Ravens nab three more Ontario commits

The Ravens add more commits to their ever-growing list of 2017 commitment class.

After recently adding two players to their roster, the Carleton Ravens continue to attract recruits, having added Cole Hepburn, a defensive back and lineman from Bill Crothers Secondary School, Ryk Vanderpol, a defensive back from Nelson High School, and Matt Stephens, a defensive back from Lorne Park High School, to their team this weekend.

Cole Hepburn runs with the ball. Courtesy of Cole Hepburn.

Cole Hepburn runs with the ball. Courtesy of Cole Hepburn.

Hepburn, who is 6’1, 195lbs, is primarily a defensive halfback and SAM linebacker and hails from Newmarket, Ontario. He will be travelling to the nation’s capital next season to commence his CIS football career with the Ravens after playing with the Bill Crothers Secondary Colts (York Regional Athletics Association).

“I love the campus, the city, the academic and athletic facilities and the entire Carleton atmosphere,” Hepburn said of Carleton.

“Carleton treated my family and I like we are part of their family. They were very upfront about what they were looking for. They asked me what I was looking for, and would Carleton be a good fit for me as a student first and as a Varsity athlete second,” he added.

The young football player had the chance to experience the 2016 Panda Game, which he described as “crazy and extremely exciting.” He is impressed with the Ravens and said that the team has built a solid program with reputable coaching and great players. While he had interest from other CIS schools who also treated him well, he said he felt Carleton was special.

“Coach Steve was super straight forward, I loved it, and I look forward to and am very excited to be a Raven,” Hepburn said. “Everybody I have spoken to has had nothing but great things to say about Coach Steve, Coaches Ryan and Sean, and the rest of the staff. I am very comfortable with them and have been able to watch them interact with their players and I like what I have seen.”

During his career, he has played with the York Simcoe Bucs from 2011 to 2014. He was a member of the 2015-2016 edition of Team Canada in the International Development Fast Football League 7v7. In 2016, he played with Team Central varsity in the Ontario Prospect Challenge and Team Ontario in the Canada Cup.

“I credit my IDFFL 7/7 coaches with helping to make me the player I am today. IDFFL has played a major role in my development and I am grateful for their mentorship,” Hepburn said.

He added that, “I think I am a versatile type of Defensive player, I play on every special team, I am physical and am eager to be able to contribute to the Ravens moving forward.”

Ryk Vanderpol makes the tackle, Courtesy of Ryke Vanderpol.

Ryk Vanderpol makes the tackle, Courtesy of Ryke Vanderpol.

Vanderpol will be coming to Carleton from the Nelson Lords (Golden Horseshoe Athletics Conference), a high school in Burlington, Ontario. The 6’2, 180lbs defensive back is looking forward to aiding in the rising success of the Ravens.

“Carleton is a team full of talent and is on the rise. They are motivated to win and I feel that the success so far will continue while I am there. I have also felt like I’m part of a family whenever I am there and that is something that I also value as well,” he said.

He added that, “The coaching staff is excellent. I’ve had opportunities to see them coach and be coached by them at the elite camp. They are smart coaches who know how to win and have proven it on multiple occasions.”

Vanderpol is interested in going into English. During his football career, he has played for the Burlington Stampeders (Ontario Football Conference) and was a member of Team West in the Ontario Prospect Challenge.

Last summer, Vanderpol was awarded a sport on the 2016 All-Saban team by the University of Alamaba while attending their camp. He also won a championship with the Stampeders in 2015 and won his OPC game in 2015.

Matt Stephens. Courtesy of Canadafootballchat.com

Matt Stephens. Courtesy of Canadafootballchat.com

Stephens, who stands at 6’1, 170lbs, plays as both a free safety and corner, currently plays with the Lorne Park Spartans (Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association). He also played in the 2016 Ontario Prospect Challenge. He currently calls Mississauga his hometown.

“I committed to Carleton because it was everything I was looking for in a school. I felt so comfortable when I went on my visits, and I could really see myself spending the next 4 years there!” he said.

“I really like all of the coaches that I’ve met! They all seem like great people and the ones that I’ve met are really easy to talk to. With the team being so new, I feel like this is great opportunity to become part of the beginning of something big” he added.

Stephens is interested in entering computer science. While he hasn’t won anything in his young, football career, he is hoping to help his team succeed this season.

 

About Canadafootballchat.com

Canadafootballchat.com (CFC) is the number one national amateur football website (source: ComScore.com) and most respected source for high school and recruiting news in Canada.  CFCs mission is to promote players, coaches, administrators, teams, & leagues from coast to coast. Powered by 40+ local reporters, CFCs content driven network covers Canadian NCAA & CIS recruiting, and high school players & teams like no one else.

About CFC Insider

The CFC Insider’ section is for the fan, player, coach, parent, looking for MORE. The mission of this exclusive membership section is to give more recruiting news, exclusive rankings and multi-series stories as well as coach-player instructional videos. To become a CFC INSIDER member, CLICK HERE!

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

Comments are closed.