Source: Braden Konschuh, Regina Sports Info / Photo credit: B2 Digital Imaging
2012 regular season record: 6-2
2012 regular season standings: 2nd, Canada West
2012 playoff record: 1-1
2012 playoff finish: Lost 38-14 to Calgary in Hardy Cup (Canada
West final)
After a fine 2012 season which saw the University of Regina compile a 6-2 Canada West record and win a home playoff game before eventually falling in the Hardy Cup to Calgary, the Rams will have some reloading to do after losing a significant portion of their roster to graduation. In all, a total of 20 fifth-year players graduated from the program and the Rams also suffered the loss of Jorgen Hus and Brett Jones, who both graduated to the professional ranks despite having a season of CIS eligibility remaining.
But despite the big crop of fifth-year players lost from last year’s roster, there’s still plenty of experience coming back as the team has 16 players in their fourth or fifth seasons of eligibility. That group includes receivers Mark McConkey, Jared Janotta, Kolten Solomon, and Landon Buch, defensive linemen Logan Brooks and Ryan Wellman, and defensive backs Justin Edralin and Brady Aulie.
The team’s top recruit coming in is quarterback Cayman Shutter, who spent three seasons with the University of Hawaii. The addition of Patrick MacDonald from the Calgary Colts will help the defensive backfield, while the Saskatoon Hilltops’ Zach Schmidt should stabilize the team’s kicking game with the graduation of two-time CIS All-Canadian Chris Bodnar.
The Rams kick off the 2013 season with a non-conference game at home against Manitoba (Aug. 23) before starting the Canada West schedule on the road at Saskatchewan on Aug. 30.
Quote from head coach:
"Our goal is always to get to the Vanier Cup, but you need to have short-term goals before you can realize long-term success. The short-term goals are to play well, take it a game at a time, and make the playoffs." – Frank McCrystal
"We're young, and that's obvious from the birthdates. We're going to have some inexperience certainly, we're going to have some growing pains and make some mistakes, but we can definitely contend for the playoffs if we keep focused and remain on task throughout the season." – Frank McCrystal
Head Coach:
- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2013): 15
(30 including as CJFL team)
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2013): 15
- Career regular season record with team: 55-56-1
- Career regular season record in CIS: 55-56-1
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs
only): 62-67-1
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only):
62-67-1
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters: 5
Key returning players:
WR Mark McConkey was a Canada West all-star in 2011 but missed all but one game of the 2012 season due to injury. He’s back for his final season of eligibility ranked third in Canada West’s career record book with 157 receptions, and needs just 17 catches to surpass former teammate Chad Goldie as the conference’s all-time leader in the category.
SB Jared Janotta earned a Canada West all-star nod last year after leading the Rams in both receptions (44) and receiving yards (484) during the conference schedule. Janotta enters his fourth season of eligibility ranked in the school’s all-time top ten in career receptions and career touchdown catches.
RB Michael Kiapway became the Rams' starting running back in his second season of CIS eligibility, ending up with 571 rushing yards, five touchdown runs, and an average of 5.4 yards per carry. He’s one of only three players in University of Regina history to collect at least five touchdown runs in a single season.
As the lone returning starter on the offensive line, RT Aaron Picton will be heavily relied upon to help stabilize the Rams up front. Like Kiapway, Picton established himself as a starter last year in just his second season of eligibility. He started at right tackle in Week 2 and remained there for the rest of the season – with the exception of the Week 8 game, where he moved inside to make a start at right guard.
WR Kolten Solomon was also a conference all-star last season after collecting 36 receptions for 471 yards and catching a team-leading four touchdown passes despite missing the first game of the season due to injury. Entering his final season of CIS eligibility but only his third with the Rams, Solomon needs just 270 receiving yards to hit 1000 for his career.
Key recruits or transfers:
QB John Kiesman (Winnipeg Rifles) comes to the Rams after finishing third in the Prairie Football Conference with 1252 passing yards last year. Kiesman, who also spent a season as a redshirt at Manitoba, will have a full five years of CIS eligibility at the U of R.
OL Thomas Lill (Huron Heights Secondary) is expected to challenge for a starting spot on the team’s offensive line, which loses four of its five starters from 2012. Lill, who checks in at 6-4 and 325 lbs., helped the Huron Heights Warriors win the 2012 Metro Bowl as the Greater Toronto Area high school champions.
QB Cayman Shutter (University of Hawaii) transfers to the U of R after playing at the NCAA Div. I level for three seasons with the Warriors. Shutter is expected to immediately step in as the starting pivot for the Rams.
Key losses: OL Brenden Bennett, OL Steve Hanson, SB Connor Haas, OL Brett Jones, OL Chris Mercer, QB Marc Mueller, SB Jay Smith.
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 4
Key returning players:
DB Brady Aulie started half of the team’s games at cornerback last season and returns for his fifth season with the Rams. He was also the team’s main punt returner for the first half of the season, ending up with 17 returns for 134 yards. Aulie ended the Canada West schedule with 15½ tackles, four pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries.
One of the most prolific defensive linemen to play for the Rams at the CIS level, DE Logan Brooks enters his final season of CIS eligibility ranked third on the U of R’s all-time list with 10½ career sacks. The dependable lineman hasn’t missed a game over his first four years with the Rams.
HB Justin Edralin is expected to start at halfback for the Rams for the third consecutive season. He was third on the team and tied for fifth in Canada West with three interceptions during the conference schedule, two of which came in the team’s come-from-behind victory over Manitoba on Sept. 28.
DE Ryan Wellman was one of 10 Canada West all-stars for the Rams in 2012. He was twice named both the CIS and Canada West Defensive Player of the Week after stellar performances and ended the conference schedule with 24 solo tackles, 16 assisted tackles, 7½ tackles for loss, and three sacks.
Key recruits or transfers:
DB Jordy Kibamba (St. Mary’s HS) comes as a highly touted player out of the Calgary high school ranks, where he was coached by Bill McConkey – father of current Rams receiver Mark McConkey. Kibamba was an all-star defensive back for St. Mary’s and earned a selection to Team South for the Football Alberta Senior Bowl in his Grade 12 season.
DB Patrick MacDonald (Calgary Colts) tied for third in the Prairie Football Conference with four interceptions last season while helping the Colts to an undefeated 8-0 record in league play. MacDonald could step right in at safety, a position which is vacant due to the graduation of starter Daniel Knaus.
DL Bryce McKinnon (Cochrane HS) could make an immediate impact for the Rams on the defensive line. He led the Cochrane Cobras to a near-perfect 13-1 season and an Alberta Bowl Tier III provincial championship in 2012 while being named the Rocky View Sports Association Defensive Lineman of the Year. A force on both sides of the ball, McKinnon was also an all-star on the offensive line for Alberta U18 during the 2012 Football Canada Cup.
Key losses: DL Stefan Charles, DB Steve Famulak, DL Benton Gieni, DB Kirby Kezama, DB Daniel Knaus, LB Alex Meldrum, LB Chris Sciog, DB Jamir Walker.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key returning players:
K/P Taylor Wandler returns for his final season with the Rams.
He handled most of the team’s placekicking duties in 2012,
hitting six field goals (including a season-long 41 yarder) and
averaging 48.6 yards per kickoff.
Key recruits or transfers:
K/P Zach Schmidt (Saskatoon Hilltops) comes to the U of R after finishing out his junior football eligibility. He served as the Hilltops’ punter and placekicker last season, hitting 13 of his 22 field goal attempts and averaging 36.1 yards per punt.
Key losses: P Chris Bodnar