Dinos announce 2017 recruiting class: Receivers

CALGARY – Ahead of this weekend’s Spring Camp at McMahon Stadium, the University of Calgary Dinos football team is pleased to announce its recruiting class for the 2017 season.

Today, we introduce 10 receivers who have committed to the Dinos, part of the overall recruiting class of 45 that is one of the strongest in Dinos history and made up almost entirely of players from Calgary and Southern Alberta.

“This has been one of the best recruiting classes coming out of Calgary and Southern Alberta in years, in terms of the number of players who have the ability to play at this level,” said Dinos Head Coach Wayne Harris. “This group of receivers is very strong, coming from across the province. They couple good size with great speed, and we were able to recruit each position from big and physical to small, high-speed outside guys. We’re excited to continue to work with them as we continue with our tradition of outstanding receivers.”

Of the 10 receivers who committed for 2017, city and provincial champion St. Francis along with perennial powerhouse Henry Wise Wood provided three each. From the Browns, two players are carrying on family tradition by joining the Dinos: Matthew Ohler is the son of former Dinos offensive lineman Peter Ohler, who won Vanier Cups in both 1983 and 1985, while Jacob Izquierdo – a CFC 100 recruit – is the son of former star running back J.P. Izquierdo, who won the national title in 1988 and went on to win three Grey Cup titles. Joining Izquierdo and Ohler on the short trip from St. Francis is Alexander Groshak, who played for Canada at the International Bowl in Orlando in January.

From Wise Wood, the Dinos signed Prince Kivia, Blake Klotz, and Matson Tulloch. Kivia and Tulloch both played for the Alberta U18 team at the Canada Cup last summer. Kivia is an explosive playmaker who could be used in the return game, while Tulloch is an intelligent, solid playmaker. Klotz, meanwhile, brings his 6-foot-3, 200-pound size to the receiving corps.

Cochrane High School’s Zach Rabe, originally from Texas, elected to join the Dinos despite receiving offers to play baseball in the USA. He has played both sports at a high level, including a stint at shortstop with the Okotoks Dawgs U18 program, but ultimately decided to stay on the gridiron. He was part of three 3A provincial championship teams at Cochrane.

From St. Mary’s High School in southwest Calgary, the Dinos have signed speedster Kevon John-Clarke. Another CFC 100 player, John-Clarke finished third in the province in the 100-metre dash this year and was the Saints’ team MVP in 2016.

The Dinos plucked David Mueller out of Lacombe, Alta. away from several other interested Canadian schools. A two-time member of Team Alberta, Mueller is a strong, physical receiver and a solid route-runner who should fit in nicely into the Calgary offence.

Rounding out the receivers group is a Cégep transfer from Vanier College in Montreal, Abdraman Abdel-Rahim. A 6-foot-3, 185-pound wideout, Abdel-Rahim played for both Vanier College as well as Montmorency at the Cégep level before being lured west by the Dinos’ coaching staff.

The Dinos take the field for Spring Camp beginning Friday morning at McMahon Stadium. The three-day, five-session event wraps up with the annual scrimmage Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

Receivers
Abdel-Rahim, Abdraman / Vanier College / Montreal
Groshak, Alexander / St. Francis HS / Calgary
CFC100 Izquierdo, Jacob / St. Francis HS / Calgary
John-Clarke, Kevon / St. Mary’s HS / Calgary
Kivia, Prince / Henry Wise Wood HS / Calgary
Klotz, Blake / Henry Wise Wood HS / Calgary
Mueller, David / Lacombe HS / Lacombe, Alta.
Ohler, Matthew / St. Francis HS / Calgary
Rabe, Zach / Cochrane HS / Cochrane, Alta.
Tulloch, Matson / Henry Wise Wood HS / Calgary

Source: Calgary Dinos