Rams introduce 15
new recruits
Tim Switzer, Leader-Post
Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
REGINA -- The University of Regina Rams don't want to end up
with their
backs against the wall.
At the end of the 2007 Canada West season, the Rams lost
halfback Steve Ryan to graduation and will lose three more
defensive backs -- cornerback Andrew Rumbaugh, safety Charlie
McCrystal and dime backer Aadon Fieger -- after the 2008
campaign.
With that clearly in mind, at a press conference Wednesday, the
Rams
introduced 15 new recruits -- at least six of whom are capable
of
playing in the defensive backfield. "We've got three guys in
their fifth
year of eligibility and we have to make sure we cover that,"
said Rams
head coach Frank McCrystal. "If you have a look at our roster
in 2003,
we had a whole bunch of redshirts at DB. A lot of those
redshirts are
now fifth-year guys. That's a spot where we really needed to
pay
attention."
Those that could become a part of the Rams' defence in the
coming years are Evan Fornwald (a receiver/cornerback who spent
the 2006-07 season as a medical redshirt with the U of R
Cougars volleyball team), Kirby Kezama (Balfour Collegiate),
Jamir Walker (Sheldon-Williams Collegiate), Taylor Wandler (Riffel
High School), Marco Contenti (Fort Saskatchewan High School in
the Alberta city) and Phil Dick (St. Thomas More Collegiate in
Vancouver).
With returnees like Tamon George, Mike Kerr and Darren Geddert
also in
the mix, a few may find themselves playing a role right off the
bat while most will redshirt next season.
"A year or two is a lot of time and I'm going to work my butt
off and
I'll get to where I need to be in order to play with these guys
-- I'm
here to compete and I want a position," said Wandler, one of
four
recruits present at the press conference along with Fornwald,
Walker and
Winston Knoll receiver Matt Sawyer.
"It's going to be a very sharp learning curve," noted Walker.
"There's
going to be a lot to learn right away."
In all the Rams signees included seven local high school
players
(counting Fornwald), five players from out-of-province high
school
programs, two junior college transfers and running back Justin
Marit,
Regina's lone pick up so far from the Prairie Football
Conference.
Marit spent two full seasons and part of last year with the
University
of Calgary Dinos before finishing the year with the Calgary
Colts.
Players from the PFC and other junior league's across Canada
used to be
the bread and butter for university teams in Western Canada,
but most
are moving away from that to recruit players out of high school
as they
have a full five years of CIS eligibility. Players lose a year
of
university eligibility every year after two seasons in junior
football.
"When we came into the league 10 years ago, we had to manage a
group of junior players that moved to university and we had
some great
successes," said McCrystal. "But we felt we would be long-term
successful, if we became cyclical. These guys here, will they
contribute
right away? They may, but when they reach their third year is
when we
want them to make a difference for us."
The other players announced Wednesday were defensive end Zach
Evans (O'Neill), defensive lineman Ryan Wellman (Sheldon),
linebacker Bruce Anderson (Butte College in California),
defensive tackle Matt Grado (Okanagan Missionary Secondary),
offensive lineman Bryce Ketcheson (Vincent Massey in Brandon),
offensive guard Nick Sumner (Mesabi Range College in Minnesota)
and running back Levi Weaver, who spent last season with the
Chilliwack Giants in the Valley Community Football League.
All are expected to be in attendance for the Rams' spring camp
April 25-27 at the U of R.
