Former running back still gets his kicks in
Five-year veteran getting his kicks as a punter with Hilltops this year
Over his five years with the Saskatoon Hilltops, Des Vessey has learned to contribute in different ways.
Recruited out of Delisle High School as a prime-time running back and Senior Bowl MVP, Vessey was part of the Hilltops’ one-two punch in the offensive backfield, along with hard-nosed workhorse Logan Fischer.
While a knee injury has slowed him down and drastically limited his use this season, Vessey remains the team’s top punter.
Whatever he can do to help, he’s happy to oblige. That’s Des Vessey. “It’s been a tough season, just with the injury and stuff like that, but I’ve found a way to contribute,” the 22-year-old Vanscoy native says.
“I’ve found a way to get on the field and help where I can.”
Vessey is one of 11 graduating Toppers looking to go out in style, hoping Sunday’s Canadian Junior Football League Prairie Football Conference final against the Calgary Colts is not their last game.
“You know what, it’s really bittersweet as things come to an end,” Vessey says, “but we pulled out a (PFC semifinal) win against Regina — it was a huge win, a huge adrenalin pump there — and we came out and we were really happy with that win.”
Game time is 1 p.m. Sunday (92.9 The Bull radio is broadcasting) as the Hilltops happily get another crack at Calgary.
“What way would you rather it (PFC final) end than with us getting redemption against Calgary?” Vessey asks rhetorically. “And it’s not so much redemption as it is just playing the way we know we can play because we know we’re a great team and we can do better than what we did last time.”
Vessey has punted the ball 31 times for 1,185 yards and a 38.2 average this season. He has run the ball just 16 times in three games for 68 yards and a 4.2 average.
“Right now, he’s putting a lot of focus in on the punting, which has become a big weapon for our team,” Toppers head coach Tom Sargeant said.
“He keeps the punt returns off level because he’s got that run element to him, too.
“I know, a couple weeks ago, we got him in and let him run a little bit, but he just doesn’t have that same strength in the knee, so we’re getting great mileage out of him as a punter and it’s making us a better football team.” Last season, Vessey rushed the ball 52 times for 327 yards and three touchdowns for a 6.3-yard average.
Back in 2014, as a kick returner, Vessey had nine returns for 139 yards and a 15.4-yard average.
“No. 1, coming out of high school, Des was, what we felt, a top recruit out of Delisle,” Sargeant recalls. “He just had a real great running gift. He did a lot of contributions as a running back.
“We never really thought of him as a punter. He did some kick returning and you just look and watched him kick the ball every once in a while and it was, ‘Holy cow, that looks different.’ It’s allowed us to investigate and run some different schemes. We had some big expectations that Logan and Des would be the one-two type of running backs, but, unfortunately, Des hurt his knee and so then we lost a punter and a key running back. He’s not at 100 per cent, but he’s shown that true fifth-year grit.”
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Vessey has shown his versatility with a multi-faceted kicking game.
“I’ve always had that leg,” Vessey says. “You’ve got to contribute where you can and I’ve been able to contribute that way, so it’s good.”