By Donnovan Bennett - Sportsnet TV Personality
Follow Donnovan on Twitter: @donnovanbennett
Daniel Vandervoort is on an unprecedented run up the CIS receiving charts.
A dominant force from the moment he stepped on McMaster’s campus in 2013, he won the Peter Gorman Trophy as CIS football rookie of the year. However, 2015 might be his best year yet and the season is barely half over.
Wasting no time, in week 1 against Toronto he had 10 catches for 168 yards and his four touchdowns tied the OUA record for receiving majors in a game.
A month later against York, Vandervoort broke the school record of 19 career TD receptions previously shared by Matt Peressini (2007-11) and Vaughn Swart (2001-05).
Already in 2015, Vandervoort has turned nine passes into touchdowns. The TD machine has done it with just 27 catches, meaning one of every three passes he receives goes for a score.
Even with his high rate of TD receptions, the Bear Creek secondary grad’s best TD catch of the year was technically scored a punt return. His roommate and fellow receiver Mitch O’Connor’s quick kick punt turned to a score when Vandervoort made a heads-up play and caught the ball in the air from an onside position and ran it in. It’s already a favourite for CIS play of the year and has gone viral online.
WATCH:
So valuable to the McMaster offence, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound receiver hasn’t been on the actual punt return unit since his freshman year, so that is likely going to be his only return TD of the campaign.
If Vandervoort stays healthy, Don Blair’s single-season CIS record of 15 TD receptions in 1995 could fall. Andy Fantuz’s national standard of 41 career TD catches might take him five seasons to match, but the way Vandervoort is playing it’s likely he won’t see the fifth year of his eligibility as the CFL will be the next challenge.
Including the three regular season games left this fall, Vandervoort has 11 league games remaining before he likely is a top CFL draft pick. He could have as many as 19 contests if he decides to come back for a fifth year with the Marauders. Given his current pace, that is plenty of time to put his school record out of reach and threaten the national mark.
Breaking the record at McMaster specifically is special to him. Although heavily recruited by Western and Guelph, Vandervoort chose McMaster and credits that decision with his success. “I don’t know what I would have said if you told me when I was recruited I’d go on to do what I have done. But I knew at the time I chose a good school, I was confident in that. From the moment I came here to visit, I felt comfortable and I felt the family atmosphere I desired to help me be at my best was in place”.
2013 CIS Rookie of the Year, Daniel Vandervoort / Photo credit Yan Doublet |
Vandervoort is the latest in a long list of talented receivers to wear Maroon and the infrastructure for offensive success isn’t lost on him. “This offence is a dream for a receiver which is why we all pull for each other because we know the group’s success gives us better matchups and there are enough balls to go around”. At Vandervoort’s disposal at McMaster is one of the best position coaches in the country in receivers mentor Al Anonech. As well, both his offensive coordinator Jon Behie and his head coach have played the position in the CIS.
The lessons learned from head coach Stefan Ptaszek’s playing days have already been applied to bolster Vandervoort’s career. “Coach P will notice these little things that adjust your game that nobody really notices. Tips that he picked up over the years, things he used in the CFL. Having that resource and acquiring a higher understanding of the position is invaluable”.
The Barrie, Ont. native’s hope is to emulate his coach and not only win a Vanier Cup but play in the CFL. “A little bit every day I focus on that. Especially having Coach P here to help break bad habits that you had coming in your first year. The CFL is the goal. ”
As for players he watches to model his game, it’s a player who suited up for a rival school in the past but currently wearing the same number. “Andy Fantuz was a huge person I watched. Not only the number is similar but similar route running styles, and body types. Like him, I try and do all the small things right”.
The number 83 isn’t in honour of his favourite player but the man who introduced him to the sport, the position, his father Daniel Vandervoort Sr.
The elder Vandervoort was a star receiver at Glen Forest secondary school while being coached by current McMaster assistant coach Brian Brock. Daniel Sr. injured his knee and wasn’t able to play in university like his Danny, but there is still dialogue as to who was the better player. “That’s always a conversation and comparison. I know what he thinks! I’ll give it to him. He was pretty good and now is my mentor and has taught me the game”.
The biggest thing Vandervoort’s got from his father is his work ethic. “The key to my success has been hard work. I try and out-work everybody I play with and against. Even in the summer I try to work out twice a day. That’s the biggest thing my dad has passed down to me. He really has been the key person in my life. Even in high school he helped and it’s the reason I got the chance to play in university so I want to make the most of it. He didn’t get that chance and I know he would have so I play for both of us”.
D. Vandervoort will soon be all over the CIS record book and could find himself alone at the top of it. Something two men with the same name can take pride in.
Follow Donnovan on Twitter: @donnovanbennett
http://www.sportsnet.ca/cis/carleton-wins-panda-bowl-on-last-second-hail-mary/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCls1xZjlME
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