WORTH THE WAIT
Hilltops’ Pingue rises from backup to PFC defensive player of the year
Jaydn Pingue is making the best of a long-awaited opportunity.
Pingue waited five years to finally become a full-time starting linebacker on the Saskatoon Hilltops after biding his time mostly as a backup and special teams player. Look at him now.
In this, his final year of Canadian Junior Football League eligibility, Pingue is the most outstanding defensive player in the Prairie Football Conference. He’ll represent the conference at the CJFL awards banquet prior to the Canadian Bowl.
The ascension from backup to PFC player of the year is rare.
“It hasn’t happened before,” suggested Hilltops defensive co-ordinator and linebackers coach Jeff Yausie, adding that Pingue has definitely exceeded expectations this season.
“I always knew that he’s a very good athlete and I always pegged him as being a Sam (strong-side) or Will (weak-side) linebacker for us, but the way things worked out Mac (middle linebacker) was his spot.”
Pingue racked up 29 solo tackles, seven assists, one pass knockdown, one fumble recovery and one interception in seven games during the regular season. He’s added four solos, six assists and one special teams tackle for 11 tackles in two playoff games.
“He plays lower and he has good instincts so he can play both ways and get under blockers and he’s great against the pass, too,” said Yausie, whose Hilltops meet the
London Beefeaters in CJFL national semifinal action Saturday night in Ontario.
“Usually guys make mistakes in their first year as a starter, right? He does occasionally, but he’s had such good instincts that we literally haven’t looked back and he’s played at a really high level.”
Going from backup to defensive player of the year is pretty much unheard of, admits Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, who has been around the gridiron block more than a few times.
“Isn’t that just awesome?” said Sargeant, whose Hilltops are undefeated in 2019 at 10-and-0 and once again Prairie Football Conference champions for a sixth straight year.
“It just shows you that he was behind some quality players, but, when his time came, he certainly took advantage of it. He was always an outstanding special teams player and, this year, what an impact. Him in the middle, he’s so fast. He made a lot of big hits this year. He got a lot of respect, and he makes our defence better. He’s a captain and he’s a leader. He brings a lot of energy and he loves to make plays and he likes to get after things.
“He’s helped to create a high-energy pulse for that defence.”
Pingue, who lists himself at sixfeet tall and 215 pounds, joined the Hilltops from Saskatoon’s Holy Cross Crusaders high school program. He quickly accepted a limited role on the Toppers, primarily as a special teams player before eventually blossoming into a goto player on defence.
“Honestly, I bought into the system and I love this team,” said the 22-year-old. “It was really special to be a part of this team for five years and making the most of it in my last, final year.
“The more time I have on the field, the more confidence I have out there.”
Pingue began tackle football at the grassroots level with the Kinsmen Football League. He played many positions before becoming a linebacker.
“I was kind of all over the place,” he recalled. “In Kinsmen, I used to play running back and a little bit of receiver, as well as cornerback on defence.
“Funny story: I actually didn’t start playing linebacker until my senior year of high school. I’ve always been a weak-side linebacker and then it wasn’t until this year when they decided to put me in the middle. There was a learning curve towards it, but I took it as I was willing to take it on. Obviously, it paid out pretty well so far.”
Basically, Pingue is proof of the Hilltop pudding. It’s rich and deep, and winning tastes awfully good.
“Coach Yausie’s got a system and he does a good job of developing his linebackers,” Sargeant said. “When it’s their time to shine, they’ve got to make it happen because there are good players waiting behind them, too. It’s a good developmental process.
“Also, it’s a credit to the defensive systems that we’ve brought and, players, by the time they get there, they ’re pretty smart (about) understanding how and what they need to be doing.”