Yorkton Regional High School has been slowly developing a reputation as a school that sends quality football talent to various CIS schools in the Canada West conference each winter/spring when the new recruiting class makes their commitments and the top colleges and universities in the country take their pick of high school talent.
This year the recruiters came calling early as linebacker/defensive end Grey McKen and lineman Mike Kozushka signed their commitments to two different universities from two different provinces. Making their decisions before Christmas, the lineman Kozushka chose the University of Alberta Golden Bears while the pass rusher McKen stayed in province shortly after picking the Rams over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
Both cited academics and comfort with the coaching staff as key factors in the decision as the two students who boast A+ averages are expecting to get the most of the opportunity of a post secondary education while continuing their athletic careers.
Kozushka is planning on taking engineering and was excited about the Golden Bears new facilities and outstanding engineering program. "I am planning on an engineering degree and their department is one of the best in Canada so that was a huge factor as well as their new athletic facilities and coaching staff," mentions Kozushka.
McKen is planning on a career in dentistry after football and was excited about how hands on the University of Regina coaching staff was in his recruiting process after pull from both universities in Saskatchewan. "The Rams have a quality school and great facilities in addition to the defensive coaches Greg Nesbitt and Frank McCrystal really factored into the decision," says McKen. "The coaches already have me on the workout and nutrition program for next season and let me know how they see me fitting into the program so it was a good fit on all levels and they are a great, great program."
A change in position may be in McKen's future as the U of R might be seeing him in a defensive end role, one that he played on Team Sask in the U-18 Football Canada Cup. "I see myself as a guy who can be a hybrid player and I like getting to the quarterback so a move to defensive end or linebacker would be a good fit either way." There are plenty of stories of guys who change from linebacker to defensive end going from either high school to college or the college ranks to the pros, which makes McKen's move something that he is confident in wherever they place him, he also says he has worked on both techniques off the line to prepare for whatever the Rams coaches throw at him. "I like to split time working on a stand up pass rush and my two point stance so I can do different things and be ready for anything."
McKen credited his time with Team Sask as something that helped him gain exposure while preparing for a stellar final high school season where he won Defensive MVP in the Moose Jaw league. "I got to play in the summer against the best high school talent in the province and gained national exposure while getting ready for the run we had to the league final and to win some honours was a great way to end my high school career."
Both plan on getting into football shape with Kozushka missing time before the season due to an injury prior to his senior season at Team Saskatchewan tryouts preventing him from doing much but rehab in the offseason, but the two come with size and power that will be only built upon.
"Both these guys could easily grow into much bigger football players because they are both only 18 and will be going to university," says Raiders coach Roby Sharpe who points out they are both smart, well mannered kids with football sense in addition to academic smarts. "Both these kids are some of the best we have ever had academics wise and athletically, quiet lead by example guys who will be making the most out of playing football and going to post secondary school."
The early signings continue a long tradition of moving guys to the next level. This year Paul Toth won a CJFL title with the Regina Thunder while Layne Hull played his rookie season with the Okanagan Sun. In the CIS Dalton Fichtner cracked the Rams roster and continued a tradition that has the Raiders up there with the top high schools in the province in guys at the next level. "Since I have been coaching we have seen one or two guys go a year but lately it has been consistent and all over Western Canada which speaks to how our program is growing and how much the sport is exploding in Saskatchewan."
