11 receivers in Div 2 who deserve more credit
After reading one too many of Kevin’s offensive and laughable articles, I approached Jon about providing some new content for the site. (In all seriousness, I do appreciate Kevin’s straight talk in a world where people are too often afraid to speak their minds. I know a lot of people do, too.)
Now, let’s get to the action. There are a few great receivers in Div 2 who probably dont get enough credit. With this article I simply hope to shine a light on a bunch of hardworking dudes.
To clarify, this list will not include D1-calibre, elite WRs playing in Div 2. We already know that these players are well-known in the MFL and we won’t include them here. For me, that includes Alexandre Bresse (Petite Phoques), Jonathan Svetna (Deep Threats), Louis-Mathieu Dufour (OG Panthers), Andrew Grant (Nice TDs), Shawn Haney (Joey’s Haters), Marvin Steinberg (Honor Game) and a few more like Donavan Martel (Les Boys), who currently plays for Mcgill University. PS, Donavan, unreal profile pic. Love it.
Finally: If I left you off the list, just approach me at the field and let me know that I got it wrong!
Here’s my list of 11 receivers in Div 2 who deserve more credit:
11. Charles Rousseau-Bélanger, Les Petits Phoques
23 Receptions, 245 Yards, 5 TDs
Chuck is a baller. More than that, he lets his game do the talking. You don’t hear any talk from this guy on the field. He just makes plays.
I’ll take him off the list early because he’s a good Div 1 receiver and I’m trying to keep this list to true Div 2 guys.
I think a lot of people in the MFL are already aware that Chuck is a tall, fast, legitimate threat with great hands who excels on mid to deep level catches. However, I wanted to include him because he may be overshadowed at times playing on such a loaded Phoques receiving group.
This is also a testament to the Phoques’ recruiting efforts. On any given week you might see a different guy put up big numbers. Bresse is practically an MFL legend at this point, Boris Gagnier is a quick, explosive slot guy capable of turning it on, and just last week Étienne Maillé-Daviau had a big game against us. Longtime MFLer Vince Granata can put up big games too. It’s a difficult offense to stop.
10. Mike Dessin, Underdogs
28 Receptions, 328 Yards, 7 TDs
I don’t know too much about Mike Dessin. However, he’s put up good numbers this season for the Underdogs, a first-time team in Div 2 who lack the cohesion and group familiarity that many winning teams thrive off. Mike currently averages a trip to the endzone every game with seven TDs in seven games.
Guys around the league say that Mike has all the tools to be great but just needs to put it together and consistently catch the ball.
9. Maximilien Sadori, Joey’s Haters
48 Receptions, 492 Yards, 10 TDs
I’ll get my own guy off the list early so no one complains. We think that Max Sadori is perhaps the most underrated player in all of Div 2. He’s just such a valuable center for us, rarely drops balls and he’s a positive, easy personality to work with. I really do see a Div 1 future for Max Sadori, as I do with his close friend David Gutkovsky, who is another huge part of our team. I felt David should also be on this list, but I don’t want to be too biased.
Guys around the league say that Sadori is one of the most reliable targets to move the chains and deceptively quick for a larger guy. When he does have a rare drop, guys on the Haters are asking him if everything is alright.
8. Devin Daoust, Honor Game
46 Receptions, 303 Yards, 9 TDs
The Honor Game boys are so loud, it’s like I could already hear them yelling at me to include Devin. I need to include Devin if I’m talking about difference makers this year. At the center position he’s caught nearly 50 balls from his brother Dave, and he doesn’t drop too many of them.
Devin, like Dave, plays with an admirable intensity. He’s also there to chill Dave out when Dave gets too hot, and sometimes only a brother can play that role. I’d love to see how Devin does out of center, maybe in the slot position too, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of him in the future.
7. Sébastien Béchard, D#Nasty
21 Receptions, 259 Yards, 4 TDs
Sébastien Béchard is a really likeable team player and I would 1000% have him on my team any day. Bech makes tons of plays and never says a word. He’s got that quiet personality on the field, kind of like a ‘lunch pail’ guy. He comes to work and gets the job done. This year it looks like Bech is off to a slower start in terms of TDs, but he’s putting up his biggest yards per catch of his MFL career. I’ve seen take over games when he’s really on and it’s fun to watch how much his teammates value him.
It’s been an up-and-down season for D#Nasty, but these guys come ready to play every Saturday and they don’t back down from anyone. With two games to go, they’re hunting for a playoff spot.
6. Aleksander Blostein, Deep Threats
42 Receptions, 310 Yards, 9 TDs
The friendly Aleksander Blostein is your prototypical quick, small slot receiver who picks up good YAC yardage once he gets the ball in his hands. He’s arguably made one of the biggest jumps from average player to scoring threat since coming into this league a few years ago. That’s not a shot, but rather another example of guys coming into our league at a younger age and growing into great players. Same with Svetna.
Guys around the league say Blostein has put the time in on improving his route running and catching, which has made him the clear second option on Deep Threats under Svetna. I know the Deep Threats feel they’re better than what their current record indicates. I also know that they’re a team who will be a contender in the future, and they’re only going to get harder to play against.
One quick note: Daniel Murray Jr. is having a terrific season at rusher, and in my opinion, might be the best rusher in Div 2 this year. Not only is he leading the league in sacks, but he’s also getting a few bat-downs.
5. Raphaël Constantin, Les Centurions
41 Receptions, 389 Yards, 9 TDs
What I appreciate most about Raphaël Constantin is his intensity. He’s a polite guy off the field, but on the field Raphaël is a force. You’re always aware of his presence because he’s always dialled in. He’s fast, tall and works his ass off for the entire game, making crucial catches. On defense, he puts the big effort in all over again. That’s a player you want on your team.
Raphaël is a dangerous threat on a loaded Centurions offense alongside Simon-Pierre Laferrière, who is having a huge season this year.
The Centurions also get a lot of production from the Collette brothers: Samuel, on offense, and Xavier, who I noticed is very quick at the corner position.
4. Nick Reeves, Old School
28 Receptions, 328 Yards, TDs: 10
Nick Reeves has a history of catching passes with big yards per catch. Or, to translate that, when you turn your head after Dahic launches a rocket in the air, it’s usually Nick who’s running under it for Old School. I similarly get that feeling of dread with Louis-Mathieu Dufour (OG Panthers). You turn around and you pray that your deep guy is there, because these dudes are burners. Then I get nightmares.
Despite playing two fewer games than other receivers this season, Nick is tied for the third-most TDs in Div 2 thus far. Guys around the league say Nick is sound defensively and possesses good speed and great hands.
3. Alexis Ferand, Les Petits Phoques
16 Receptions, 273 Yards, 6 TDs
I feel like it’s only a matter of time before Alexis Ferand is a regular in Div 1. Even while putting up a healthy 17 yards per catch for the Petits Phoques, Alexis might be an even better defender. He’s played both offense and defense in tackle football as a former CEGEP player, so he’s a valuable asset for the Phoques.
Guys around the league say Alexis is the best kept secret in the Gros Coqs farm system. He has the size and the hands to become a dominant player.
2. Simon-Pierre Laferrière, Les Centurions
51 Receptions, 520 Yards, 9 TDs
I couldn’t make this list without adding Simon-Pierre Laferrière, who is having a huge season in Div 2. He leads the division with 51 receptions after eight games. But Simon-Pierre might not be a secret because he already put up 730 yards and 16 TDs last fall season.
Simon-Pierre isn’t a particularly big guy, but he gets open well and has been on fire this year with former Université de Montréal Carabins QB Gabriel Archambault rifling him passes. Laferrière is another reason why this Centurions offense is so lethal this season.
If the Centurions can clean up their defense a bit (don’t we all need that), I think they’ll compete for a spot in the finals.
1. Kevin Bourbonais, Bitter Boys
39 Receptions, 527 Yards, 13 TDs
When Kevin Bourbonais caught four TDs and four interceptions two weeks ago, I had to look at the box score again. Who does that?
But Kevin just keeps making big plays for the Bitter Boys, the unquestioned top receiver in a group that also includes the reliable Vincent Naulet.
I imagine the Bitter Boys weren’t satisfied after starting the season with a 3-3 record, having come down from Div 1. It’s reasonable to suggest that Kevin has played a large role in the guys salvaging their season, now at 4-3 and hunting for a playoff seed. If they grab one of those spots, put your best guy on Kevin.
