Varsity Blues announce first six recruits in class of 2011

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football program is pleased to announce an exciting group of talented student-athletes that intend to pursue their education at U of T while playing for the Blues in the fall of 2011.

The Blues welcome three linemen in this early batch of highly-touted recruits, an obvious area of need for the program after the graduation of veteran defensive tackles Joe Cappiello and Mark Evans.

“Thanks to the numbers we brought in last year, we are able to focus on specific areas of need this year,” said Varsity Blues head coach Greg DeLaval. “This needs-based strategy has allowed us to hone in on the guys we want and put more attention on the individual. We like what we see so far.”

A 6-foot-3, 280-pound offensive lineman, Brendan O’Brady joins the Blues from Banting Memorial High School in Alliston, Ont. Also a member of the Ontario Varsity Football League’s (OVFL) York Storm, O’Brady will add some much-needed size and strength in his first year with the Blues.

U of T is also pleased to welcome two graduates of the perennial powerhouse Birchmount Park Collegiate program, Brooks Wilson and Cory Rutledge. A converted fullback, Wilson is a quarterback who has transformed himself into a pocket-style passer with a variety of effective throws.

Rutledge, a 6-foot-3, 276-pound defensive lineman, is an accomplished rugby player. The Toronto native can move like a linebacker and will be relied upon to fill the holes in U of T’s defensive line.

Three members of the Etobicoke Eagles have also made known their intent to play for the Blues this fall. Current Varsity Blues assistant coach John Engel, who was a former head coach with the Eagles, was thrilled with the news.

“It’s awesome to have more of these Etobicoke guys on our team,” said Engel. “We already have a few former Eagles here and they’re having excellent careers both on and off the field. Their coaches and organization are very supportive of our football program and we can only hope that the trend continues.”

Nick Swaby, a five-time team captain of Don Bosco High School, was a GTA all-star at linebacker in 2008. A winner of the Don Bosco offensive player of the year award, Swaby was also named captain of the under-17 Team Ontario football team in 2007.

Kevin Bradfield is a versatile athlete who has excelled at many different skill positions. A GTA all-star at quarterback and free safety, Bradfield was also an OVFL all-star at receiver. In addition, the Toronto native earned most valuable player recognition on the tennis, volleyball and baseball teams at Woodbridge College Secondary School, while maintaining honour-roll status throughout his academic career.

A Toronto Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) champion as a member of the Richview Saints, Lawrence Hopper brings great size and skill to the Blues offensive line. Hopper, a 2010 GTA and OVFL all-star, plans to study kinesiology and has the ability to contribute on the football field early in his career.

Students who sign a letter of intent and commit to Varsity Blues intercollegiate teams will be eligible to play at the University of Toronto provided they are academically admissible and have applied through the normal process with the Ontario Universities Application Centre.

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