Source: Andy Baechler, Guelph Gryphon Athletic
2015 regular season record: 7-1
2015 regular season standings: 2nd in OUA
2015 playoff record: 2-1
2015 playoff finish: Lost 25-10 to Montreal in Mitchell Bowl
General Write-Up:
Last November, an unforgettable 2015 season culminated with the Gryphons hoisting the Yates Cup for the first time since 1996 following their dramatic 23-17 victory over the Western Mustangs in London. In 2016, first-year head coach Kevin MacNeill leads the Gryphons into a new season with a talented roster featuring a long list of returning, impact players.
Quarterback James Roberts returns for his third year under centre after setting a single-season school record for touchdown passes (18) a year ago, in what was his first full season as the starter. Roberts will distribute the ball to a receiving core that boasts some incredible depth and features one of the top playmakers in the country in fifth year wide out A’dre Fraser. Leading the way on the ground is fourth year running back Johnny Augustine who himself set a single-season school record in 2015 with 12 rushing touchdowns. Like the receiving core, the Gryphons also have some terrific depth at the running back position which should allow them to once again produce one of the most explosive and balanced offensive attacks in the conference.
Defensively, the Gryphons lose a pair of impact players at the linebacker position with reigning CIS President’s Trophy winner John Rush having graduated as well as OUA All-Star Curtis Newton, now with the Toronto Argonauts. However, the Gryphons still have plenty of game-changing players on defensive and will field one of the strongest secondaries in the country with CIS All-Canadian Nick Parisotto and OUA All-Star free safety Tristan Doughlin both back to help anchor the U of G defence.
Quote from head coach: Kevin MacNeill
“We have a really committed group of players and coaches in this program who have worked extremely hard during the off-season to build upon some of the success we had in 2015.”
Head Coach: Kevin MacNeill
– Entering 1st season as head coach in 2016
– Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2016): 0 (2016 will be 1st year as a CIS head coach)
– Career regular season record with team: 0-0
– Career regular season record in CIS: 0-0
– Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 0-0
– Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 0-0
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters:
Key returning players:
QB James Roberts: set single-season school record for TD passes in 2015 (18). Recorded 2nd highest single-season marks in school history with 152 completions and 2,236 yards. Invited to Toronto Argonauts 2016 CFL Training Camp.
RB Johnny Augustine: set single-season school record in 2015 with 12 rushing touchdowns. Also had 2 receiving TDs, giving him 14 total TDs on the season (tying the single-season school record).
REC/RET Ryan Nieuwesteeg: In 2015, Ryan Nieuwesteeg led the CIS and set a single-season school record with 846 punt return yards. That also is the 2nd-highest single-season total in CIS history, behind only Laurier’s Dillon Heap who had 912 punt return yards in 2009.
Key recruits or transfers:
DE Matthew Delmas (transfer from St. Mary’s): Delmas, an AUS All-Star during his time with the Huskies, is set to make his Gryphons debut in 2016 and will provide pressure off the edge for the Gryphon defensive line.
DT Corey Flude (transfer from Queen’s): Former Gael Cory Flude will make his Gryphons debut in 2016 and will line up next to senior Donnie Egerter to give the Gryphons plenty of size, experience and talent on the interior of the defensive line.
Key losses:
LB John Rush – reigning OUA & CIS President’s Trophy winner.
LB Curtis Newton – OUA All-Star and team’s second-leading tackler behind Rush
C Matt Nesbitt – OUA All-Star centre and leader of the offensive line
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 6
Key returning players:
DB Nick Parisotto
FS Tristan Doughlin
LB Andrew Graham
Key recruits or transfers:
DE Matthew Delmas
DT Corey Flude
Key losses:
LB John Rush
LB Curtis Newton
DB Orion Edwards (off-season knee injury, will miss 2016 season)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key returning players:
RET Ryan Nieuwesteeg
K/P Gabe Ferraro
Key recruits or transfers:
Key losses:
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