BY JOHN DECOSTE
Kings County Advertiser/Register
The Acadia football Axemen have announced the names of six more recruits, including a pair of Nova Scotians and one transfer student, who will be joining the roster beginning this fall.
Heading the list is Derek Wodz, a 6’3”, 185-pound running back from Sir John A. Macdonald High in Halifax. While leading the Sir John A. running attack this past season, Wodz was named a first-team all-star and the offensive MVP award for his division.
“Derek is a talented downhill runner who catches the ball well out of the backfield,” says Acadia head coach Jeff Cummins. “His versatility will be a welcome addition to the Axemen backfield.”
Also on the list is Wodz’s high school teammate, 6’4”, 260-pound nose tackle Lucas Gheorghe, who will bring size and athleticism to the Acadia defensive line.
“Lucas has only played a few years of organized football, but he has a great burst off the ball and causes problems inside for defenses,” says Cummins. “He has tremendous upside, and will add depth to our defensive line as he pushes to get on the field.”
Joining the offensive line mix is 6’5”, 250-pound Ethan Charters, a “tough and physical” lineman from Oromocto High in New Brunswick who was a first-team Southwestern Conference all-star in 2010. Cummins feels Charters’ size and athletic ability will give him an opportunity to compete and push for playing time at Acadia right away.
Jordan Morris is a 6’3”, 270-pound offensive lineman from the traditionally strong St. Thomas More Collegiate program in B.C. An all-round athlete who also played goal for his school’s lacrosse team, Morris will add some much-needed depth to the Axemen offensive line and compete for early playing time at the tackle position.
Skyler Fines, a 5’9”, 195-pound defensive halfback from Bowmanville High in Ontario, is “a hard-working, tenacious competitor with great leadership skills.” Cummins says Fines, a “physical and relentless hitter who always finds the football,” will remind a lot of people of former Axemen Elliott Richardson, who now plays for the Edmonton Eskimos.
Dylan Hines, a 5’10”, 230-pound fullback from St. Mark’s High in Ottawa is an athletic and versatile athlete who has played a variety of positions, including quarterback. Hines is “a dimensional fullback who is a strong blocker, a good ball carrier and catches the ball well out of the backfield.” Hines may have a chance to contribute right away, as the Axemen look to replace two graduating seniors at the fullback position.
The transfer student is Reed Anderson, a 6’1”, 230-pound fullback transferring from Saint Mary’s, where he started at fullback in 2009. A native of Orillia, ON, Anderson will be enrolling in the education program at Acadia. A dominating blocker and a tremendous special teams player, he is expected to compete for the starting fullback job with the Axemen.
“These seven guys who have committed over the past couple of weeks help cover us in the offensive and defensive backfield and in the trenches, “Cummins says.
“We are really excited about this crew - and will have more to come in the very near future.”
jdecoste@kentvilleadvertiser.ca
