Strong defense draws 3 to McMaster

McMaster adds two Ontario commits and one out-of-province commit to their team.

Linebackers Yiannis Spetsakis from St. Andrew’s College and Eli Haynes from the Okanagan Sun (CJFL) know how strong the McMaster Marauders’ defense already is, but the pair will be looking to make it that much more dangerous in the 2018 season.

Athlete Jake Porter from Notre Dame Catholic High School will also be joining the Marauders.

Yiannis Spetsakis

They aren’t called “student-athletes” for nothing. It isn’t all about football. “The main thing I like about McMaster is their good balance between academics and athletics. Their kinesiology program is among the best in Canada and their football program is also just as strong,” Spetsakis said.

“A place where I can get this balance is important to me because I enjoy an environment where I can push myself academically and athletically and further my interests in both,” he added.

Standing at 6’3, 222lbs, Spetsakis is hoping to use his size and skill to his advantage on the Marauders’ defense. “I like the way Head Coach Knox runs his defense. He likes to throw different formations and schemes at other teams, which is why their defense is so strong,” he said.

Spetsakis added that he believes the coaches are very honest. “I appreciate how straightforward they were with me because I would be on the same page as they were at all times,” he said.

Spetsakis is a veteran of the Fox 40 Prospect Challenge, having participated in 2016 and 2017. Last year, he won defensive MVP for Team Halton-Peel. He will also be attending this year’s challenge. He spent five years with the Markham Raiders (OVFL) and two with the Metro Toronto Wildcats. In high school, he played two years with the St. Andrew’s Saints (CISSAA). He is the 2017 recipient of the Addison Award, which is awarded to Saints’ players for their outstanding contribution to the game over the course of their careers.

6-3 220 LB Yiannis Spetsakis from St. Andrews College – represented Team Ontario in 2017 International Bowl and was Defensive MVP of 2017 CFC Fox40 Prospect Challenge – welcome to the Marauder family!! #MACGrit pic.twitter.com/1SEXwjlwSh

— Scott Brady (@CoachSBrady) February 27, 2018

Some great pics of DE / LB Yiannis Spetsakis signing his LOI with McMaster today. The Marauders are getting a young man with tremendous talent and exceptional character. #TheStandard pic.twitter.com/iJ2ESftAg8

— Len Gurr (@LenGurr) February 22, 2018

Eli Haynes

Eli Haynes is well-versed in the ways of university, having completed a degree in human kinetics at UBC-Okanagan. He is interested in pursuing a masters, but for now he is looking into kinesiology. “The health and exercise research done at McMaster is very interesting to me,” he said.

On the football front, Haynes said he loves the fact that the head coach used to be a defensive coordinator and that the current defensive coordinator is a former head coach. “I think that’s going to make us a nasty defense with such a wealth of knowledge guiding us,” he said.

Haynes has been hiding out in the CJFL for the past five years with the Okanagan Sun. Before that, he spent three years with the Kelowna Secondary School Owls (BCSSFA) in his hometown of Kelowna, BC. In 2015, he helped the Sun with a BC Football Conference championship. He was also a 2017 BCFC all-star.

6-0 225 LB Eli Haynes from the Okanagan Sun – led the BCFC in tackles and was a BCFC all-star – welcome to the Marauder family!! #MACGrit pic.twitter.com/yj1ZjulKjx

— Scott Brady (@CoachSBrady) February 26, 2018

Jake Porter

Jake Porter, who is 6’1, 195lbs, will be heading up to the Steel City from Welland, Ontario. He played with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Niagara Catholic Athletic Association) in high school.

6-1 195 ATH Jake Porter from Notre Dame – was a Niagara All-Star at WR, DB and KR and represented Team Ontario at the 2016 Canada Cup – welcome to the Marauder family!! #MACGrit pic.twitter.com/rMZP9c1Q2c

— Scott Brady (@CoachSBrady) March 1, 2018