseph leading his offense this season.

“Bobby and JJ are so different in some ways. They both read really well, and out of the pocket so dangerous. Jeremy will make guys miss, and Bobby will run them over. The thing is they are both leaders, you could see that they both have the experience that you need in a quarterback if you are going to win a championship. They both coach up their teammates, that’s huge for us. They run the show when they are on the field.”

Both Davis and Joseph turn 21 this season so are in their second to last season of junior eligibility. The Sun intend to carry 4 quarterbacks this season with an eye to grooming the future signal caller so two of the remaining quarterbacks from spring camp will be receiving calls shortly.

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