Source: Earl Zukerman, McGill Athletics and Recreation
2015 regular season record: 3-5
2015 regular season standings: 5th in RSEQ
2015 playoff record: 0-0
2015 playoff finish: (not applicable)
General Write-Up: The McGill Redmen have embarked upon their 136th season of football and are coming off a 3-5 fifth-place finish in the tough six-team RSEQ conference, which has produced the Vanier Cup national champion in eight of the last 13 seasons. A fruitful recruiting year resulted in 43 freshmen in camp, joining 37 returnees, including 10 seniors, nine juniors and 18 sophomores.
McGill has a favourable schedule with only single contests against defending Dunsmore Cup champion Laval (7-1) and second-place Montreal (6-2). The Redmen are slated to play two games apiece against Bishop’s (1-7), Concordia (4-4) and Sherbrooke (5-3).
The Redmen have lost 10 starters, six of them on offence. Despite the losses, the team’s strength will be on offence, under the guidance of second-year offensive coordinatorBenoit Groulx, a two-time Vanier Cup champion quarterback with Laval. A veteran offensive line is in place, in addition to a solid corps of running backs and a plethora of receivers. The team is young on defence but should be solid providing there are no major injuries.
Quote from head coach:
“We had a very good recruiting year and have improved our talent level and depth as well as our strength and conditioning,” says Ronald Hilaire, who has returned for his third season as head coach and defensive coordinator. “Our goal is to earn a playoff berth.”
Head Coach: Ronald Hilaire
– Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2016): 3rd season
– Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2016): 3rd season
– Career regular season record with team: 3-8
– Career regular season record in CIS: 3-8
– Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only):3-8
– Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 3-8
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters: six
Key returning players: Sophomore southpaw QB Nicolas English (6’0, 235; 115 comp., 194 attempts, 1,399 yds, 10 TD, 7 INTs), junior RB Nicolas Khandar (5’8″, 183; 29 car., 264 yds, 9.1 yds per carry, 1 TD),
WR Louis Brouillette 6’0″, 183; led team in both scoring (43 pts) and all-purpose yards (88.9 per game), (42 rec., 495 yards, 3 TDs), senior R Jonathan Mack (15 rec., 250 yds., 2 TDs), junior R Remi Bertellin (24 rec., 354 yds., 1 TD; 660 all-purpose yds.), senior LT Qadr Spooner (6’4″, 314), named a preseason all-Canadian byInstantScouting.com.
Key recruits or transfers: QB Frederic Paquette-Perrault (6’2″, 212) from College Vieux-Montreal (125 comp., 235 att., 1,620 yds, 10 TDs, 10 INTs), RB Donavan Martel(5-8, 187) of College Lionel-Groulx, who led the Div.2 CEGEP conference in rushing with 1,448 yds on 201 carries for 7.2 avg and a league-leading 18 TDs in 9 games. WRPreston Bews who played junior and spent part of last season on the practice roster of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. Freshman TE Charles Marchand-Thibault (6-1, 234) from College d’Alma.
Key losses: RG Timothy Mitchell, C Terence Gamit, TE Malik Gagnon, RB Luis Guimont-Mota (469 yds., 5.1 avg., 3 TD), WR Yannick Langelier-Vanasse (470 rec. yds.), K Justin Lavallee (36.0 punting avg.; 5-for-7 on FGs).
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 10
Key returning players: Junior RE Ousmane Guindo (5-10, 217; 29 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF), junior NT Anis Kali (5-11, 269; 5 tackles), junior RE Philippe Carrier (6-0, 206; 2.5 tackles), sophomore MLB Dane Wagner (5-11, 220; 28 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FR), sophomore OLB Maxime Rouyer (6-0, 214; 18 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and senior DB Charles-William Tremblay (25 tackles, one sack, 3 KDs, 1 FF, 1 FR), who played in the CIS East-West Bowl along with senior LB Eric Gracioppo (6-2, 231; 6 tackles, 1 KD, 1 FR). The defensive backfield will be very young with the only experienced starter being sophomore CB David Polynice (16 tackles, 1 INT, 1 KD).
Key recruits or transfers: Five freshmen are projected starters on defence, namely DT Andrew Seinet-Spaulding (6-0, 303, College Vieux-Montreal), DHB Antoine Mongeau (College Vieux-Montreal), safety Jean-Philippe Hudon (College Notre Dame de Foy), DHB Vincent Dethier (College Lionel Groulx), CB Pier-Olivier Grenier-Gachet (College St. Jean sur Richelieu).
Key losses: MLB Karl Forgues (41.5 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 KD, 1 FR, 2 FF), RE Devon Stewart (30 tackles, 4 sacks,) DB Woldy Murat (17 tackles, 1 knockdown) and DBAlexandre Brunet (16 tackles).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key returning players: Senior WR Louis Brouillette (88.9 all-purpose yds per game, 35 PR for 206 yds, 2 KOR for 10 yds., FG: 4/6, PAT: 11/13) and junior WR Remi Bertellin (15 KOR., 285 yds., 4 PR, 21 yds, 30 kickoffs for 56.4 avg, 17 punts for 39.2 avg)
Key recruits or transfers: CB Pier-Olivier Grenier-Gachet (College St. Jean sur Richelieu), WR Joel Soucy (College Vieux-Montreal), K Findlay Brown (Vincent Massey Collegiate).
Key losses: WR Yannick Langelier-Vanasse (6 KOR, for 101 yds, 4 PR for 64 yds.) and kicker Justin Lavallee (33 punts for 36.0 avg.; 5-for-7 on FGs, 1 KO for 60 yds).
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