Receiver Chris Osei-Kusi is the only member of the Queen’s Golden Gaels to have been named to the Ontario University Athletics football all-rookie team, which was announced Tuesday.
Osei-Kusi, an arts student from Brampton, dressed for five games this year and caught three passes for 29 yards, but fumbled one of them away. He made a more impressive mark as a return man at the end of the year, returning seven kickoffs—including two of 40 and 43 yards—and 10 punts, one of which he took 42 yards for a touchdown at York.
Wilfrid Laurier and York each placed four players on the team, which is reserved for true freshmen, and excludes players from upper years who were playing their first season of intercollegiate ball. Players were first nominated by their own team, and then selected by a vote of the league's coaches.
Windsor and McMaster each have three representatives, while Carleton, Waterloo, Ottawa and Guelph each have two. Queen’s, Toronto and Western have one player apiece.
It’s a bit of a bogus team, however, in that there are 13 men on offence, but only four offensive linemen—where a lot of teams use five. There is no kicker or punter, no fullback and only one defensive lineman. There are, however, seven defensive backs.
The league will announce its nominee for the Peter Gorman Trophy, given to the nation’s rookie of the year, as part of its introduction of individual award winners Thursday.
The 2015 OUA all-rookie football team:
OFFENCE
Centre—Kyle Boismier, Waterloo.
Lineman—Drew Desjarlais, Windsor.
Tackles—Jesse Gibbon, Waterloo; Cole Beacock, Ottawa.
Receivers—Kurleigh Gittens, Jr., Laurier; Phil Iloki, Carleton; Nathaniel Pinto, York; Colton Hunchak, York; Chris Osei-Kusi, Queen’s.
Running backs—Jordan Lyons, McMaster, Cedric Joseph, Western; Jesse Amankwaa, York.
Quarterback—Liam Putt, Windsor.
DEFENCE
Lineman—Trevaughan James, Laurier.
Linebackers—Jakob Butler, York; Matt Williams, Laurier; Job Reinhart, Guelph; Matthew Renaud, Toronto.
Safety—Spencer Trinier, Windsor.
Halfback—Adam Poole, McMaster.
Backs—Guillaume Caron, Carleton; Cody Cranston, Ottawa; Scott Hutter, Laurier; Elijah Walker, Guelph; Robbie Yochim, McMaster.
