Source: Jamie Howieson, Laurier Sports Info / Photo credit Thomas Kolodziej
Name: Greg Nyhof
University: Wilfrid Laurier
Hometown: Georgetown, Ont.
High school / Cegep: Christ the King CSS
Position: Receiver
Academic program: Business
Year of eligibility: 4
Height: 6-4
Weight: 225
Key stats 2014: Tied for the team lead in touchdown catches with five despite missing three games due to injury. Averaged more than 17 yards per reception for the third consecutive season.
Awards & honours (since start of CIS career): 2015 East West Bowl participant, 2014 CIS Academic All-Canadian
Ever since he stepped on Knight-Newbrough Field at University Stadium in his rookie season back in 2011, Greg Nyhof has been a presence. Standing six-foot-four, the native of Georgetown, Ont., entered that first training camp as a quarterback but has since plied his trade on the football field as a receiver.
A natural athlete, the change has been a great decision for Nyhof. Over the course of his first three seasons as a receiver, he has averaged more than 17 yards per reception and has built a natural rapport with starting quarterback James Fracas, who joined the purple and gold the same year as Nyhof.
Last season set up to be a breakout year for the 225 lbs. slotback as he was coming off career-highs for receptions, receiving yards and touchdown in 2013. Nyhof got off to a quick start, recording 100 receiving yards while adding two touchdowns to help his team to a blowout victory over Toronto. Week 2 against Windsor was shaping up to be much of the same but partway through the contest, Nyhof suffered an injury which would hold him out of the Golden Hawks next three games.
Returning for Laurier’s Week 7 showdown with Western, Nyhof made an immediate impact, catching four balls for 80 yards and a touchdown. He would go on to finish the season tied for the team lead in touchdowns with five, despite the lost time due to injury.
His play over his first three years in the OUA has been good enough to catch the eyes of the CFL scouts and he was invited in the offseason to represent the West at the 2015 East West Bowl in Montreal. As one of three Golden Hawks taking part in the annual event, Nyhof continued to build his reputation and Laurier head coach Michael Faulds believes it’s only a matter of time before he finds himself playing professionally.
“Greg is a dream player to coach,” stated Faulds. “He obviously has the physical size and speed to make him a great player, but he also has incredible work ethic and leadership qualities. Greg has the ability to play professionally after this year, and after that pro career he can fall back onto his Business degree where he is an Academic All-Canadian.”