GUELPH, Ont. - The 2019 season will mark the beginning of a new era in Gryphon football with first-year head coach Ryan Sheahan set to take over a program that has earned appearances in three of the past five Yates Cups.

Sheahan leads a Gryphon coaching staff full of new faces, including three new coordinators with the additions of Mark Surya (offence), Dennis McPhee (defence) and Donnavan Carter (special teams). 
 
"I look at it sort of as a blank canvas," says Ryan Sheahan, a Montreal native who will make his OUA head coaching debut at the age of 38 on August 25 versus McMaster. "We get to paint our own picture and draw our own map of the future. We stress hard work and accountability around every turn, and our key to our team's success this year is going to be our work ethic and our attitude. From a head coach perspective, the program is already doing a lot of great things. My job is to try to build on the strengths of the program that are already in place, while also addressing some of the areas in which we can improve. The OUA is a very competitive conference, but our goal is to build a sustainable model where we can compete for Vanier Cups year-in, year-out."
 

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OFFENCE:

Fifth-year quarterback Theo Landers returns for his final season in the red, black and gold to lead a Gryphon offence which boasts all-star talent at every level.

Landers once again has a long list of talented receivers at his disposal, led by veterans Kian Schaffer-Baker, Kade Belyk and Zeph Fraser. The Gryphons also welcome back Jordan Terrio to the mix after the play-making receiver was forced to miss all of 2018 due to injury. At running back, the Gryphons will once again feature one of the deepest backfields in the conference. Brampton native Juwan Jeffrey had a phenomenal rookie campaign cut short due to injury, but still earned a spot on the OUA All-Rookie Team after recording a pair of 100-yard rushing performances to go along with a game-winning touchdown over the then-No. 8-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks. Also included in the Gryphons' stable of running backs is a talented out-of-province product in sophomore Kwame Osei (Montreal, QC). Up front, the Gryphon offensive line is led by the fifth-year senior Eric Starczala, who returns to U of G after being selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2019 CFL Draft. Another Gryphon o-lineman on CFL radars is 6-5, 310-pound Toronto native Coulter Woodmansey, who enters his fourth season with the Gryphons in 2019. Starczala, Woodmansey and company will look to protect one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the OUA in Theo Landers.

The Maple Ridge, B.C. native was the 9th-leading rusher in the OUA a season ago to go along with 1,398 passing yards and a 10-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Key Returning Players (Offence):
 
QB Theo Landers:
Theo Landers returns for his 5^th and final season with the Gryphons. The Maple Ridge, B.C. native has already solidified himself as one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the conference and was the 9th-leading rusher in the OUA a season ago to go along with 1,398 passing yards and a 10-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Landers enters the 2019 season with 934 yards rushing in his career and needs just 66 more yards rushing to become just the second QB in U of G history to reach the 1,000 yard rushing plateau (Justin Dunk 1^st at 1,847 career rushing yards).

REC Kian Schaffer-Baker:
In fourth-year receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker, the Gryphons have one of the top play-making receivers in all of U SPORTS football. The 6-4, 200-pound Mississauga native stole the spotlight in front of CFL scouts at the 2019 East-West Bowl, finishing as the game's leading receiver with 5 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. During the 2018 season with the Gryphons, Schaffer-Baker hauled in three touchdown receptions in five regular season games played, averaging an impressive 17.6 yards per reception. The psychology major has also become known for his highlight-reel catches, including a breathtaking one-handed grab in last year's Week 3 matchup at Ottawa.

With Schaffer-Baker consistently showcasing the ability to make acrobatic catches in traffic, Gryphons' senior quarterback Theo Landers will have one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the conference at his disposal throughout the 2019 season.
 
RB Juwan Jeffrey:
Brampton native Juwan Jeffrey had a phenomenal rookie campaign cut short due to injury, but still earned a spot on the OUA All-Rookie Team after recording a pair of 100-yard rushing performances to go along with a game-winning touchdown over the then-No. 8-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks.

Key Departing Players (Offence):
Colin Jerome (OL)  (OUA first-team all-star in 2018 at centre)
 
Key Additions (Offence):
REC Abdraman Abdel-Rahim (transfer from Calgary Dinos)
QB/REC Danté Djan (transfer from Laval Rouge et Or)
REC Willy-Pierre Dimbongi (St. Matthew Catholic H.S. in Ottawa)
REC Kaine Stevenson (W.F. Herman Academy in Windsor)
REC Clark Barnes (transfer from NCAA Maine Black Bears)
 

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DEFENCE:

Despite losing the country's leading tackler from a season ago in All-Canadian linebacker Luke Korol, the Gryphon defence is once again primed to put themselves in the conversation regarding the top-ranked defensive units in the OUA.

Senior linebacker Job Reinhart, who was drafted by the Stampeders in the 2019 CFL Draft, returns to Guelph after attending CFL training camp in Calgary.

Reinhart, a two-sport athlete who also stars on the Gryphons varsity wrestling team, provides new defensive coordinator Dennis McPhee with a physical presence in the middle, but has also shown the ability to drop back into coverage, recording three interceptions in 2018, including one returned for a touchdown. Veteran free safety Dotun Aketepe returns for his fourth season to lead a U of G secondary which includes standout halfback Brendan Murphy who will look to follow up a sensational rookie campaign in 2018.

On the defensive line, there is another sophomore who turned heads a season ago as a freshman. 6-foot-8 defensive end Tavius Robinson helps lead a dangerous Gryphon pass rush, which includes proven talents in Alain Cimankinda and Jeremy Kapelanski. In the middle of the defensive line, the Gryphons are anchored by 6-foot-6, 300 pound defensive tackle Greg Corfield who returns for his fifth and final season as a Gryphon.

Key Returning Players (Defence):

LB Job Reinhart (selected by Calgary Stampeders in 2019 CFL Draft)
FS Dotun Aketepe (invited to 2019 U SPORTS East-West Bowl)
DE Tavius Robinson (6-foot-8 defensive end, team-high 4 sacks as a rookie in 2018, named to OUA All-Rookie Team)

Key Additions (Defence):
DL Josh Campbell (CEGEP Lineman of the Year out of John Abbott College in Montreal)
DB Siriman Harrison Bagayogo (6-2, 190 lbs DB out of Champlain-Lennoxville in Quebec)
LB Justin Lauzon (standout LB out of Saint Jean-sur-Richelieu in Quebec)  

Key Departures (Defence):
Luke Korol (LB)  (led the country in tackles in 2018 and was named a 2^nd Team All-Canadian)
 

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SPECIAL TEAMS:

For the first time in eight years, someone not named Ferraro will be handling the Gryphon kicking duties.

A legendary run has officially come to an end for the Ferraro brothers (Daniel and Gabriel), both of whom achieved All-Canadian status and set national records during their Gryphon careers. With Gabriel moving on to the CFL, the kicking responsibilities will come down to a pair of talented sophomores in Eric Stranz (Ayr, ON) and Jared Fernandez-Brown (Burlington, ON).

While it will be a new name for Gryphon fans when it comes to the kicking duties, there will be a familiar face getting the ball there with special teams captain Job Reinhart back for his fifth season, providing the Gryphons with the luxury of perhaps the top long-snapper in all of U SPORTS football.

The Gryphon special teams units will be led by one of the top special teams coordinators in the country with the arrival of Donnovan Carter.

Key Returning Players (Special Teams):
LB Job Reinhart (projected CFL long snapper and OUA First Team All-Star at Rush/Cover in 2016) 
RET Kiondre Smith (16 kick returns for 403 yards, an average of over 25 per return. Smith, the son of former CFL All-Star Adrion Smith, also added 401 yards in the punt return game, including one for a touchdown, which ultimately led him to the team-lead in all-purpose yards) 
LB A.J. Allen (2^nd Team OUA All-Star in 2018 at Rush/Cover position) 

Key Departures (Special Teams):
K Gabe Ferraro (two-time All-Canadian and U SPORTS single-season record holder for made FG with 33)
 

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THE COACHES

Head Coach Ryan Sheahan:
On January 10, 2019, Ryan Sheahan was named the 17th head coach in program history. Sheahan, a 38-year-old native of Montreal, joins the Gryphons after having spent the previous four seasons (2015-2018) at the University of Calgary where he served as the Dinos Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator. Throughout his tenure at the University of Calgary, Sheahan consistently showcased the ability to develop some of the most prolific offences in U SPORTS history. 

In his first season as offensive coordinator with the Dinos, Sheahan helped guide Calgary quarterback Andrew Buckley to an unforgettable 2015 campaign, in which he set a new national record for single-season passing yards (3,162) while also establishing a new Canada West standard for completion percentage (72%) to go along with a 19-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. In Sheahan's most recent season as Calgary's offensive coordinator, he once again helped re-write the U SPORTS record book, this time working with All-Canadian quarterback Adam Sinagra to set a new single-season record for passing yards (3,233). Under Sheahan's watch, both of those aforementioned Calgary quarterbacks would go on to be named recipients of the prestigious Hec Crighton award as the country's most outstanding player in Canadian university football. In both 2016 and 2017, the Calgary Dinos were crowned Canada West champions, earning back-to-back trips to the national stage, where they met up with the Laval Rouge et Or in first the Vanier Cup, then Mitchell Bowl. Over his four seasons at Calgary, Sheahan and the Dinos lost just three regular season games and compiled an overall record of 36-7. Prior to his time at Calgary, Sheahan also spent six seasons coaching at his alma mater, Queen's, where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, while also spending one season (2012) in the CFL as running backs coach with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. 

Defensive Coordinator Dennis McPhee:
The University of Guelph's Department of Athletics announced on Friday, February 15, 2019 that Dennis McPhee was named Defensive Coordinator of the Gryphon football program. McPhee, a Hamilton native, boasts 35 years of coaching experience, including 16 years in the professional ranks as a Defensive Line Coach with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

McPhee also has 19 years of coaching experience at the Canadian university level, having held head coaching roles on two separate occasions, leading the University of Waterloo's football program for five seasons (2007-2011) after having served as head coach of the St. Francis Xavier X-Men for two seasons (2002-2003). For McPhee, this marks his second stint as a defensive coach at the University of Guelph. From 1990-1993, McPhee served as the Gryphons linebackers coach, helping mold one of the greatest defensive units in program history, led by star linebackers Steve McKee and Mike O'Shea. In 1992, McPhee was part of the Gryphon coaching staff that led the Gryphons to what was then the second Yates Cup title in school history. "It's an honour and a privilege to be back," says the 60-year-old Hamilton native. "I'm excited to once again be working with student-athletes where you really have a chance to make a difference in a young man's life. There have been some wonderful things going on with the Gryphon football program in recent years and there's no doubt that there are some talented players on the roster. We just have to make sure that the effort and the work ethic is where it needs to be." In his 16 years as a defensive coach in the professional ranks, McPhee put together a lengthy list of accomplishments, highlighted by a Grey Cup championship with Hamilton in 1999. Canadian Football Hall of Famer and legendary Ticats defensive end Joe Montford was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player on three separate occasions (1998, 2000 and 2001) with coach McPhee overseeing the Hamilton defensive front throughout each of those years.

Offensive Coordinator Mark Surya:
At just 30-years-old, Surya has already established himself as one of the top offensive minds in the conference after having previously held offensive coordinator positions at both Wilfrid Laurier University as well as the University of Toronto.

During his final season as offensive coordinator with the Golden Hawks in 2016, Surya helped craft a Laurier offence that led the country in rushing yards per game (281.4), while also ranking second in points per game (42.6) and total touchdowns (43). That season, Surya was part of a Laurier team that claimed the 109th Yates Cup with a come-from-behind 43-40 win over the Western Mustangs. Surya, who as a player won a Vanier Cup in 2009 as a receiver with the Queen's Gaels, has twice served as offensive coordinator at the U SPORTS East West Bowl (2016 & 2019).

Special Teams Coordinator Donnavan Carter:
For many of the players on the Gryphons current roster, there is a familiar face taking over the role of special teams coordinator.Donnavan Carter returns to the University of Guelph for his second stint as a Gryphon after spending the 2016 season as U of G's defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. During his playing days, Carter achieved all-star status at both the NCAA level (Northern Illinois Huskies) as well as the CFL level, where he played eight seasons with four different teams. 

"It's awesome to be back in Guelph," says Carter, a 43-year-old Brampton native who has been coaching in the OUA since 2008, holding defensive coordinator positions with both the Windsor Lancers as well as the Toronto Varsity Blues. "The Gryphons have done an outstanding job on special teams in recent years and I'm hoping to add to that and take it to the next level. I've been fortunate in my coaching career to be around some great football minds and have had the opportunity to attend the past two CFL camps with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. (Head coach) Craig Dickenson has really helped to provide me with a great platform to jump off from and I feel like I now have my own identity as a coach. I'm just looking forward to working with the student-athletes here to refine some of their techniques and further develop their overall mindset."
 

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