Junior football spring camps are as much an evaluation tool for the coaches as they are for players.
There is no draft in junior football, until they actually sign with a team players are free agents to evaluate potential teams this weekend serves dual purposes for the coaches and athletes. As many of the players in town this weekend will attend at least two junior camps, head coach Gavin lake and the rest of the organization will be working hard to convince many of the young men in camp why they want to wear Sun colors this season. For every player who verbally committed to the Sun months ago, there is another still exploring his options.
The Sun have usually had a leg up on other teams in the recruiting race thanks in part to perennially fielding a winning on field product, the resort community atmosphere that Kelowna offers, and a fan base and game day atmosphere at the Apple Bowl that is the envy of the Canadian Junior Football League.
This season may be even more appealing to rookies making the jump from high school to the Sun however. While the team graduated a fairly low number of players (9) last season, 7 were starters. Combine that number with a couple more starters moving on the university football early and the door is wide open for rookies to compete seriously for a starting position, or at least to see a lot of playing time for a first year player.
Couple the reputation that Kelowna has as a very desirable city to play football in with a possibility of real playing time and Coach Lake’s job of securing talent gets a bit easier.
Each of the last three seasons (Brennan Van Nistelrooy-DB, Drew Digout-OL, Steven Doege-DL) a Sun rookie made the BCFC all star team, 2012 looks like a good potential for a repeat.
The auditioning he must do as a coach while evaluating talent is not lost on Coach Lake as he discusses the needs on the roster this season:
“That’s junior football, you are always in a tug-of-war to get these guys. Not having camps the same weekend (as other teams), guys are going to go to three or four camps. But we are already identifying players that we are very interested in and making them know they have a home here.”
One player the Sun found themselves in a major recruiting battle for last season, 21 year old quarterback Jeremy Joseph-Mraovic signed with the Sun immediately following last year’s scrimmage. Joseph chose to compete with incumbent Bobby Davis for playing time despite being guaranteed the starters job with the Westshore Rebels. The Victoria based club went so far as to fax CJFL registration forms to Joseph’s Kelowna hotel last year to convince him to sign , so the recruiting battles can obviously get intense for blue chip prospects this time of the year.
When Bobby Davis went down with injury mid way through last season, the acquisition of Joseph was all the more critical. The Winnipeger arrived in town for camp this year with a couple more players from his home town (St. Vital Mustangs of the Major Football League) after recommending the Sun to them.
DAVIS SWITCHES POSITIONS…AGAIN
Bobby Davis, who made the move from quarterback to safety last year following a thumb injury that left him unable to throw to the ball will be suiting up at slotback following an impressive showing at the BC Lions evaluation camp last weekend.
Davis lined up at receiver there due a minor shoulder injury suffered during touch football last month and impressed the Lions staff, specifically offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine with both his route running (despite not actually playing the position) and strength and speed testing results. It was the Lions who suggested Davis may have a future catching the ball.
Arguably the best all around athlete on the Sun roster, Davis didn’t hesitate to make the switch. And after another CFL draft come and gone without a Canadian drafted at quarterback, the decision appears to be the logical one.
“It felt really natural out there (slot-back at the evaluation camp). If I ever want to go to the next level, I don’t want to say stepping stone, but this is a logical position for me. I have to develop slotback/receiver skills if I ever want to go to the next level.”
Does he see the movement over three positions as a detriment to his development?
“I’ve played football for 14 years, I’ve already been all over the field so I think I understand most positions already pretty well. Being a quarterback, I have an offensive mind so this isn’t too big a learning curve.”
Family affair
4 family extensions are in camp vying for spots on the roster:
Jamie Turek (DB) – Younger brother of current Sun receiver Danny Turek
Cole Mosychuk (LB) – Son of former Sun linebacker Brian Mosychuk
Damien Miskin (REC)-Brother of former Sun defensive make Nemo Miskin
Cam Bedore (QB)-Cousin of former Sun defensive back (and 1994 Grey Cup champ with BC Lions) Spencer Mclennan
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