McMaster won’t sacrifice speed for size
Division II Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., offered Mansell the best of both worlds. He could have realized his dream of playing in a U.S. conference, while remaining in Canada for his studies.
After weighing all his options and considering the pros and cons of the myriad offers, the suitor Mansell finally settled on was the one that was the first to recuit him: McMaster University.
“I was kind of chasing a United States scholarship,” he said. “Once I did get my offers and the pieces settled, I kind of wanted a good education along with that.”
There was a lot tipping the scales in favour of the Hamilton school.
“It was a combination of everything clicking into one checkmark,” he said. “They are a good school academically, they’re not too far from home, yet I still get my privacy and space from my family to grow.”
“Yet they can still come and watch my games, which is perfect. It’s an overall great school.”
Knowing that McMaster had been there at the beginning of his high school career with the Patriots and in summer league football with the Niagara Spears was an important consideration as well when the time came to make a decision.
“Athletically, McMaster has always had a good opportunity for me to play there,” Mansell said. “All five years I’ve been in high school, McMaster has probably been the No. 1 school to recruit me out of Canada and they’ve never changed their mind.
“They’ve always been straight with me, where I lay in their system, where they see me in the future and for that I do respect it.”
Mansell began football at age seven and over the years has given recruiters ample opportunity to track his development. In addition to suiting up for the Spears during the summer and for Saint Paul in the fall, Mansell showcased his skills at the International Bowl in Dallas, 2015; at the Gridiron Classic in Clearwater, Fla., 2016; and at Team Canada All-Stars versus Team USA All-Stars in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., earlier this year.
He recalled first being recruited while playing football at Saint Paul.
“Once I started playing with the Spears, obviously they got to see my talent against different competition,” the son of Ted and Marlene Mansell of Niagara Falls said. “That’s when it kind of spiralled into what we have today.”
He ranks “reading what the running backs and receivers are going to do” as his greatest strength on the football field.
“For a linebacker, you’ve got to be a smart player athletically, as well as mentally,” Mansell said. “By playing linebacker, you get a feel for the game quickly.”
“You get to see what’s going on, the trends and tendencies.”
McMaster head coach Greg Knox can see Mansell getting playing time as a freshman.
“Teddy’s a very competitive football player and he’s got a great motor,” Knox said. “I think he is a hard worker and is physically capable.”
“Time will tell exactly where he fits in, and what my expectation is that he is able to contribute right away.”
Mansell, 19, will be lining up against older, bigger and more-experienced players at the university level, but Knox isn’t worried. He said the extra year of high school will make the Grade 12B student more physically mature heading into his first OUA training camp.
“He’s a competitor, he’s a highmotor guy, he’s passionate about football, and his level of want-to and desire is very high,” Knox said. “And, believe it or not, that’s a special ingredient.”
As middle linebackers go Mansell knows he’s on the small side — “About 225 would be ideal,” he said – but that’s not first on the to-do list for the McMaster coaching staff.
“This is a game predicated on speed, first and foremost,” Knox said. “We want to make sure if they’re putting on any weight, it’s helping them to be faster.”
Rick Oreskovich, Mansell’s head coach for three years at Saint Paul and for two seasons before that in minor football, said McMaster is getting a well-rounded player.
“His physical strength is a big plus as well as his speed and knowledge of the game,” Oreskovich said. “He’s very experienced, because he has played a lot of football.” McMaster Marauders head football coach Greg Knox
The high school coach said if Mansell doesn’t succeed at the university level, it won’t be because of a poor work ethic.
“Very few kids work as hard as he does in the weight room. His offseason workouts are very strenuous,” Oreskovich said. “He puts a lot of time into the weight room, he puts a lot of time into playing the game. He’s a sound student.”
“He’s one of the best linebackers I have seen at high school in this area ever.”
Mansell intends to major in sociology at McMaster. He isn’t overly concerned juggling academics and athletics, all while adjusting to living away from home for the first time in his life, will be too high a hurdle to overcome.
“I’ve been playing football for a very long time, so it’s not a new process to me, of balancing and time managing,” Mansell said. “I’ve got a pretty good grip on that.”
“I take some very challenging courses here, like calculus, functions, things like that, and I still manage to play two football seasons a year and train.”.
Growing up Mansell played a variety of sports and he was competitive in all, but it didn’t take long for football to become his favourite.
“Football was the sport I got a hold of at a young age and it kind of sprouted,” he said. “It’s the best sport I can play for myself, I’m the best at that sport out of all the other sports I do.”
Mansell credited Oreskovich for doing the most of any coach to help him developb as a football player.
“Coach O has taught me so much and motivated me to be the best I can be,” Mansell said. “I’m very fortunate to have played for him and will always be grateful for his tremendous support.”
“An amazing man, an amazing coach.”
He’s a competitor, he’s a high-motor guy, he’s passionate about football, and his level of want-to and desire is very high.”