SOCCER. Jérémi Deshaies has helped the Volunteers football program regain its reputation in recent years. The Drummondvillois now wants to participate in the relaunch of the Vert et Or.
Trained with the Vandoos, Jérémi Deshaies was a leading element in the success of the Cégep de Sherbrooke, which has just had a fourth consecutive winning season. The defensive back also participated in winning the Bol d'Or in Division 2 in 2022.
“Before our edition arrived, the Volunteers were not a winning team,” said the 21-year-old student-athlete in an interview with L’Express. When we arrived, we started winning matches. The team chemistry was built quickly. We have become a truly united team. It’s like a family: we go to war together.”
Authors of six victories in eight outings last fall, the Volunteers were held back in the semi-final by the eventual champions of the Bol d'or, the Lauréats du Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe.
“We do a lot of activities outside of football to bring the team together,” said Jérémi Deshaies. Everyone respects each other. There is no bickering in the team. Everyone stands together. This is what has made us successful in recent years.”
Before arriving in Sherbrooke, Jérémi Deshaies developed his talent and his love for football within the Vandoos program.
“Michaël Robin is an old-school coach. All his workouts are done with a lot of intensity. It built my character. Today, I push myself hard all the time in training and in everything I do. It helped me a lot when I arrived at CEGEP. I was already physically ready. Then, I improved technically and tactically with the Volunteers coaches,” said the mechanical engineering graduate.
A true hybrid player, Jérémi Deshaies can play in several defensive positions, notably as a defensive back and as a linebacker. The one who measures 6 feet and 1 inch and weighs 195 pounds stands out for his game that is both very fast and very physical.
“The coach makes me play everywhere because I understand the game well. I am able to use my versatility to make plays. I'm also a guy with a lot of intensity. I'm quite aggressive on the pitch. I bring speed and energy to my team.”
Also approached by the Redbirds of McGill University and the Gaiters of Bishop's University, in addition to having discussed with the Carabins of the University of Montreal, Jérémi Deshaies finally made his choice on the Vert et Or.
“I’m a local guy,” he explained. At the Vert et Or, I will meet several former Volunteers and a few guys from Drummond with whom I played in high school. That tipped the scales, as did the coaching staff. They have a mentality that I like: that of going to war. They showed a lot of interest in me. Louis Leclerc took a lot of steps to convince me.
At the University of Sherbrooke, where he will undertake studies in mechanical, civil or electrical engineering, Jérémi Deshaies will join former Vandoos Justyn Demers, Raphaël Lemieux and Alexandre Wamba-Okolonga.
“I’m really looking forward to being part of this edition. I arrive with the mentality that with the Volunteers. The program is under reconstruction. It's a young team. We all have the same goal: we want the program to become a winning edition. The coaches have also recruited players who have been part of winning teams. It's a good challenge. I am ready to commit to this 100%,” concluded the new Vert et Or recruit.
Statistics in 2024
– Eight parts
– 19 tackles, including 12 solo and one for loss
– An interception
– Three folded passes
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