EDMONTON - The 2005 season saw names such as Steve Bilan, Darryl Salmon David Stevens, Jarred Winkel, Dan Federkeil, Adam Krajewski and Lucas Congi graduate from Canada West Football programs, often into the professional ranks, and so a new crop of talent was sought to “replace” the big names.
Already we have seen the emergence of some notable new faces at each school across the west, and so we take a look at those who may become future household names within CIS and maybe, some day, the pro ranks.
Alberta Golden Bears
#23 Tendayi Jozzy, running back
Year of Eligibility: 2
Age: 20
Hometown: Edmonton
The leading rusher in CIS football through Week 3 of the 2006 season is first-year University of Alberta running back Tendayi Jozzy, in his second year of eligibility and hardly a raw rookie after three years with the Edmonton Wildcats Prairie Junior program.
Jozzy, who has been worked like a dog, rather than a ’cat in three weeks at the U of A, has 585 yards and two touchdowns on 88 carries, 49 yards and 26 more carries than anyone else in the nation.
As Week 3 conference offensive Player of the Week, Jozzy is already making a statement at the university level, breaking through tackles and breaking down the sidelines, leading Alberta to an early 2-1 record on the strength of consecutive last-second, one-point victories.
While the graduation of quarterback Darryl Salmon and receiver Andrew Ginther have been noted as reasons for a struggling offence at times, there has not been much made over the loss of Jarred Winkel, and Jozzy is the reason.
Alberta Head Coach Jerry Friesen, who has coached Alberta to three straight Hardy Cup finals, believes Jozzy is just getting started at the university level.
“Tendayi has the potential to be one of best in the conference. He is still maturing as a player and knows there are certain facets to improve, including getting physically stronger, to compete at this level,” said Friesen. “His breakaway speed needs to improve, and he understands that.”
UBC Thunderbirds
#49 Nate Johnson, defensive end/linebacker
Year of Eligibility: 2
Age: 21
Hometown: Bradenton, FL
The Illinois State Redbirds loss is the UBC Thunderbirds gain. Either way, Nate Johnson has gone to the ’Birds, and they are better for it.
Nate Johnson is a 6’4’’, 255-pound second-year defensive lineman who can hunt down QBs in a hurry and wreak havoc on the opposing offence all day long.
After a playing for NCAA Division I Redbirds in 2004 and spending a mandatory red-shirt year at UBC, per CIS rules, in 2005, Johnson is now showing he has the energy and ability to one day be a pro.
According to UBC staff, the Florida product will be a game-changer and possible future CIS All-Canadian.
With eight tackles and a team-high three sacks after two games it is clear the young lineman has talent enough to spark a defence that failed to produce a single Canada West All-Star on defence in 2005.
“Nate is a strong, athletic play-maker with loads of potential,” said UBC Head Coach Ted Goveia. “I like the fact that he plays with an edge. He’s got the size and speed and has pro potential, but needs to stay focused daily if he’s going to get there. We’re confident that Nate will continue to work hard to become a dominant player on every snap.”
At 1-1 and with a relatively easy schedule after a game at Saskatchewan on September 23, he will likely get the chance to show his stuff against the best at playoff time for a team that has not won in the postseason since 1999.
Calgary Dinos
#8 Dalin Tollestrup, quarterback
Year of Eligibility: 1
Age: 18
Hometown: Raymond, AB
The kid’s got talent, but must learn how to win.
Dalin Tollestrup is athletic, quick and has a good sense of the game, according to some sources, but he’s part of a rebuilding process for the Calgary Dinos under new Head Coach and former Dino Blake Nill, who previously took the Saint Mary’s Huskies to four Vanier Cup games and two titles.
Unlike rookie Bret Thompson in Saskatchewan, Tollestrup needs to make things happen on his own and will be better for it in the long run, but the frustration of an 0-3 start is showing as he tries to do too much. Tollestrup is risking injury at times by running for all he can or scrambling as he looks for a receiving corps that mostly lacks star power and experience.
Tollestrup has twice his nearest teammate with 179 yards rushing and sits stuck at one touchdown pass, that coming late in the opening game at UBC on Sept. 2.
With an All-Star coach and such a talented, young pivot, Calgary will get better, but success may be a year or two away.
Manitoba Bisons
#36 Matt Henry, running back
Year of Eligibility: 1
Age: 19
Hometown: Mississauga, ON
First-year Manitoba Bisons running back Matt Henry is eighth in Canada West with 124 yards rushing on 25 carries. Not so special, until you look a little closer and see that he gets the job done when it counts.
Henry, a 6’0’’, 215-pound power back who last played for… yes, the Etobicoke Eagles of the Ontario Varsity Football League, has a league-leading five touchdowns on plays that went for a combined 10 yards, all convincing wins for the #4 university football team in Canada.
He is a highly touted recruit from the Toronto area who led Team Canada to a 4-0 record at the 2006 NFL Global Junior Football Championship in Detroit before the final against Team USA last January. The team was guided by Edmonton Eskimos Head Coach Danny Maciocia and Henry ran 10 times for 32 yards in the final, a 10-0 win over the USA as Team Canada defended its title at the Pontiac Silverdome.
In 2001 Henry was named Tournament MVP for Canada at the NFL Flag Football Championships in Berlin, Germany, a game that has, on occasion, produced players who go on to fringe careers in the NFL.
Regina Rams
#28 Jordan Sisco, receiver
Year of Eligibility: 1
Age: 18
Hometown: Regina
Regina Rams freshman receiver Jordan Sisco arrived on the scene as a defensive back for Coach Frank McCrystal, but being a versatile player, Sisco agreed to make the switch.
Just 18 years old, Sisco is one of the youngest players ever to suit up for the Rams and, along with his brother Riley, decided to join the Rams fore the 2006 season. Riley, a 6’1’’, 220-pound linebacker for Coach McCrystal, outweighs his brother by 25 pounds and was a more natural fit to play a strength position.
Using his youth and speed, Jordan has picked up 87 yards on five receptions in his initial two CIS contests, including a 41-yard play versus Manitoba in Week 1. He is not the go-to guy for Regina, a team deep at receiver, so he has every opportunity to slowly learn the university game and make a name for himself.
Saskatchewan Huskies
#21 Paul Woldu, defensive back/returns
Year of Eligibility: 2
Age: 22
Hometown: Regina
As Regina Leader-Post writer Murray McCormick found out this past spring, Paul Woldu has talent, heart and the right attitude that has already got him noticed at the CFL level.
Woldu, a second-year defensive back and return specialist for the Huskies after four years with the PFC Regina Thunder, used an invite to Saskatchewan Roughriders rookie camp to earn a spot at the main camp and participation in a 2006 preseason game. He actually worked out at the University of Regina while his CFL tryout was going on.
At 6’0’’, 160 pounds Woldu, a former high school provincial wrestling champion, has to earn every opportunity since his size does not set him apart. In three games so far he has nine punt return for 75 yards, three tackles and made an interception against Simon Fraser on Sept. 16.
Since arriving on the scene at U of S he has impressed one of the most well-known and respected coaches in Canadian football, 23-year Head Coach Brian Towriss.
“Paul is the best man-to-man cover guy we’ve had in a long time,” said Towriss, “He is extremely quick and has a great break on the ball. He provides an added dimension on returns.”
The attention to Woldu has grown immensely since his invite to Roughriders camp, as both McCormick (June 2) and Saskatoon Star-Phoenix writer Kevin Mitchell (Sept. 9) have recently highlighted Woldu.
Woldu’s brother, Peter, is a linebacker for the Huskies.
Simon Fraser Clan
#20 Ryan Tremblay, running back/returns
Year of Eligibility: 1
Age: 19
Hometown: London, ON
The team concept is one on which the Simon Fraser Clan will have to work, but 19-year-old freshman running back Ryan Tremblay quietly goes about doing his part and hopes the program sees better days ahead.
While he is listed as running back, Tremblay sits about three deep at that position on a team that can use help at any position, so his 16.4-yard average on seven kickoff returns – Simon Fraser gets a lot of kickoff returns – will help quarterback Jason Marshall and company stay as far away as possible from their own goal post.
From southern Ontario, Tremblay is also a track star and has a full biography on the London Legion T&F Alliance home page.
According to the site, he was a bronze medallist in the 110m hurdles at the 2005 Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships and is a budding decathlon superstar.
About Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at least 10 CIS national titles every year since 1997-98. Comprised of 14 schools, from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada West produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in pro leagues or events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games. "cwuaa" on Twitter.
A proud member of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).