WATERLOO, Ont. (June 25, 2014) - Wilfrid Laurier men's football head coach Michael Faulds and recruiting coordinator Dwayne Cameron are pleased to announce the addition of 28 players to their roster for the upcoming 2014 season.

"I am very pleased with the recruiting class that Coach Cameron and the rest of our staff have to put together," said Faulds on the incoming group. "When we add these terrific young student-athletes to the veterans we have coming back, we are extremely confident that we will be a better football team in 2014."

The Golden Hawks, who finished 2013 with a 1-7 record in OUA play, are adding another talented group of athletes to a team that is on the rise in the OUA. Last season, despite their record, the purple and gold were regarded as one of the toughest teams to play by the end of the year. This reputation was developed after the Hawks limited the Yates Cup Champion Western Mustangs to their fewest points of the regular season and taking the Yates Cup Finalist Queens Gaels to overtime on the road.

In total, the Hawks will add 12 players on the offensive side of the ball and 14 on defence. As well, the purple and gold add a talented young kicker and long snapper that will boost the teams play on special teams.

"This recruiting class instantly makes us a deeper team and our competition level at training camp will be at an all-time high," added Faulds. "These first year players will push our veterans to work even harder and our veterans will be great role models and leaders for these freshmen."

The Golden Hawks kick off training camp on Sunday, August 17 before Faulds and his squad open the 2014 season on the road against the Toronto Varsity Blues on Labour Day Monday, September 1. Laurier plays their home opener two weeks later on Saturday, September 13 when they host the Waterloo Warriors.

Pos. Name Ht. Wt. High School Hometown

QB Chase Malcolm 6-0 180 St. Thomas More Collegiate Vancouver, B.C.

RB Tre Nicholson 5-11 190 Eastwood CI Kitchener, Ont.

RB Eli Fera 5-11 190 Catholic Central HS Windsor, Ont.

FB Jordan Huzevka 6-2 190 Northern CIVS Sarnia, Ont.

FB Mario Villamizar 6-2 215 Holy Cross CSS St. Catharines, Ont.

REC Brendan McCracken 6-0 180 Huron Heights SS Kitchener, Ont.

REC Evan Geddis 5-11 175 Guelph CVI Guelph, Ont.

REC Jonah Hopkins 6-0 185 Guelph CVI Guelph, Ont.

REC Keenan Godden 6-1 185 WJ Mouat HS Abbotsford, B.C.

OL Jamie Lalonde 6-2 300 Guelph Gryphons (OUA) Hamilton, Ont.

OL Myles Methner 6-1 270 St. Michael CHS Niagara Falls, Ont.

OL Matt Gillies 6-5 255 Sir John A. MacDonald SS Waterloo, Ont.

Pos. Name Ht. Wt. High School Hometown

DL Rashari Henry 6-0 240 Orleans Bengals (NCAFA) Orleans, Ont.

DL Devon Pelley 6-4 255 St. Benedict CSS Cambridge, Ont.

DL Jonathan Zarafonitis 6-3 242 Lakeshore CHS Port Colborne, Ont.

DL Mack Bell 6-2 260 Park Street CI Coldwater, Ont.

DL Patrick Jones 6-2 260 Don Bosco CSS Etobicoke, Ont.

DL Adam Kirkpatrick 6-2 255 Lindsay CVI Lindsay, Ont.

LB Andrew Zamin 5-11 187 St. James CHS Guelph, Ont.

LB Brian Lowrance 6-1 185 Lorne Park SS Mississauga, Ont.

DB Isaiah Guzylak-Messam 6-2 195 Sir Allan MacNab SS Hamilton, Ont.

DB Malcolm Thompson 5-11 180 Holy Names CHS Windsor, Ont.

DB Carson Ouellette 5-10 170 Holy Names CHS Windsor, Ont.

DB Jaedon Christey 5-11 185 Resurrection CSS Kitchener, Ont.

DB Jonathan Gatewood 5-10 165 Northern SS Toronto, Ont.

DB Rodrigue Kinga 5-9 175 St. James CHS Guelph, Ont.

Pos. Name Ht. Wt. High School Hometown

K Nathan Meshner 5-11 155 Sir John A. MacDonald SS Waterloo, Ont.

LS Jonathan Timmons 6-0 240 St. Marcellinus SS Mississauga, Ont.