After walking off the field at the end of the 2017 season, quarterback Jakob Loucks was unsure whether he91裸聊视频檇 ever play football again.
Finding a balance between life, education and sports was presenting its share of challenges for the 20-year-old product of Cornwall, Ont.
That all changed this spring when the Okanagan Sun invited the highly-touted Loucks to pay a visit to Kelowna and see what the had to offer.
91裸聊视频淚 didn91裸聊视频檛 think I was going to play again until I took a visit out here and fell in love with the place, the team, the coaches, the scenery,91裸聊视频� said Loucks. 91裸聊视频淪o I was like, yeah, I think I91裸聊视频檒l give this one more shot.91裸聊视频�
All eyes were on Loucks over the weekend in Kelowna, the most auspicious of the 105 players to take to the field at the Sun91裸聊视频檚 2018 spring camp.
The in 2016, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound pivot started the last two seasons for the Mount Allison University Mounties in Sackville, NB.
With a solid resum茅 and two years of university ball under his belt, the Sun, not surprisingly, have high expectations of Loucks.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e really impressed with Jakob,91裸聊视频� said Sun head coach Ben Macauley. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a tough task, coming in with a lot of pressure on you. He91裸聊视频檚 one of the top recruits in Canada and he91裸聊视频檒l be expected to perform that way91裸聊视频e have high expectations for him and so far he91裸聊视频檚 handling that very well.
91裸聊视频淥verall, he91裸聊视频檚 been very impressive physically and mentally.91裸聊视频�
"I'm extremely excited to add Jakob Loucks to the family for 2018 and beyond. He is one of the top young players that Canada has to off. He embodies what we expect of our players: smart, tough, and high character. He is ready to come in and compete." -
91裸聊视频� Okanagan Sun (@okanagan_sun)
As for those expectations and living up to the hype, Loucks plans to simply focus his efforts on playing the game.
91裸聊视频淚 kind of don91裸聊视频檛 let that stuff affect me, I just put my helmet on and go play football,91裸聊视频� said Loucks, who passed for 2,859 yards and 16 touchdowns over two seasons at Mount Allison. 91裸聊视频淧eople can expect what they want, but I91裸聊视频檓 just going to get on the field and give everything I have.91裸聊视频�
Other quarterbacks taking reps at Sun camp included Gabe Oliveras, the backup last season at UBC, and Matthew Mahler, who returns from last year91裸聊视频檚 club.
Nick Wenman, who attended his third spring camp with the Sun, took over as the club91裸聊视频檚 starter part way through last season. However, Wenman is seriously considering transferring to the university level this fall with Mount Allison.
Thanks to an aggressive and thorough off-season of recruiting by the Sun, Macauley said the coaching staff had an ample crop of intriguing prospects to watch over the course of the three-day camp.
Unlike past years, when the Sun has been hard pressed to find enough talent to line up in the trenches, Macauley said the offensive line could well be the club91裸聊视频檚 strength in 2018.
Calgary91裸聊视频檚 Daniel Townsend and Brendan Barnes, both with university experience, along with Danil Balan, from Montreal, are among those expected to bolster the O-line, complimenting the talents of returnees such as Marshall Klein and Liam Hamlyn.
91裸聊视频淎t this time of the year, to have some strength in numbers along the offensive line is a huge feather in our cap,91裸聊视频� said Macauley. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e going to work hard to maintain that.91裸聊视频�
The Sun plans to invite 85 players back for the club91裸聊视频檚 main training camp beginning July 17.
Okanagan kicks off the 2018 B.C. Football Conference season Aug. 5 in Kamloops.
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