By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Last night, the Winnipeg Rifles announced their 34 member rookie class at the St. Vital Mustangs clubhouse.
Included in the list are 27 members from the Winnipeg High School Football League (WHSFL), three from the Midget Football League of Manitoba (MFLM), two from the Rural Manitoba Football League (RMFL) and one each from the British Columbia Football Conference (BCFC) and Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association (SHSAA). Below is a quick breakdown of each group.
Quarterback
- Kyle Logan, St. Vital Mustangs (MFLM)
Notes: Head coach Geordie Wilson and his staff found themselves in a bit of a predicament in the lead-up to the 2018 season, when intended backup quarterback Eric Matthews had to give up the game due to an autoimmune deficiency.
Thankfully, the roster is now stocked with quality depth, due to the additions of Drenin Busch and 2018 rookie signing Kyle Logan out of St. Vital. The latter helped lead the Mustangs to the 2017 MFLM title, finishing the season with 11 passing touchdowns. He also had a notable performance in the spring scrimmage last weekend that earned praise from Wilson.
Running backs/fullbacks
- Ayric Dupont, FB, Oak Park Raiders (WHSFL)
- Mikey De Leon, FB, Vincent Massey Trojans (WHSFL)
- Tristan Kisilowsky, FB, Interlake Thunder (MFLM)
- Jarett Hicks, RB, Dryden Eagles (WHSFL)
- Erick Rivera, RB, Oak Park Raiders (WHSFL)
Notes: Both running back recruits excelled in their craft at a different position in high school. Rivera, a converted linebacker, was the MVP of this past season’s WHSFL CTV Bowl, rushing for over 200 yards despite playing just three regular season games at running back.
Hicks, on the other hand, was an option quarterback who finished the year with over 900 combined all-purpose yards via the ground and air. He says his biggest strength is his speed, and he isn’t worried about adjusting to being in the backfield instead of handling snaps.
“I had to make a lot of reads in high school, so [being a former quarterback] will help me know what holes to hit, when to hit them, and how to run basically,” he said.
Receivers
- Eric Adams, Steinbach Sabres (WHSFL)
- Aziz Daoud, Maples Marauders (WHSFL)
- Luke McMillan, Miles Mac Buckeyes (WHSFL)
- Rig Moulebou, DMCI Maroons (WHSFL)
- Cody Gushulak, Grant Park Pirates (WHSFL)
- Jake Roger, Sturgeon Heights Huskies (WHSFL)
- Colt Beswitherick, Kerrobert Rebels (SHSAA)
- Mason Rody, Dauphin Clippers (RMFL)
- Ethan Paul, Westshore Rebels (BCFC)
Notes: The receiving class is loaded with notable names for various reasons. Wilson stated that of the group, Adams and McMillan both have a strong shot at playing time as rookies. Adams led the WHSFL’s John Potter (AAA) Division in receiving yards with 592, while McMillan finished his senior year fifth in receiving yards (435) in the Kas Vidruk (AA) division.
“The rookie camp was a good introduction, getting to play against the top high school players who the Rifles had recruited,” McMillan said of the selection process.
“Then getting the chance to go to vet camp and be with the returning players who are on the roster and have played multiple seasons, and getting to spring camp and having that comfort level with the players, it made things a lot easier.”
Additionally, the receivers group also includes three converted running backs, in Gushulak — who finished second in the AAA division with over 700 yards rushing — as well as CanadInns Bowl winner Moulebou and Ethan Paul, the 2015 AAA co-rushing winner. The latter is a former member of the Sisler Spartans of the WHSFL who spent last year with the Westshore Rebels, giving him a valuable year of junior football experience.
Offensive linemen
- Miguel Leano, Tec Voc Hornets (WHSFL)
- Mac Lillie, St. Paul’s (WHSFL)
- Chase Yestrau, Sunrise Coyotes (MFLM)
NOTES: Coach Wilson has been happy with the progression made by a young offensive line all through camp, and the above three players clearly made a big impression. Lillie stands out, due to playing for the elite-level and two-time defending AAA champion St. Paul’s Crusaders. His relationship with coach Wilson also goes back 10 years to when both were affiliated with the Charleswood Broncos of the Manitoba Minor Football League.
“I think my mental game is pretty good. Definitely in high school, I would’ve liked to consider myself one of the smartest guys on the field,” Lillie says of his on-field strengths. “Going into junior, I just want to soak up as much experience as I can and gain knowledge from the veteran players.”
Defensive linemen
- Noah Wilson, Vincent Massey Trojans (WHSFL)
- Daniel Kabongo, Dakota Lancers (WHSFL)
- Riley Kolodie, Vincent Massey Trojans (WHSFL)
- Devyn Turner, St. Paul’s Crusaders (WHSFL)
- Dalton Grant, Moosomin Generals, (RMFL)
NOTES: Four of these members in Wilson, Kabongo, Kolodie and Turner played in the AAA division of the WHSFL. Kolodie led the way statistically with 17 tackles and two forced fumbles, while Turner was another member of the Crusaders provincial championship team.
“The defence is really similar to the one we ran at St. Paul’s, so I felt pretty comfortable from the beginning,” Turner said of his overall performance through camp. “I want to play wherever coach tells me to go and do my job.”
Linebackers
- Tyler Bueckert, Steinbach Sabres (WHSFL)
- Thomas Moline, Dryden Eagles (WHSFL)
- Ethan Hetherington, Garden City Fighting Gophers (WHSFL)
- Trenton Vieira, Sisler Spartans (WHSFL)
- Zane Dear, Sister Spartans (WHSFL)
- Nosa Guobodia, Oak Park Raiders (WHSFL)
NOTES: The linebacking group is another major talking point of this recruiting class, led by Bueckert, who finished his senior year fifth in the AAA division with 38 tackles. He also added an interception, a sack, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. Wilson noted after the spring scrimmage that he has the chance to “be a day one starter.”
“I just felt confident because I had a lot of good players around me, good vets helping me out and making sure I was lined up right and doing the right things,” Bueckert said in response to his coach’s praise.
“I just have to work hard and show up and do my best to show that I’m capable of getting on the field and getting reps.”
Other notable names are fellow AAA division members Dear — who played both ways for the Spartans this past year — and Hetherington, who had 31 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in 2017.
Defensive backs
- Nicolas Conway, Dakota Lancers (WHSFL)
- Everett Lenz, Dakota Lancers (WHSFL)
- Scott Brakel, Dakota Lancers (WHSFL)
- Bryce Marino, St. Paul’s Crusaders (WHSFL)
- Riley Tougas, Elmwood Giants (WHSFL)
NOTES: It’s hard not to take notice of this group as well, which includes a trio of Dakota defensive backs, led by Nicolas Conway, who Wilson could “foresee getting playing time and [pushing] for work.” All three players were instrumental in helping the Lancers make it all the way to the AAA final this past year.
The other two recruits in the secondary, Marino and Tougas, were only present for last weekend’s spring camp, but stood out, especially in the scrimmage on Sunday.
“At St. Paul’s, we do a lot of film study and every week we’re putting in new plays, so coming to spring camp here and having to pick up new plays was a lot easier,” Marino said of his performance from the week prior.
“I kind of knew what to do more, and some of the defensive plays were the same, so it made it easier.”
