By Ryan Watters
First-year offensive coordinator Mike Wolthuizen along with head coach Ben Macauley will have a difficult decision on their hands when it comes to the Okanagan Sun’s starting quarterback in 2016.
Without any veterans returning, the position is wide open with five pivots scheduled to be at main camp. Here’s a look at the candidates:
• Foster Martens—He was one of, if not the biggest signing for the Sun on National Signing Day. Martens has spent the last two seasons with the University of Manitoba Bisons, backing up former Sun pivot Theo Deezer. He started two games last season for the Bisons after Deezer suffered an injury, finishing the year with 23 completions, recording 247 yards. Martens is a big- bodied quarterback at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds from Steinbach, MB.
• Keith Zyla—A rookie last year and saw limited playing time, appearing in five games in mop up fashion. The Edmonton native finished 5 of 14 for 194 yards with a touchdown and a pair of interceptions. He was added to the playoff roster last year as a defensive back showing his athleticism. In the regular season finale he made six tackles and had a knockdown. The coaching staff likes Zyla’s ability to run the ball and he is expected to contend for the starting role.
• Nick Wenman—He was part of the Sun roster a year ago but didn’t see any action during the regular season as the fourth string quarterback coming highly recruited out of Cold Lake Alberta. At his first camp last year Wenman was just 12 months removed from an ACL surgery and was just happy to be back on the field. This season, however, he’s going to compete for an everyday roster spot. Wenman has a high football IQ with a very strong arm.
• Josh Leggatt—The Edmonton product was also a highly exciting signing on National Signing Day. Josh led Jasper Place high school last year.
• Lorenz MacDonald—He played for John Abbott College in Saint Anne De Bellevue, Quebec last year after graduating high school in Nova Scotia. MacDonald is a duel threat that can throw and run with the ball at 6’6, 210 pounds. In 2014 he was ranked as one of the top 10 high school players in Nova Scotia.
Each quarterback will suit up for main camp which opens July 9 at the Apple Bowl. The Sun will open their 36th season on Saturday, July 23 in Chilliwack. The home opener is set for Saturday, Aug. 6 when they host the Westshore Rebels.
