BURLINGTON, ON - On Wednesday, November 7, Ontario University Athletics officially announced the list of All-Stars for the 2018 football season with a total of seven Gryphons receiving recognition. The seven all-star selections mark the program's highest number since 2015 (when they received 11 OUA all-star nods).
Gryphon Football 2018 OUA All-Stars
OUA 1st Team
| #10 |
Gabe Ferraro |
Kicker |
| #53 |
Luke Korol |
Linebacker |
| #60 |
Colin Jerome |
Offensive Line |
OUA 2nd Team
| #16 |
Brendan Murphy |
Defensive Back |
| #68 |
Eric Starczala |
Offensive Line |
| #12 |
Kiondre Smith |
Returner |
| #52 |
A.J. Allen |
Rush / Cover |
For the third time in his Gryphon career, veteran kicker
Gabe Ferraro has been named an OUA First Team All-Star. The two-time All-Canadian capped off his fifth and final year with the Gryphons by connecting on an OUA-leading 22 made field goals in 2018, ranking him 2nd in the entire country (next only to Calgary Dinos' kicker Niko DiFonte, who made 24). Ferraro's memorable 2018 campaign also saw him put his name atop the national record books, as he moved into a tie for the U SPORTS all-time record for regular season made field goals in a career with 91 (tying him with former Calgary kicker Johnny Mark, 2011-2015). Prior to returning for his fifth and final year at U of G, Ferraro was the lone kicker selected in the 2018 CFL Draft back in May where he was taken by the Calgary Stampeders in the 7th round.
Fifth-year linebacker
Luke Korol has been nothing short of spectacular in his senior season with the Gryphons and as a result is an OUA First Team All-Star for the first time in his career. Korol led the entire country in tackles (9.3 per game) and was the heart and soul of a dominating Gryphon defence that limited opponents to just 21.9 points per game (3rd-ranked scoring defence in the OUA). Korol's 74.5 tackles during the regular season not only was the highest total in all of U SPORTS, it also established a new single-season school record for the Gryphons. The Dundas, Ontario native recorded three sacks, 8.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and an interception.
Rounding out the Gryphons' OUA First Team selections is veteran centre
Colin Jerome. The 6-2, 300 lbs Sociology major from North Bay anchored a Gryphon offensive line that finished 2nd in the conference in rushing yards (1,631). For Jerome, who alongside fourth-year quarterback Theo Landers serves as one of the two team captains on offence for the Gryphs, this marks the first time in his career he has been recognized as an OUA all-star.
Four Gryphons earned the title of OUA Second Team All-Stars, including a pair of rookies. First-year defensive back
Brendan Murphy (Chateauguay, Quebec) earned a starting spot in the Gryphon secondary and also proved to be a threat off the edge, ranking second on the team with three sacks. Freshmen return specialist
Kiondre Smith was named an OUA Second Team All-Star returner, with the elusive Toronto native taking back 16 kick returns for 403 yards while also recording 401 yards in the punt return game, including one for a touchdown.
Veteran offensive lineman
Eric Starczala is an OUA Second Team All-Star for a second consecutive year. The 6-5, 318 lbs Cambridge native impressed at the 2018 East West Bowl before returning for his senior season at U of G in 2018 where he once again emerged as one of the most reliable offensive tackles in the conference. Rounding out the list of Gryphon all-stars is third-year linebacker
A.J. Allen, who was rewarded for his standout play on special teams as the Second Team choice for the OUA's Rush/Cover position.
The Gryphons are now preparing for a trip to London on Saturday (Nov. 10) for the
111th Yates Cup. The No. 5-ranked Gryphons will face the No. 1-ranked Western Mustangs in the conference championship game, with the winner earning the right to host the Canada West champion on Nov. 17 in the Mitchell Bowl.
For more information on the rest of the OUA football All-Stars, visit
www.oua.ca.
A full list of the OUA 1st and 2nd Team All-Stars is listed below.
OUA First-Team All-Stars
Offence
Quarterback – Tre Ford, Waterloo
Running Back – Cedric Joseph, Western
Full Back – Nikola Kalinic, York
Receiver – Tyler Ternowski, Waterloo
Receiver – Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Laurier
Receiver – Gordon Lam, Waterloo
Receiver – Carter Matheson, Ottawa
Centre – Colin Jerome, Guelph
Tackle – Jesse Gibbon, Waterloo
Tackle – Dylan Giffen, Western
Guard – David Brown, Western
Guard – Ben Koczwara, Waterloo
Defence
Defensive Tackle – Trevaughan James, Laurier
Defensive Tackle – Tevin Bowen, Carleton
Defensive End – Kene Onyeka, Carleton
Defensive End – Rossini Sandjong-Djabome, York
Linebacker – Luke Korol, Guelph
Linebacker – Jack Cassar, Carleton
Sam Linebacker – Fraser Sopik, Western
Free Safety – Daniel Valente Jr., Western
Halfback – Will Amoah, Laurier
Halfback – Noah Hallett, McMaster
Cornerback – Jamie Harry, Ottawa
Cornerback – Bleska Kambamba, Western
Special Teams
Punter – Marc Liegghio, Western
Kicker – Gabriel Ferraro, Guelph
Returner – Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Laurier
Rush / Cover – Nikola Kalinic, York
OUA Second Team All-Stars
Offence
Quarterback – Chris Merchant, Western
Running Back – Levondre Gordon, Laurier
Full Back – Mario Villamizar, Laurier
Receiver – Harry McMaster, Western
Receiver – Colton Hunchak, York
Receiver – Matteo Del Brocco, Queen's
Receiver – Brentyn Hall, Laurier
Centre – Kyle Boismier, Waterloo
Tackle – Eric Starczala, Guelph
Tackle – Zachary Pelehos, Ottawa
Guard – Gregoire Bouchard, Western
Guard – Drew Desjarlais, Windsor
Defence
Defensive Tackle – Cameron Lawson, Queen's
Defensive Tackle – Mitchell Stadnyk, Western
Defensive End – Andrew Thurston, Western
Defensive End – Robbie Smith, Laurier
Linebacker – Daniel Metcalfe, Windsor
Linebacker – Philippe Dion, Western
Sam Linebacker – Scott Hutter, Laurier
Free Safety – Luke Griese, Ottawa
Halfback – Brendan Murphy, Guelph
Halfback – James McCallum, Carleton
Cornerback – Jonathan Edouard, Carleton
Cornerback – Tyrell Ford, Waterloo
Special Teams
Punter – Nick Liberatore, Queen's
Kicker – Marc Liegghio, Western
Returner – Kiondre Smith, Guelph
Rush / Cover – A.J. Allen, Guelph
