Surrounded by former Rouge et Or players from Laval University since his early days at L’Ancienne-Lorette high school, star defensive back Yves-André Nenon has decided to join the Vanier Cup champions.
Elected to the Division 1 collegiate circuit all-star team, the product of the Notre-Dame-de-Foy campus hesitated for a long time between the Rouge et Or and the Carabins of the University of Montreal. He made a final visit to the metropolis last Thursday before making his choice.
“I spoke to my position coach Pascal Masson who was coached by Marc Fortier during his four years in Laval,” said Nenon. Pascal told me that Marc played a big role in his career. At L’Ancienne-Lorette, I was also managed by Bernard Gravel, another former Rouge et Or.”
“I have evolved in the culture of the Rouge et Or since I started playing football,” added Nenon. It’s a good thing to continue in this direction.” At CNDF, head coach Marc-André Dion is another former Rouge et Or.
Unlike others, the defensive back who will make his college debut in January was open to the idea of moving and the distance didn’t matter.
“I developed the Laval and Montreal programs as if they were both in my city,” he explained. I didn’t want distance to be a factor. That’s why I returned to Montreal on Thursday for a final conversation with the coaches. Glen (Constantin) came home the next day.”
The NCAA or the RSEQ
Courted by all the RSEQ teams and several Ontario teams, Nenon knew that he would not leave Quebec unless he received an offer from the NCAA. “After doing camps last summer, I haven’t received any offers from the NCAA, but I’m keeping the door open if anything comes up. I wanted to stay in Quebec and evolve for a winning program if nothing happened on the United States side. McGill was in the race for a long time.”
Prestigious trophy
Recipient of the Titan trophy awarded to the player who best embodies the values of the program both on and off the field, safety Xavier Dagenais will continue his career with the Rouge et Or. In the end, he hesitated between Laval and the Redbirds of McGill.
Photo Tristan Forgues
“Playing in Laval has always been a bit of a dream,” said the Limoilou Titans product, who knocked down seven passes this season and was elected as the 14th player on the circuit’s all-star team. I wanted to stay close to my family and friends. I wanted to continue playing with all the former Titans who chose the Rouge et Or.”
Dagenais is the 8th Titans graduate to opt for Laval.
A first with his brother
The last season was full of emotion for Dagenais. In addition to winning the most prestigious award within his team, he played for the first time in his career alongside his brother Antoine who plays in the same position as him. “I loved my experience. Because we are two years apart, I didn’t think I would be able to do it. It’s rare that this happens in a lifetime.”
In Laval, Dagenais will notably find receiver Mathieu Hébert. After five seasons with the Blizzard du Séminaire Saint-François, the two opted for the Titans before Hébert eventually received an offer from an American prep school and left for the United States.
“We were the first two from Blizzard to choose the Titans. My brother’s year, there were eight and there are four this year.”
