RAMS HOLDING SPRING CAMP THIS WEEKEND
REGINA, Sask. – Six months after their 2013 season ended, the University of Regina Rams are back on the gridiron this weekend with 77 players expected to participate in a three-day spring camp at the U of R Field starting on Friday.
The bulk of last year’s team is expected to return as the Rams should lose three starters on the offensive side of the ball and either four or five on defence pending the status of defensive end Ryan Wellman, who signed as a free agent with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Tuesday.
“We’ve been having morning training sessions three times a week at 7 a.m. and the work we’ve done in those has been outstanding,” Rams head coach Frank McCrystal said. “The other thing that’s helped us is that we’ve had four practices in Moose Jaw at the Yara Centre and to be able to put guys in pads and get practicing inside is a huge advantage for us.”
The Rams will have two-a-day practices on Friday (3:00 and 7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.) before wrapping up the weekend camp with a controlled scrimmage starting at 11:30 a.m.
Here’s a position-by-position look at the Rams as they enter this weekend’s camp –
Quarterbacks
University of Hawaii transfer Cayman Shutter stepped in last year to lead a Rams offence that was heavily reliant on the aerial attack. Shutter finished the season with a 57% completion rate and set a school record with 316 pass attempts despite missing the team’s Week 6 win over Alberta due to an injury. Shutter has one season of CIS eligibility remaining and should again serve as the team’s starting pivot in 2014.
There should be a healthy competition for the backup position behind Shutter. John Kiesman started for the Rams last year and led the team to one of its two wins in Shutter’s absence, but Noah Picton was brilliant in a non-conference win over Manitoba and is coming off a redshirt season. Zach Oleynik continues to recover from an injury that caused him to sit out last season as well and won’t participate this weekend.
Offensive Line
Injuries and a large graduating class in 2012 both contributed to an inexperienced line last year, as Matt Degelman, Bryce McKinnon, Lyndon Smith, and Jeremy Zver all started for the Rams in 2013 in their first season of CIS football. All are expected to return this season along with Kyle Paterson, who was a stalwart at left guard for the Rams and raised eyebrows with his performance at both the Edmonton regional combine and the main CFL combine in Toronto last month. Also back is Aaron Picton, who was slated to start at right tackle but ended up missing much of the season due to a foot injury. Nathan Cugnet also fell victim to the injury bug last season but had starts at both centre and left guard.
Leading the crop of newcomers on the line is Tristain Hoath (Saskatoon, Sask. / Saskatoon Hilltops), who was a CJFL All-Canadian last season and is expected to make an immediate impact for the Rams. The team will also look for instant contributions from Hoath’s junior teammate Keenan Carrier (Tisdale, Sask. / Saskatoon Hilltops).
Also returning is second-year lineman Brandon Williams, while Kavan Metcalfe and Kyle Pooyak both come off redshirt seasons. Roe Borgmann (Lumsden, Sask. / Lumsden HS) and Matt Sentes (Lethbridge, Alta. / Catholic Central HS) have both committed to the Rams and will be in camp this weekend.
Running Backs
Replacing two-year starter Michael Kiapway at tailback will be a priority for the Rams this offseason, and the duties might just fall to a rookie as highly touted Atlee Simon (Regina, Sask. / Thom Collegiate) officially signed with the Rams in mid-March. The Rams also return veteran Dillon Dawson and Jens Johnson from last year’s team, while Blake Anaka (Regina, Sask. / Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS) and Josh Koshman (Okotoks, Alta. / Foothills Composite HS) have also committed to the U of R. The Rams will also take looks at Matt Erichsen (Regina, Sask. / Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS) and Parker Scott (Saskatoon, Sask. / Centennial Collegiate), who are both attending camp on a tryout basis.
Receivers
Under the tutelage of coaches Rick Seaman and Rob Bresciani, the Rams are typically loaded with talent at the receivers position and – despite the loss of Canada West all-time receptions leader Mark McConkey and two-time conference all-star Kolten Solomon – this year should be no different. Jared Janotta enters his final season of CIS eligibility with McConkey’s receptions record and Chad Goldie’s school receiving yards record within reach, while Addison Richards was a second-team All-Canadian last year after exploding for 46 catches and 614 yards.
Fifth-year slotback Landon Buch tied for second on the team with three touchdown catches last season and also returns for his final year with the Rams, while third-year Riley Wilson and fourth-year Catlin Schneider both stepped in as starters for much of 2013 and will look for expanded roles this season. Three first-year receivers used eligibility last season including Davin Johnston, Mitchell Picton, and Richard Sindani, though Johnston won’t be in action this weekend due to an injury. Sindani had the greatest impact of the trio, coming on late in the year to finish with a pair of touchdown receptions.
The Rams will also have the services of converted quarterback Andrew Bennett and second-year player Ben Lane, who will make the switch from running back to receiver this year. It’ll be much the same situation for Frankie Gray, who saw playing time in his first two seasons with the Rams as a mobile quarterback but switches to receiver after missing 2013 due to injury.
Cohen Richards is coming off his redshirt season but won’t participate this weekend due to injury, while both Jacob Labocetta (Moose Jaw, Sask. / Central Collegiate) and Kyle Moortgat (Cochrane, Alta. / Cochrane HS) have signed with the Rams for the upcoming season. Alex Clement (Regina, Sask. / Archbishop M.C. O’Neill HS) and Adam Finnik (Regina, Sask. / Thom Collegiate) are in camp as tryouts.
Defensive Line
The defensive line is the position hit hardest by departures, as U of R all-time sacks leader Logan Brooks graduated and starting nose tackle Calvin Smith isn’t expected to return. With Wellman’s status not known, Tyler Perkins leads the group of returners after stepping into a full-time starting role at defensive tackle last season.
Beyond Perkins and possibly Wellman, the Rams will be looking for some youth to step up and make an impact on the line. Second-year lineman Thomas Lill moves back to the defensive side of the ball after filling in at offensive line for much of last year due to injuries there, while Ty Nordick also makes the switch to defensive line after redshirting last season. Joey Carriere is also coming off his redshirt season, while three first-year players have committed to the Rams for 2014 including Eddie Schramm (Yorkton, Sask. / Yorkton Regional HS), Logan Shepherd (Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask. / Fort Qu’Appelle Marauders), and Eric Wicijowski (Regina, Sask. / Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS).
The Rams have also invited a pair of multi-sport transfers to camp. Spencer Archer (San Jose, Calif. / Dakota College at Bottineau) played NJCAA hockey last season, while Dean Viena (Waipahu, Hawaii / Shoreline CC) played two years for Shoreline’s basketball team and was a starting guard in 2013-14. Spencer Riche (Brandon, Man. / Winnipeg Rifles) and David Jule (Moose Jaw, Sask. / Central Collegiate) will also participate in camp.
Linebackers
The Rams return both of their starting linebackers this season, including middle linebacker Connor Ketchen and outside linebacker Michael Stefanovic. Stefanovic redshirted in 2012 and had a brilliant season last year as a first-year player, leading the Rams in tackles, tackles for loss, and fumble recoveries while also accumulating three sacks. Ketchen, who will enter just his third season of eligibility, was second on the team in tackles last year.
Zack McEachern (Calgary, Alta. / Calgary Colts) has signed with the Rams after four seasons in the CJFL and could challenge immediately for a starting position, while Cody Kezama and Julius Landry both return for their third seasons of CIS eligibility. Michael Bright and Dylan Minshull are coming off their redshirt seasons, and Danny Nesbitt (Regina, Sask. / Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS) and Alex Rorke (Delisle, Sask. / Delisle Composite School) have also committed to the Rams. Norand Lovequist (Melville, Sask. / Regina Thunder) is in camp as a tryout, while Mitch Morrison won’t be participating this weekend due to injury.
Defensive Backs
Brady Aulie graduates, but the Rams return four starters to the defensive backfield including Tevaughn Campbell, Joey Dwyer, Justin Edralin, and Patrick MacDonald. Campbell had a breakout season last year, earning second-team All-Canadian status after knocking down six passes and setting a school single-season record for punt return yards.
Kahlen Branning had a pair of starts at cornerback late last season and is a strong contender to move into a starting role this season, and second-year players Jordy Kibamba and Jeff Propp both started the team’s final game of 2013 and will also make strong statements for roles as full-time starters. Robbie Avram played in seven of the team’s eight games last year as a rookie and will be in the mix, while Mason Rossler had a strong first year with the Rams in 2012 before missing last season due to an injury.
Three first-year defensive backs have committed to the Rams and will make their debuts at the U of R this weekend, including Dilan Elgert (Regina, Sask. / Sheldon-Williams Collegiate), Kadeem Ellis (Toronto, Ont. / Toronto Thunder), and Luke Wilson (Regina, Sask. / Balfour Collegiate). This weekend will see Ellis and Campbell reunite as teammates for the first time since the pair played together with the Scarborough Thunder organization. Also invited to camp is Liam Lerat, who will try out for a spot after spending last season with the Rams as a student video coach.
Punter/Kicker
The punting and kicking duties were split last season between Zach Schmidt and Taylor Wandler, with Schmidt handing most of the placekicking and Wandler punting. Wandler exhausted his CIS eligibity after last season, leading to Andrew Fabian (Tilley, Alta. / Calgary Colts) committing to the Rams after five seasons in the CJFL. Schmidt and Fabian will compete for the job, while first-year player Daniel Scraper (Regina, Sask. / Dr. Martin LeBoldus) has also signed with the U of R and could be utilized at either kicker or receiver.
(Courtesy Braden Konschuh/U of R Athletics)
