St. Benedict Bears (and Sudbury Spartans) head football coach Junior Labrosse fully believes that offensive lineman Will Elliott has what it takes to make the jump to an eventual starting role in the Canadian university football ranks.
The reasons for this belief, however, might surprise you.
It has little to do with the natural physicality of the 17-year-old who has excelled at both guard and tackle — nor does it have to do with his footwork, which is outstanding. It’s not even about the quantum leap he has made over the course of his high school career on the technical skill side.
“To be an offensive lineman, there is a lot to learn,” said Labrosse. “There are a lot of things thrown at you prior to the snap. On defense, you can get away with read and react and you’re making a play.
“Will is strong academically. He understands the visual, the theory aspect of everything, and he will not have any issues grasping the playbook.”
That’s important because the various incarnations of offensive shenanigans that the Carleton Ravens employ are vastly different than what Elliott has seen during his time at St. Benedict or with the Junior Spartans (summer football), though both stops were critical.
“I think the most important thing I learned along the way was how to play against competition at a higher level, really getting out of my comfort zone and playing guys that are better than me, learning how to fail and then get better,” said Elliott, who plans to study chemistry with a focus on nanotechnology. “That’s been most important.”
Given the thinking man’s approach that is at the core of his being, it only stands to reason that his decision to pursue varsity athletics in the nation’s capital is as grounded in the classroom as it is on the gridiron.
“None of this is worth it if I am not getting something out of this academically,” said Elliott. “I wouldn’t be able to play football if I wasn’t doing well academically. I wanted an environment that will help me succeed academically, physically, emotionally.
“I want to develop as a man and a football player.”
The 6-4, 270-pound specimen has a quality that sets him apart, Labrosse said.
“His hard work carries over from the classroom, out on to the field,” said Labrosse. “He has done everything that was asked in order to reach this goal, and now he has to put more work in to secure a spot on the field at Carleton.”
And while Elliott has the size and the skill, he must be prepared to put in even more work, his coach said.
“He needs to hit the weight room even more,” Labrosse said. “He is going to realize that he’s going up against guys who are 24, 25 years old and have been on the (university) specific (weight-room) programs for a few years now.”
That will take time, though Elliott is as good as it gets in terms of working with what you have, oftentimes lined opposite a defensive lineman who, physically speaking, simply has more.
“You need to learn what you are able to do, what you are able to get away with in terms of different techniques, learning what they will or won’t fall for,” said Elliott. “If he’s stronger than me, I need to get lower leverage and pop him up. If he’s faster than me, I am going to have to have disciplined feet and be ready for what he might try.”
The young man who chose his program at Carleton in part due to the fact that they boast no less than 18 Canada Research chairs in their midst (what 17-year-old football player even knows this) has clearly tapped into every available source of knowledge to bolster his pre-university understanding of the step he is about to take.
“Some high-school kids going up to the next level are not always ready for the shock,” said Labrosse. “You’re in Grade 9 all over again.”
Thankfully, Will Elliott excelled in Grade 9 and in every one of the ensuing three years at St Benedict. Hopefully, he has what it takes to do the same at the Ontario University Athletics level.
Randy Pascal is a sportswriter in Greater Sudbury. Pursuit is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.