The Search for Next Gryphons: Recruiting Class of 2020

The head coach of a Canadian university football program wears many hats. They are leaders, teachers, mentors, and managers, among other important roles. Gryphon Football head coach Ryan Sheahan takes all of those responsibilities seriously. But one of his absolute favourite aspects of the demanding job is putting in the detective work that ultimately injects the University of Guelph’s program with new life – recruiting.

Coach Sheahan knows that all 27 U SPORTS football teams have a grasp of the technical side of the game. What differentiates a good squad from a great one is the players on the field. So making Guelph the ideal destination for talented young players across the country is among Gryphon Football’s top priorities.

“This job is really about relationships,” says Coach Sheahan. “It’s about people.

“If young people and their parents are trusting you with their son’s future, that’s something to be proud of.”

When the coach arrived on campus in January 2019, he knew the nucleus of the program was good. It was simply a matter of building on the work already done to push the team to new heights. Coaching alongside his legendary father Pat at Queen’s and also at the University of Calgary, where Sheahan helped groom two Hec Crighton quarterbacks, he has come to understand the roster formula it takes to be a championship-calibre team.

And Guelph’s 2020 recruiting class was built with that idea in mind.

“Our staff has done a great job identifying and attracting those players to help us become contenders in late November,” Coach Sheahan says. “Everybody’s first goal is to win their conference but not too many teams have their eyes on the ultimate prize.”

An OUA semi-final appearance in 2019 showed that the Gryphons were close. And the Guelph staff went into the offseason with a focus on upping the athleticism and size of the roster, while also bringing in new quarterbacks to keep that critical position competitive. There are always some important things to keep in mind when watching high-school athletes perform, like their ability to run and their desire to fight for the football. The film is combined with research about the player and if the fit looks good athletically, academically, and character-wise, then the visits to campus commence.

While the Coach doesn’t put a lot of stock in rankings, the group joining Gryphon Football later this year is recognized as one of the best classes in the country. Guelph hit all of the marks, beginning with a trio of quarterback recruits in Michael Warner (Southwood Secondary School, Cambridge, ON), Ethan Chambers (Catholic Central High School, London, ON), and local product Daniel Brown (Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute). They are three excellent athletes with strong arms, and the intelligence for the position.

“They definitely have that competitive edge we’re looking for,” says Coach Sheahan.

Running back Josh Munoz (St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School, Hamilton, ON) and receivers Will Adam (A.B. Lucas Secondary School, London, ON) and Ryan Ogilvie (Cardinal Newman Catholic secondary School, Hamilton, ON) will give the offence a boost, while Guelph kicker Ben Lane (Centennial), already known for his intense Instagram workout posts, could eventually be a difference maker with his powerful leg.

Coach Sheahan is incredibly proud of the job the staff did in recruiting some of the best defensive backs in the nation. Three names to keep an eye on in that group are Ethan Monaghan (St. Thomas More, Hamilton, ON), Devyn Cromwell (Clarkson Football North, from Toronto, ON), and an incredible player that the Coach expects to be a leader in the years to come, Anthony Moretuzzo (Cardinal Newman, Hamilton, ON).

All U SPORTS programs prioritize those athletes in the trenches. Coach Sheahan says that if you have a line of scrimmage, you have yourself a team. And the Gryphons got much better where it matters.

Team Ontario and Team Canada standout Ethan Pyle (Clarkson Football North, from Milton, ON) comes in as a 6-3, 300-pound offensive guard, who could contend for a starting role as a rookie. Pyle is joined by fellow big men Daniel Hocevar (Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School, Hamilton, ON) and Wes Binnie (Eastview Secondary School, Barrie, ON). This group offers a look at the bright future of Guelph’s offensive line.

Coach Sheahan, who stands 6-3 and weighs 225 pounds, was impressed by their physical presence.

“When they sign and stand next to me in the picture, I know they’re big,” he says with a laugh.

The Gryphons have produced some elite defensive talent in recent years and they have landed another superior athlete in defensive end Jaden Dicks (Etobicoke Collegiate Institute, Etobicoke, ON). The 6-6, 230-pound Dicks is arguably the best high-school pass rusher in Canada. The D-line was also bolstered by the addition of Jacob Sherk (Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School, Toronto, ON), Zach Ayotte (A.N. Myer Secondary School, Niagara Falls, ON), Carsen Gilbert (Saint Michael Catholic High School, Niagara, ON), and Desean Wright (St. Marcellinus Secondary School, Mississauga, ON), all great talents on the defensive side of the ball.

In the last decade, some of Guelph’s most elite players have been linebackers. And the tradition of strength at that position will continue with the arrival of Kobi Ofuokwu (St. Thomas More, Hamilton, ON), Nathan Condello (Bishop Ryan, Hamilton, ON), Kole Watson (Salisbury Composite High School, Sherwood Park, AB), and Cordell Holder (Stonewall Collegiate Institute, Stonewall, MB).

“I’m not sure we could have done better,” Coach Sheahan says of the incoming corps.

There is even more talent in the class beyond all these names. That’s the idea, to have a stockpile of skilled and committed student-athletes ready to earn their way on to the field.

“We are never going to apologize for bringing in good players,” says Coach Sheahan. “By adding fresh talent, it ensures that there is no complacency. That’s what the real world is like. If you get out there and you’re not the most competitive at your job, someone will pass you by.

“We like to roll up our sleeves and get to work to build a winner here. If players see it in us and we see it in them, then it’s a good fit.”

While the Gryphon staff did a great job of recruiting, there is an obvious uncertainty about what lies ahead this season. Communication has been key throughout the pandemic with coaches dividing and conquering by making regular calls, texts, and emails. Coach Sheahan has closely monitored the incoming class and stayed organized and informed regarding admissions to the U of G.

Each U SPORTS program is facing the same challenge. The key is to be ready to go.

“Whatever form of football we get thrown at us in 2020, we’ll be excited to play,” says Coach Sheahan.

“And we’ll have a plan.”

For a detailed list of recruits, go to: https://canadafootballchat.com/u-sports-commits-2020-oua/

Written By: David Dicenzo