GUELPH, Ont. – With kickoff of the 2025 OUA football season just around the corner, the latest edition of the University of Guelph football program will see a total of 31 new student-athletes join the Gryphons for the 2025 campaign. 16 offensive players, 14 players on defence and one special teams player make up the Gryphon football 2025-26 recruiting class.
"The 2025 recruiting class is filled with amazing student-athletes who will be the core of the Gryphons football program for years to come," says Gryphons head coach,
Mark Surya, who enters his second season as head coach of the University of Guelph football program after leading the team to a 6-2 record while reaching the OUA semifinals a season ago. "The larger class secures the future of the U of G football program and the overall quality and depth of the group is what makes the 2025 recruiting class special."
See below for more information on the 31 individuals joining the Gryphon football program in 2025.
With training camp for the Gryphons now complete, the team has set their sights towards a marquee matchup in their 2025 OUA regular season opener, which is set to take place on Saturday, August 23 at U of G's Alumni Stadium where the Gryphons will host the reigning Yates Cup champions, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. Kickoff for this Week 1 matchup is scheduled for 6pm with tickets available online at
www.gryphons.ca/tickets.
The Gryphons will compete in an eight-game regular season schedule in 2025, with seven of the 11 teams from across the conference earning a spot in the OUA playoffs. Both single-game tickets, as well as season ticket packages, are now available online at
www.gryphons.ca/tickets. For those unable to attend Saturday's season opener, the game can be seen live on RogersTV Cable 20, as well as online at www.oua.tv, with the pre-game show getting underway at 5:50pm.
*** United Way Campaign ***
The Saturday, August 23, 2025 football game between the Guelph Gryphons and Laurier Golden Hawks is part of Community Day and supports the University of Guelph's United Way campaign — with $1 from every adult ticket going toward local programs that improve lives across the region. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., and fans are encouraged to arrive early to avoid lineups. Pre-game festivities, including food trucks and activities, will take place along Lang Way from 4:30pm to kickoff at 6pm.
Breakdown by Position - Gryphon Football 2025-26 Recruiting Class
| Quarterbacks |
1 |
| Fullbacks |
1 |
| Running Backs |
1 |
| Receivers |
6 |
| Offensive Line |
7 |
| Defensive Line |
3 |
| Linebackers |
5 |
| Defensive Backs |
6 |
| Kicker/Punter |
1 |
Gryphon Football 2025-26 Recruiting Class
| First Name |
Last Name |
Position |
Height |
Program |
Hometown |
High School |
| Zachary |
Islip |
QB |
6'0" |
Sport and Event Management |
Burlington, ON |
Nelson HS |
| Jack |
Milum |
FB |
6'3" |
Anthropology |
Waterdown, ON |
Waterdown HS |
| Arik |
Rae |
RB |
6'1" |
Biological Science |
Welland, ON |
Centennial HS |
| Jonny |
Colcuc |
REC |
6'5" |
Agriculture |
Niagara Falls, ON |
A.N Myer HS |
| Matthew |
Stam |
REC |
6'1" |
Sport and Event Management |
Guelph, ON |
Centennial CVI |
| Trent |
Dobson |
REC |
6'0" |
Justice and Legal Studies |
Niagara Falls, ON |
St. Francis CHS |
| Ethan |
Garwe |
REC |
6'1" |
Arts |
Oshawa, ON |
Paul Dwyer HS |
| Kymarri |
Smith |
REC |
5'11" |
Sociology |
Hamilton, ON |
Cardinal Newman CHS |
| Reid |
Williams |
REC |
6'1" |
Food, Ag. & Resource Economics |
Guelph, ON |
John F. Ross |
| Logan |
Leger |
OL |
6'4" |
Culture and Technology Studies |
Guelph, ON |
Centennial CVI |
| Carson |
McKie |
OL |
6'4" |
Geography |
Otterville, ON |
Delhi HS |
| Nate |
Longley |
OL |
6'0" |
Real Estate |
Milton, ON |
Craig Kielburger HS |
| Owen |
Taylor |
OL |
6'5" |
Sport and Event Management |
St. Catharines, ON |
Clarkson Football North HS |
| Charlie |
Kempers |
OL |
6'3" |
Agriculture |
Owen Sound, ON |
St. Mary's CHS |
| Gavin |
Speers |
OL |
6'7" |
Mechanical Engineering |
Okotoks, AB |
Holy Trinity Academy |
| Matthew |
Moxon |
OL |
6'2" |
Human Kinetics |
Welland, ON |
Notre Dame |
| Shai |
Scott |
DL |
6'3" |
Arts |
Guelph, ON |
Centennial CVI |
| Denis |
Duzgun |
DL |
6'4" |
Arts |
Niagara Falls, ON |
A.N Myer HS |
| Andre |
Thompson |
DL |
6'5" |
Sociology |
London, ON |
London South Collegiate Institute |
| Nick |
Jubenville |
LB |
6'2" |
Environmental Sciences |
Dunnville, ON |
Lakeshore CHS |
| Jackson |
Leshuk |
LB |
6'2" |
Psychology |
Guelph, ON |
Centennial CVI |
| Cole |
Stewart |
LB |
6'4" |
Justice and Legal Studies |
Welland, ON |
Notre Dame |
| Spencer |
Hyjek |
LB |
6'1" |
Criminal Justice and Public Policy |
Windsor, ON |
Sandwich SS |
| Ryan |
Tharby |
LB |
6'5" |
Management |
Burlington, ON |
Corpus Christi CHS |
| Jevon |
Faulknor |
DB |
5'10" |
Anthropology |
Guelph, ON |
John F. Ross |
| Grayson |
Patry |
DB |
5'11" |
Management Economics and Finance |
Kingston, ON |
Regiopolis Notre Dame |
| Marcus |
Bowen |
DB |
5'8" |
Sport and Event Management |
Brampton, ON |
Clarkson Football North HS |
| Koen |
Ahronson |
DB |
6'0" |
Criminal Justice and Public Policy |
Edmonton, AB |
Jasper Place HS |
| Callum |
Dawe |
DB |
6'2" |
Justice and Legal Studies |
Burlington, ON |
Corpus Christi CHS |
| Giacomo |
Pugliese |
DB |
5'10" |
Criminal Justice and Public Policy |
Hamilton, ON |
Biship Tonnos CHS |
| Trey |
Thompson |
K/P |
6'2" |
Arts |
Kingston, ON |
Holy Cross CHS |
