Varsity Blues announce 7 recruiting commits hilighted by defensive line (video 5x)

The Varsity Blues football program is proud to announce seven more recruits that have been offered admission and committed play for U of T in the fall of 2011.

Chaney Fort and Jason Harrison are sure to step in and make a big impact on the defensive line. A native of Barrie, Ont., Fort is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound product of the St. Joan of Arc C.H.S. Knights. He was named the junior defensive most valuable player and was twice named the team’s defensive lineman of the year. Fort has accepted his offer and will study humanities starting in September.

A 6-foot-1, 245-pound native of Ajax, Ont., Harrison joins the Blues from the Ontario Varsity Football League’s (OVFL) Pickering Dolphins. He was named the Dolphins most valuable lineman in 2010, while also earning MVP honours as a member of the J. Clarke Richardson H.S. team. Harrison has accepted his offer into U of T’s life science program.

Darnell Girard, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker, comes from the Western Bowl champion Herman High School in Windsor, Ont. The two-time provincial shot put champion also enjoyed great success at the OFSAA track and field championships, earning the bronze medal in the senior boy’s category.

Also joining the Blues this fall are defensive linemen Damian Dziadosz and Mark Ehioghae. A native of Brantford, Ont., Dziadosz stands at 6-foot-4, 285 pounds and was named the St. John’s Eagles best lineman in 2007 and 2008. The social sciences major went on to earn the OVFL’s defensive lineman award as a member of the Brantford Bisons in 2010.

At 6-foot-2, 210-pounds, Ehioghae not only provides size, but great speed as well. A native of Nigeria, he was a member of the Father Henry Carr football team tier-2 quarter-finalists and anchored the 4x100m relay team to a gold medal at the 2011 OFSAA track and field championships this past weekend.

A 5-foot-10, 225-pound linebacker, Efe Enoyoze-Odiase has heard a lot about the Varsity Blues football program from Sir Sanford Fleming head coach and U of T alumni Barton Harvey. Under Harvey’s guidance, Enoyoze-Odiase was named the 2009 football team MVP as well as Sir Sanford Fleming’s athlete of the year.

Enoyoze-Odiase, who has been offered admission into U of T’s humanities program, is also an avid basketball player and was a member of the 2009 OFSAA boys basketball bronze medalist team.

Jaiden McBride of Whitby, Ont., looks to crack the Blues roster as a defensive back this fall. The Sinclair S.S. honour roll student was named the Durham Knights defensive MVP in 2010 and is also very active in his community, volunteering with two minor football teams in Pickering and Whitby. McBride will begin his studies in humanities in September.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visit www.varsityblues.ca.