Lord Tweedsmuir's Kojo Odoom (right, 23), B.C. Triple A football's Defensive Player of the Year, will land in London, Ont., this coming season to begin his U Sports career with the Western Mustangs. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School Football University Football

Varsity Letters’ B.C. Recruits List 2019: Where 104 high school football prospects are headed this coming season

LANGLEY — Months in the making, we’re thrilled to present Varsity letters’ 13th annual B.C. Recruits List, our annual look at who’s going where as it pertains to B.C.’s high school-to-university student-atheltes.

Despite playing just one season of football, West Vancouver's Simon Li has been signed by the Canada West power Calgary Dinos. (Photo property of West Vancouver Secondary athletics 2019. All rights reserved)
Feature High School Football High School Rugby University Football

West Vancouver’s Simon Li: Just 15 months after tackling football and rugby, the Highlanders’ raw rookie answers the call of the Calgary Dinos

WEST VANCOUVER — Out of nowhere, he established his high school’s new gold standard for raw rookies. Now, West Vancouver Highlanders’ graduating senior  Simon Li is headed off to a university career as a diamond in the rough.

Gabe Olivares is back with the UBC Thunderbirds after taking a season away. The former G.W. Graham Grizzlies star is part of a five-man battle to win the team's starting quarterback job this fall. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Football

Who is UBC’s next starting quarterback? Five pivots form preliminary pecking order as the Michael O’Connor era comes to an end

LANGLEY — UBC football fans knew the Michael O’Connor era was officially over early last month when the Toronto Argonauts made him the second-highest selected Canadian quarterback in draft history.

Former Holy Cross star basketball player Jonathan Kongbo gave football a late try, and now goes from the Tennessee Volunteers to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. (Photo by Andrew Ferguson property of Tennessee athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School Football University Football

Eight B.C. high school football alums picked in 2019 CFL Draft! Coaches agree player development is on the rise

LANGLEY — B.C. high school football’s best night ever at the CFL draft? No one can be sure, yet what is certain is that the eight players chosen from some of this province’s top programs is the most in over a decade.

On Thursday, Michael O'Connor found out his CFL home will be in Toronto. On Friday, he goes to NFL rookie mini-camp with the Seattle Seahawks. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics)
Feature University Football

Michael O’Connor: UBC’s humble superstar pivot finds a CFL home with Argos, takes to field with NFL’s Seattle Seahawks on Friday

VANCOUVER — Michael O’Connor wasn’t afraid of taking a road less traveled to achieve his dream of becoming a professional quarterback, and now more than ever, you can see the purpose in his steps.

Photo rendition of SFU's new stadium project shows just what a Thursday night GNAC match involving the Clan's women's soccer team might look like once the covered grandstand project is completed in August of 2020. (Photo rendition property of SFU Athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
JF Thomas will be a senior wide receiver when he and his Tarleton State Texans come north to face the Simon Fraser Clan in 2020 for the first home game of SFU's new GNAC/Lone Star football alliance announced jointly by the two conferences Tuesday. (Photo by Russell Huffman property of The Flash Today 2019. All Rights Reserved) (Photo by Russell Huffman property of The Flash Today 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Simon Fraser head coach Thomas Ford love the old school fire and work ethic of New Westminster Hyacks senior defensive end Evan Nolli (76). (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School Football University Football

SFU Football Signing Day 2019: DE Evan Nolli of New West Hyacks highlights a freshman defensive class with a true B.C. flavour

(Welcome to our second of two stories on the Simon Fraser Clan football program and the incoming class of recruits announced today as part of NCAA National Letter of Intent Day. This story will focus on the defence and open by featuring a versatile lineman from New Westminster)BURNABY — Thomas Ford has a pretty simple […]

After leading Mt. Douglas of Victoria to a pair of Subway Bowl B.C. Triple A titles, Rams' quarterback Gideone Kremler is ready to help turn the fortunes of the Simon Fraser Clan. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2018. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School Football University Football

SFU Football Signing Day 2019: QB Gideone Kremler brings his magic touch to the Clan offence

(Welcome to our first of two stories on the Simon Fraser Clan football program and its incoming class of recruits announced today as part of NCAA National Letter of Intent Day. This story will focus on the team’s 15 new offensive recruits, beginning with its marquee signing at quarterback. Another on the defence will follow)