17 new football recruits

Wilfrid Laurier University’s football team has received 17 new recruits with a wide array of talent.

The Faulds era at Laurier is still young and moving in the right direction with a record of 4-4 and a playoff berth this past season.

The offensive line is key to Laurier’s new recruits, with five falling under that distinction.

“I think everyone knows in football that offensive and defensive line is kind of where a lot of games are won and lost. You know the quarterback, the running back, the receivers are the ones that everyone likes to see and get all the stats and all the glory, but games are won in the trenches,” Faulds said.

Laurier may be losing some players to the upcoming Canadian Football League draft, including team MVP Dillon Campbell.

“There is a great opportunity for him to make the CFL, so if he’s able to make the CFL then obviously that’s a void we have to fill,” Faulds said.

Chris Ackie, a star in the Laurier secondary also has a tentative future as he was named on the CFL’s top 20 draft list earlier this year.

He delivered 48.5 tackles, three knockdowns, a sack and an interception this past season. According to Faulds, in the event that Ackie hangs up his Golden Hawk jersey the best answer for his replacement is new recruit Scott Hutter of London, Ontario.

“Scott Hutter we love for the type of calibre player that he is, to be able to play pretty early. He played both receiver and DB in high school … I do think he has an opportunity to play early,” Faulds said.

Another recruit Faulds is excited for is Jamal Hooker out of Regina, Sask The five-foot-eight young running back stood out in this year’s recruiting class and draws comparisons to Campbell with his size and ability to block tackles.

“Jamal is just an electrifying player. We got to see him last year in Saskatoon at the Canada cup,” said Faulds.

Faulds’ main focus is to recruit players with the potential to grow over the next four years in the program.

The large recruiting class will be something to look forward to for the men’s team as they get going again the fall of 2015.