2019 OUA QB Rankings

10. James Keenan - Queen’s Gaels

The Gaels will turn to a new QB in 2019 as Nate Hobbs has finished his tenure with Queen’s. This is mostly likely to be James Keenan, the second year QB who did not see any action in 2018. Listed at 6-2, 174lbs Keenan is scheduled to be the starter for the Gaels week 1 in their matchup against the Carleton Ravens.

The young signal caller is from Stittsville, ON where he payed his high school ball with Sacred Heart. Despite not having much OUA experience there is a lot of potential for Keenan to work his way up this list as he was both a Canada Football Chat Top 100 prospect, as well as the MVP of the Fox40 prospect challenge.

At this point it's all about waiting to see how the sophomore will perform in his first taste of OUA Football.

9. Connor Carusello - Laurier Golden Hawks

Last season for the Golden Hawks Carusello played in 7 of 8 games and shared snaps with his counterpart Tristian Arndt. In his 7 games Carusello threw for 793 yards and 5 touchdowns, however Carusello followed up his 5 touchdowns with 5 interceptions.

Carusello possesses the arm and ability to have a breakout season in 2019, but the Hawks were team who relied heavily on the run game last season. In 2018 Carusello attempted just 108 passes in 7 games. In 2019 I’d love to see the Hawks give Carusello the chance to air the ball out more.

8. Andreas Dueck - McMaster Marauders

The third year Winnipeg, MB native is returning for his third season with the Marauders. In 2018 Dueck threw for 1458 yards and 5 touchdowns averaging 8.4 yards per attempt. Dueck does have an impressive arm, but needs to be more attentive to taking care of the football. In the 2018 season Dueck threw 8 interceptions (Tied for most in the OUA).

With the addition of Head Coach Stefan Ptazsek this can only be a good thing for the Marauders’ third year QB. Ptaszek is an incredible offensive mind and does a phenomenal job of developing talent. Under the guidance of coach Ptazsek I would expect to see a lot of improvement in Dueck’s game in the upcoming season.

7. Clay Sequeira - Toronto Varsity Blues

Sequeira is retuning to the Blues after a disappointing season for him in 2018. After just 4 games Sequeria was sidelined for the rest of the season with an injury. In his 4 games Sequeira threw just 2 touchdowns for the Varsity Blues and totalled 875 yards. However, the light did shine a little brighter for Sequeria at the end of the season.

Sequeira was named a QB for team EAST in the USPORTS East-West Bowl. Finishing with 6 completions on 8 attempts and throwing 57 yards in the East-West Bowl. Going into the 2019 season as a USPORTS East-West bowl selectee should give Sequeira even more confidence in his game as he will definitely be looking to improve on an unfortunately shortened season.

6. Theodore Landers - Guelph Gryphons

The dual threat QB will be returning for his final season with the Gryphons in 2019. Landers will be looking to help the Gryphons get back to the Yates cup where the Gryphons season ended in 63-14 defeat at the hand of the Western Mustangs.

In 2018 Landers threw for 1398 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 526 yards and 3 touchdowns. Landers’ ability to use his legs to escape pressure and run for yards brings an explosive dynamic to the Gryphons offence. Despite the dynamic Landers brings to the table with his legs Landers was still sacked 18 times in 2018, second most in the OUA.

Focusing more on defensive pressure and recognizing the right moment to get rid of the ball instead of trying to force a run would vastly improve Landers’ game. Landers is a talented QB and his legs open up the offensive playbook for the Gryphons who will be looking to get back to the Yates Cup in 2019.

5. Sawyer Buettner - Ottawa Gee-Gees

Returning for his second season with the Gee-Gees, Buettner will be looking to improve on what was an admirable first season of OUA football. Buettner finished the season with 1470 yards, 14 TDs and just 5 INTs all while leading the Gee-Gees to a 6-2 record, finishing 2nd in the OUA in 2018.

Buettner has a big arm and has no issue firing the ball downfield. Buettner does have a tendency to hang onto the ball for a bit to long though, which resulted in 16 sacks and a league leading 134 offensive yards lost for the Gee-Gees in 2018. In Canadian football where you only get 3 downs, downs are precious. However, losing a down on a throw away is much better than a 2nd and long situation or an interception. Buettner is a talented QB, but there is room for improvement if he can take the strides necessary I believe he will be one of the top quarterbacks in the OUA this season.

4. Sam Girard - Windsor Lancers

Heading into his third season with the Lancers Girard is looking to build off of what was an impressive season for him in 2018. In just 7 games at the helm for the Lancers, Girard threw 1650 yards 13 TDs and only 4 interceptions.

Girard has a strong arm, smooth throwing motion, and does great job of putting his receivers in positions to make a play. Windsor has a tough schedule this season, having to face some of the top end teams in the OUA including Ottawa and Western who were both nationally ranked last season. This season will be a test for Girard and the Lancers, but there is no denying the talent that Girard possesses.

3. Brett Hunchak - York Lions

Returning for his fifth and final season with the York Lions, Hunchak is looking to etch his name further into the history books of York Lions football. Last season Hunchak finish with 2252 Yards and 11TDs. In the 2018 season, Hunchak set the record at York for most all time passing yards (7084), touchdowns (34), completions (586) and attempts (940).

Hunchak has a big arm and the ability to fit throws into tight windows, he’s very good at locating receivers downfield and putting the ball into spaces where only his receivers can go get it. Though Hunchaks desire to throw deep sometimes gets him into hot water as he threw 8 interceptions in 2018, tied for most in the OUA. Hunchak and the Lions are looking to climb into a playoff spot for the firsts time since 2005.

With Hunchak under centre and the athletes surrounding him on York’s roster this year it is not out of the realm of possibility. I’m looking forward to seeing what Hunchak has in store for his final season with the York Lions.

2. Chris Merchant - Western Mustangs

Falling into the number 2 spot on this list is Western’s Chris Merchant. Merchant finished his 2018 campaign with 2109 yards and 17 TDs. Merchant completed 128 passes on 175 attempts.

Merchant only threw the 8th most completions in the OUA and finished second in touchdowns, second in completion percentage (73%) and first in quarterback efficiency (200.1). Merchant is an extremely efficient QB who does a good job of finding the open receiver and not forcing his passes to into bad situations. Merchant also does a very good job of putting his deep balls into situations where only his receivers can make a play on the ball.

Western is traditionally a ground and pound stake offence running the ball an OUA leading 286 times in 2018. Western has a strong run game that affords Merchant the ability to catch teams off guard when they do air the ball out. It’s hard to expect anything less than a strong season from the reigning Yates cup champion Mustangs and their signal caller Chris Merchant.

1. Tre Ford - Waterloo Warriors

Tre Ford should be a league wide known name by now. Anyone who has no idea who Tre Ford is I strongly urge you to come out from under the rock and watch his highlights. Ford is an early selection to be a Hec Creighton candidate and someone who I very firmly believe could win the award by the season’s end. Ford finished his 2018 season with an OUA leading 2822 Yards and a USPORTS wide leading 27 TDs.

What is almost more impressive than his TDs and Yards is the fact that Ford completed 195 of his 263 attempts (74.1%) and only threw 2 interceptions all season. Ford also finished with 641 yards and 2 TDs on the ground on 74 rushing attempts. Ford is a phenomenal Quarterback who has a strong arm and knows how to use his legs to get himself out of bad situations. Ford does a good job of leading his receivers with the football and putting zip on his passes to stick the receivers as they’re coming out of their breaks.

Ford does a good job of not throwing into bad situations by reading defensive pressure and being decisive with his decision to either throw the ball away or tuck it and run. Ford’s arm talent, vision, athleticism, and pure playmaking ability land him at number 1 on this list. Tre Ford, built tough.

Connor O'Neill is a former UOttawa Gee-Gee defensive back with a passion for Canadian Football and a desire to stay connected to the game.