York wasted no time recruiting LB Charles

York welcomes a commit from the nation’s capital to their Class of 2017.

FPC Shawn Charles, a linebacker from St. Patrick’s Catholic High School, has only know the flare of Ottawa, but now he will get a taste of what Toronto has to offer after signing with the York University Lions.

It didn’t take long for the Lions to express interest in the AiA all-star player. Charles said that unlike other teams, York didn’t wait to speak to him after his all-star game ended. “The coaching staff took me in as one of their players right away. I didn’t feel weird being there; they took me as one of them,” he added.

Courtesy of Shawn Charles.

Standing at 6’1, 190lbs, Charles has constantly come up against verbal roadblocks. “My whole life playing football I was told I wasn’t going to be good enough to continue, that I didn’t have what it takes,” he said. “My size is stopping me form playing the position I love, which is linebacker, but I am here to prove them otherwise.”

And what better place to do so at the U Sports level? “I decided to commit to York because their program has a lot of young players and made me realize that players in university aren’t any different than me; they are just older,” Charles said.

Since grade seven, Charles has been playing for the St. Patrick’s Catholic High School Mustangs (National Capital Secondary School Athletics Association). The potential international business student also played with the Orleans Bengals (National Capital Amateur Football Association) last year.

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