Source: Alyson Fisher, York Sports Info
2014 regular season record: 0-8
2014 regular season standings: 11th in OUA
2014 playoff record: N/A
2014 playoff finish: N/A
A lot has changed for the York University Lions football team in just one year and there is an excited buzz surrounding the program as the squad gets set to take to the field in 2015.
The eventful year started with a challenging 2014 season in which the Lions took a step back from the progression they had shown in the years prior. However, a new focus on recruiting for head coach Warren Craney and his staff quickly pumped life back into the program and optimism is now higher than it has been in years.
Their efforts on recruiting helped the Lions landed an extremely talented crop of young players who have the ability to step in and make an impact from Day 1. The rookie talent is equalled by a core of veterans who have the ability to carry this team to where it wants to go. Thanks to the growth over the last several years, the program will not need to depend as strongly on freshmen as it has more recently, and the Lions have an intriguing new look as the season gets underway.
Quote from head coach:
"I'm dying to see what's going to happen this year. There's a vibe at this training camp that I've never seen before. We have some really talented veteran players and the No. 8 recruiting class. As a group, this is the best football team we've ever had, but at its core it is still a young football team. We need to continue to work on getting them bigger, stronger and faster, and achieve at school. If we can do those things, the future will be now."
- Warren Craney, head coach, York Lions football
Head Coach: Warren Craney
- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2015): 6
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2015): 6
- Career regular season record with team: 5-35
- Career regular season record in CIS: 5-35
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 5-35
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 5-35
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters: 9
Key returning players:
REC Adam Adeboboye (Toronto) earned a starting job for the first time last year and led the Lions in receptions (26) and total yards (304).
QB Jahmari Bennett (Mississauga, Ont.) appeared in six games last year and took over the starting pivot job in Week 6. He earned York's Leonard Jean-Pierre W21 Offensive MVP Award after leading the team in completions (53), attempts (95), completion percentage (55.8%) and total yards (742).
OL Jamal Campbell (Toronto) returns to the offensive line this season after debuting there last year following two seasons on defence. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound tackle participated in the 2015 East West Bowl in May.
Key recruits or transfers:
QB Brett Hunchak (Calgary) also brings international experience to York. Like his brother, Colton, he won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2014 U19 world junior championships in Kuwait and also represented Canada at back-to-back U19 International Bowls in Dallas (2014, 2015).
REC Colton Hunchak (Calgary) was one of the most sought-after recruits this past off-season. He won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2014 U19 world junior championships in Kuwait and also represented Canada at back-to-back U19 International Bowls in Dallas (2014, 2015).
REC Jacob Janke (Edmonton) was a member of the Canadian team at the U19 International Bowl this past February. He was also an all-American kick-returner and Class AA state champion in 2014 with Glacier H.S. in Montana.
Key losses:
OL Trevor King (Regina), RB Connor Anderson
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 8
Key returning players:
DL Cole Austen (Barrie, Ont.) started all eight games on the defensive line in 2014 and earned York's Mike Benevides Lineman of the Year Award. He ranked sixth on the team in total tackles (25) and tackles for loss (four) and was third in sacks (2.5). He also represented Canada at the 2015 U19 International Bowl in Dallas.
DB Rees Paterson (Sherwood Park, Alta.) earned OUA all-rookie honours after starting all eight games at cornerback in his first year. He ranked fifth on the team in total tackles (25.5) and had four pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He was also a member of the Canadian team that won the country's first ever gold medal at the 2012 U19 world junior championships.
DB Josh Small (Pickering, Ont.) started all eight games at free safety last year after two seasons as a cornerback. He was the team's MVP last year after finishing second on the team in total tackles (41.5) and adding three tackles for loss, three sacks and three pass break-ups. He participated in the 2015 East West Bowl.
LB Nikita Starchenko (Whitby, Ont.) was a starting linebacker last year and ranked in the team's top 10 in tackles while earning the Nobby Wirkowski Defensive MVP Award.
Key recruits or transfers:
LB Jakob Butler (Sherwood Park, Alta.) was the highest-ranked high school linebacker in the country for the 2015 recruiting class. He represented Canada at back-to-back U19 International Bowls in Dallas (2014, 2015) and was selected for the world junior team in 2014, although he missed the game with an injury.
Key losses:
DB Braedon Cameron
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key returning players:
K/P Nick Naylor (Abbotsford, B.C.) has been the team's starting punter and place-kicker for two seasons.
DL Hussein Hazime (Toronto) earned the team's Andre Durie Special Teams MVP Trophy last season after leading the Lions in tackles (49.5), with many of them coming on specials. He is also a starting defensive lineman and was the team's leader in sacks (six).
Key recruits or transfers:
K/P Nicholas Bested