Source: Tony Von Richter, Western
2015 regular season record: 8-0
2015 regular season standings: 1st in OUA
2015 playoff record: 1-1
2015 playoff finish: Lost to Guelph 23-17 in the Yates Cup
General Write-Up:
Fresh off of their second trip to the Yates Cup in three years, the Western Mustangs return to the field with a strong mix of returning veterans and new additions as the team pursues the 31st Yates Cup and seventh Vanier Cup titles in program history.
Last season the Mustangs established themselves as the highest scoring team in CIS regular season history, setting new milestones with 494 points and 64 touchdowns. Although two-time OUA MVP Will Finch is no longer behind centre for the purple and white, much of last year’s record setting lineup returns, including All-Canadian running back Alex Taylor, and the majority of the team’s receiving corps including two-time OUA All-Star George Johnson. Up front the Mustangs line will have a bit of a different
Although the offence tends to get the bulk of the headlines, Western’s defence ranked among the CIS leaders last season, allowing only 110 points – 13.8 per contest – good for third in both categories. Six starters from last year’s defence return, including All-Canadian defensive back Jesse McNair, and OUA All-Stars Malcolm Brown (defensive back), John Biewald (defensive line), and Rupert Butcher (defensive line). Third-year Vanier College product Jean-Gabriel Poulin returns for his third season and should be a force at linebacker, where he’ll be joined by fellow returning starter Nick Vanin.
Quote from head coach: Greg Marshall
“I’m optimistic, I’m usually optimistic, but we have a good team,” said Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall. “We’re rebuilding in a couple areas. Obviously, losing a quarterback like Will Finch who’s played a lot over the last four seasons four us, and we lost some great players on our offensive and defensive line. In university football in Canada it’s not easy to replace the guys that we lost like Ricky Osei-Kusi, Eddie Meredith, Kadeem Adams, all-star players in our conference.
“Overall I think we have some good young players and guys that are ready to step up. We’ve got some good skill positions, and although we don’t have Will we probably have a bit more overall depth at quarterback than we had last year.”
Head Coach: Greg Marshall
- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2016): 10
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2016): 17
- Career regular season record with team: 58-14
- Career regular season record in CIS: 100-26-2
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 74-23
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 127-41-2
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters: 7
Key returning players: (3 or 4)
Alex Taylor (RB)
George Johnson (REC)
Sean Jamieson (OL)
Stevenson Bone (QB)
Key recruits or transfers: (3 or 4)
Chris Merchant (QB)
Matthew Bettencourt (OL)
Mark-Anthony Lemoine (OL)
Alex Salytchev (REC)
Key losses: (3 or 4)
Will Finch (QB)
Kadeem Adams (OL)
Eddie Meredith (OL)
Matt Uren (REC)
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 6
Key returning players: (3 or 4)
Jesse McNair (DB)
Malcolm Brown (DB)
John Biewald (DL)
Jean-Gabriel Poulin (LB)
Key recruits or transfers:
Chris Ellis (LB)
Tyrone Hastings (DL)
Spencer Hood (DL)
Tony Rossi (DL)
Key losses:
Ricky Osei-Kusi (DL)
Josh Woodman (DB)
Kalvin Johnson (DB)
Preston Huggins (LB)