Last season, after the Golden Bears qualified for their second-straight post-season appearance, the Evergreen and Gold shocked the nation by erasing a 30-3 second-half deficit, en route to a 31-30 upset win over the Saskatchewan Huskies, then ranked #3 in CIS, in Saskatoon.
Although they fell to Calgary in the 74th playing of the Hardy Cup game the following week, that playoff performance, coupled with a strong core of returning players, gives rise to the hope that the Bears will continue their playoff appearance streak in 2011.
10-year Head Coach Jerry Friesen stepped down during the off-season to pursue other opportunities, and eventually landed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. Associate Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Jeff Stead, a Vanier Cup winning Assistant Coach with the 2007 Manitoba Bisons, has since become the Interim Head Coach for Alberta.
Stead has 54 returning players for the 2011, including 5th year quarterback Julian Marchand (Cochrane, Alta.), emerging deep-threat and big play receiver Ryley Richardson (2nd, Spruce Grove, Alta.), and runningback KK Sonuga (4th, Edmonton), who played in the 2010 East-West Bowl, on offence, as well as defensive leaders Duncan Morris (LB, 5th, Edmonton), and Jason Hetherington (S, 5th, Edmonton).
Quote from head coach:
“I’m excited about the opportunity that exists this season,” said Interim Head Coach Jeff Stead. “We have a great group of veterans on the offensive side of the ball; Julian Marchand will lead the offence as our 5th year starter, and he will have a veteran group of receivers to throw to, led by Jess Valleau. Fifth-year offensive lineman Will Henry anchors the o-line, a unit that has only given up six sacks over the past two seasons.”
“In fact, the only areas of our team where we are young are the defensive line and at kicker.”
“The guys have come to camp in great shape, with a new attitude of confidence, and we look forward to getting a chance to play come September 2.”
Head Coach:
– Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2011): 0
– Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2011): 0
– Career regular season record with team: 0-0
– Career regular season record in CIS: 0-0
– Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 0-0
– Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 0-0
2010 regular season record: 3-5
2010 regular season standings: 4th in Canada West
2010 playoff record: 1-1
2010 playoff finish: Lost to Calgary in conference final
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters: 12
Key returning players:
QB: Julian Marchand-Entering his third season with the Bears, and final season of CIS eligibility, the gunslinger from Cochrane, Alta. threw for an average of 190 yards per game with seven touchdowns and 52.6 completion percentage in 2010. He also rushed for 159 yards in seven games helping the Bears to their second straight playoff appearance.
WR: Jess Valleau-Third year receiver Jess Valleau will lead the Golden Bear receiving core once again this season. In 2010 Valleau recorded 28 catches for 469 yards, an average of 16.8 yards per catch, and a pair of touchdowns.
WR: Ryley Richardson-As far as rookie seasons go, Ryley Richardson couldn’t have left Golden Bears’ fans with a much bigger impression. In 2010 the Spruce Grove speedster hauled in just 19 catches for for 297 yards, an impressive 15.6 yards per catch average, but it was his leaping, sun-in-his-eyes touchdown grab, while under coverage, in the Canada West semi-final that made headlines. That catch, on the road in Saskatchewan, completed Alberta’s stunning 28-point comeback win to send them into the Hardy Cup game.
RB: KK Sonuga-Now in his fourth season with the Bears, Sonuga will finally get the opportunity to be Alberta’s feature runningback. The Edmonton native only had 25 carries last season, but still churned out 256 yards and four touchdowns.
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
OL: Eli Hankinson comes north from Calgary, where he plied his trade at Henry Wise Wood High School, and was on the 2009 Team Alberta line and the 2010 Senior Bowl squad.
RB: Tyler Lewis joins the Bears from Hunting Hills High School in Red Deer after serving as team captain and playing in the 2010 North-South Bowl.
Rec: Dillon Prince is another product of Raymond, Alta and a 2010 Southern Alberta High School Football League All-Star at the receiver position.
RB: Franklin Marion comes to the Bears as a product of the Sherwood Park Wolverines club and Salisbury High School. He played in the 2010 North-South Bowl, leading the North rushers with 49 yards.
Key losses:
RB: Matt Jarvis-In his final season, but first as a starter, Jarvis carried the mail 115 times in eight games, picking up 704 yards and three majors. Those numbers made him the third leading rusher in Canada West football in 2010. He also had six receptions for 72 yards.
Rec: Ryan Meraw-He only caught 10 passes in 2010, but 40% of those receptions were touchdowns, and when you consider that Alberta threw for nine touchdowns in total, it is clear to see the void Meraw leaves as TD threat.
P/K: Hugh O’Neill (4th, Edmonton) was drafted in the second round (11th overall) of the 2011 CFL draft by the B.C. Lions. After a strong training camp and preseason, the Lions elected to protect O’Neill on the nine game injured list for the duration of the CFL season. The Edmonton product and Ross Sheppard high school graduate is a three-time CIS All-Canadian, and a four-time Canada West All-Star. In three of his four years with the Golden Bears O’Neill led the Canada West conference in punt yard average, and in 2010 he finished with a 39.7 punt yard average, while also connecting on 72% of his field goals.
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 9
Key returning players:
S: Jason Hetherington has been one of the top ball hawks in Canada West every year he has suited up for the Bears. In three years as a starter, and 24 games, the Moose Jaw, SK native has recorded 14 interceptions for 141 yards, including 4 picks and 57 yards in 2010.
LB: Duncan Morris has 70 total tackles in his two years as a starter for Alberta, and will be a key component to the middle of the Golden Bears defence.
LB: Tyler Greenslade was a force in his freshman season of 2010. After earning a starting job in training camp, the Edmonton native picked up a team leading 45.5 tackles, which was second best in Canada West, while also banking 4.5 sacks.
DB: Brent Krawchuk is part of Alberta’s veteran defensive back corps. The fourth-year DB had 30.5 tackles in 2010 as well as four break-ups and one interception.
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
DB: Brandon Foster is a 5’11”, 175lbs defensive back, rounds out the defensive recruits. He joins the U of A after leading the Harry Ainlay Titans to the provincial finals
LB: Connor Ralph is the brother to current Golden Bear defensive back Randon. He comes to the Bears from the football hotspot that is Raymond, AB. The 5’11”, 225lbs linebacker played for the Raymond Comets, winning the provincial championship and playing in the annual North-South Senior Bowl.
LB: Michael Hansen is a 6’1”, 190lbs linebacker who captained the Jasper Place Rebels
DL: Greg Severin is a 6’3”, 255lbs defensive lineman who led the St. Francis Xavier Rams.
Key losses:
LB: Jean-Marc Jones leaves a big hole in the linebacking corps. He finished fourth in Canada West sacks (4.0) in 2010 and 11th in tackles (30), one season after leading the conference in tackles. A four-year starter, Jean-Marc Jones ended his U of A career with 167 tackles, 12 sacks, six interceptions and two forced fumbles.
DE: Craig Gerbrandt is Alberta’s all time leader in sacks and sack yards with 20 QB bring downs for 126 yards in just three seasons of play. After dominating Canada West in 2009 with 10 sacks, the same year he was the conference JP Metras Trophy nominee, Gerbrandt recorded 3.5 sacks and 35 tackles in 2010.
DL: Dale Stevenson was the ultimate utility player in his time with Alberta. The 6’6” 260lbs athlete from Raymond, Alta. played fullback, receiver and defensive end for the Golden Bears, recording a Canada West best six sacks in 2010 to go along with 30 tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key returning players:
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
P/K Steve McCaffrey is a returning defensive back who will take over punting and kicking duties in 2011 for the Evergreen and Gold.
Key losses:
P/K Hugh O’Neill (4th, Edmonton) was drafted in the second round (11th overall) of the 2011 CFL draft by the B.C. Lions. After a strong training camp and preseason, the Lions elected to protect O’Neill on the nine game injured list for the duration of the CFL season. The Edmonton product and Ross Sheppard high school graduate is a three-time CIS All-Canadian, and a four-time Canada West All-Star. In three of his four years with the Golden Bears O’Neill led the Canada West conference in punt yard average, and in 2010 he finished with a 39.7 punt yard average, while also connecting on 72% of his field goals. His best season was 2008 when he punted an average of 42.5 yards.
O’Neill is second in all-time Golden Bears’ scoring (235 points), and punt yards, and is first in all-time successful field goals with 55.
Source: Alberta Sports Info
INCOMING RECRUITING CLASS
Alberta 26
Tylor Henry – REC – Camrose / Team Alberta (Banff, AB) SIGNED
Cole McCormick – OL – Lloydminister / Team Alberta (Lloydminister, AB) SIGNED
Bryce Codan – RB – Catholic Central (Lethbridge, AB) SIGNED
Nolan Lydon (St. Albert, AB) SIGNED
Mark Oness – QB – Holy Trinity (Okotoks, AB) SIGNED
Logan Sabourin – LB – Hunting Hills (Red Deer, AB) Signed VIDEO
Brandon Foster – REC/DB – 5’11” 190 Harry Ainlay / Team Alberta (Edmonton) Signed VIDEO
Greg Severin – DL – 6’2″ 255 St Francis Xavier / Team Alberta (Edmonton) SIGNED
Michael Hansen – LB – 6’1″ 200 Jasper Park / Team Alberta / Edmonton Public MVP (Edmonton) SIGNED
Reid Bowman – OL – St Francis (Calgary) Signed VIDEO
Cody Dickinson 6’3 195 – QB – Bishop O’Bryne (Calgary, AB) SIGNED
Tyler Lewis – REC/DB – Hunting Hills (Red Deer, AB) Signed
Ryan Block – REC – Olds (Olds, AB) SIGNED
Mike Brideau – REC – Peace River (Peace River, AB) SIGNED
Eli Hankinson – OL – Henry Wise Wood / Team Alberta (Calgary, AB) SIGNED
Nate Kettles – LB – WCCHS (Claresholm, AB) SIGNED
Franklin Marion – RB – Salisbury (Sherwood Park, AB) SIGNED
Mark McAllister – REC – Olds (Olds, AB) SIGNED
Yembeh Moiba – REC – Winnipeg Rifles (Winniipeg, AB) SIGNED
Dillon Prince – REC – Raymond (Raymond, AB) SIGNED
Shea Reardon – OL – Rundle College (Calgary, AB) SIGNED
Matt Southwick -DB – Paul Rowe (Manning, AB) SIGNED
Justin Studer – DL – McCoy / Eagle Butte / Team South Alberta (Medicine Hat, AB) SIGNED
Connor Ralph – LB – Raymond (Raymond, AB) Verbal
David Beard – DL – Bev Facey (Sherwood Park, AB) Verbal
Jon Paradis – DL – Melville / Team Saskatchewan (Melville, SK) Verbal
CLICK HERE for all CIS teams 2011 recruiting class
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