In continuing their pattern of recruiting highly-touted players, the Ravens football team has shown an impressive start to its off-season by signing linebacker Jack Cassar.
The six-foot-three, 215 lb Mississauga native has turned heads all around the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), while catching the attention of some National Collegiate Athletics Association Division I schools.
Cassar, out of Lorne Park High School, has been ranked as one of the top 100 recruits in the country by Canadian Football Chat.
“Jack’s got the tools to come in and be a dominant player inside for us,” Ravens defensive co-ordinator Ryan Bechmanis said. “He’s a downhill player, he’s a physical linebacker, and he’s athletic for his size.”
After completing their second season as a program, the Ravens showed significant improvement after going 4-4 in 2014. With more progress still to be made, the coaching staff believes Cassar has the ability to add to a talented and growing Ravens roster.
“That’s why we recruited him,” Ravens head coach Steve Sumarah said. “We really think he has a chance to come in and push some guys to be better. In the end, that’ll make us a better team.”
In their 2014 season, the Ravens’ defense allowed the third-most rushing yards and recorded the second-fewest sacks in the Ontario University Athletics.
While these statistics aren’t alarming considering the team is still developing, the coaches said this is a concern to be dealt with.
The process of recruiting a player of Cassar’s calibre requires coaches, players, and managers to show all that the program has to offer, Sumarah said.
“We wanted to show him we are trying to run the program at the highest level possible in this country, which starts with lots of coaching and excellent facilities,” Sumarah said.
In recruiting visits, Cassar, as well as other potential Ravens, are taken around campus in order to make a connection with the athletic and academic sides of Carleton.
Through these visits, the team hopes for recruits to be able to vision themselves at Carleton for the next five years. Both this connection and vision were made with Cassar during visits.
“We want to make sure we get to know them and that we establish the relationship by getting them down to visit campus to see things,” Bechmanis said, explaining the recruiting process of a player like Cassar. “Players want to commit to schools that have the best facilities and coaching to help them develop and we try to deliver that here.”
While it is uncertain whether or not Cassar will push his way to the starting lineup for the start of next season, the coaching staff said they are more than certain he will get the opportunity.
