This is the year for Matt Seymour to show his stuff and hopefully the New Westminster Hyacks varsity football team as well.
While the talented two-way senior is pegged as close as you can come to a sure thing heading into the 2014 B.C. AAA high school football season, the varsity Hyacks are coming off a regrouping year after missing the playoffs following an 0-6 record in 2012.
The 6-0 wide receiver/corner has been widely touted as a top prospect by Canadian Football Chat.
That is high praise for a young man who just took up the game three seasons ago.
“I really only just started in Grade 9. I was just getting the hang of it and then I hit my stride,” said Seymour, who is expected to be all over the field when the Hyacks kick off the exhibition football season later this month in Grandview, Texas against the AAA Zebras.
“Coming into this season, I thought I’d be an important piece, but I didn’t think I’d get all this university attention, especially from back East. It’s pretty humbling,” said Seymour. “But it motivated me a lot and got me more focused than I would have been.”
While Seymour’s 2013 numbers weren’t over the top, they do show his versatility and potential.
He caught eight passes for 149 yards and one touchdown last season, but had 15 tackles and led the team with four interceptions on defence.
As the team kicker, Seymour also averaged more than 33 yards a punt and ran his only punt return back 37 yards for a touchdown.
Head coach Farhan Lalji has big plans for the 170-pound talent.
“Coach Lalji wants me to be a game-breaker, change the game around, be steady, but able to make the big plays when I have to make a big play,” said Seymour.
“(Seymour’s) the program’s top receiver – easily,” said Lalji. “I think he is the most complete receiver we’ve ever had. Honestly, he’s competitive, a really, really competitive football player. Some kids, say ‘Give me the ball,’ others go out and get the ball. He’s one of those.
“He runs well and catches well, but he’s a better DB (defensive back). Half the schools are interested in him at corner. He’s freshman ready as a corner, but he may need a year on offence.”
Seymour says the program’s expectations are the same as he has for himself.
“I know what I have to do. It’s what is expected of me,” he said. “Ask anybody and a championship is our goal this year – we can compete. We all want to fight, we all went to scrap, and we believe this is our year to do it.”
If 2014 indeed turns out to be New West’s year, it will likely come down to some strategic playcalling by the Hyacks.
“We have a few playmakers, but (Seymour) tops the list. We have to make every opportunity to get him the ball, and we’ll make it happen,” said Lalji.
“He’s an intelligent player. We can drop him in any given spot. We can use him in most any position – slot, out wide, off the back end of a play, the front side. It doesn’t matter, he gets it.”
Seymour gets the academic part of it as well. A career honour roll student – “I make sure of that before football,” he added.
That all adds up to the kind of leadership qualities Lalji looks for in the locker room.
“Wherever he ends up, he’ll be a captain – he’s accountable,” said Lalji. “It will be hard to keep him off the field. I think it’s all surprising to him, and I don’t think he quite believes it, but he’ll be an All-Canadian one day, for sure.”
New Westminster plays its home opener against W.J. Mouat at Mercer Stadium on Friday, Sept. 12.
The Hyacks’ homecoming game is scheduled for the following Friday against the West Vancouver Highlanders. New West opens the preseason against Centennial on Sept. 5.
