Rob Maver 3rd Yr - Don Cameron Award
(Most Improved)
Rob Maver has gone from second team all-star punter in his first year to being an OUA and CIS all-star in both punting and kicking. This season he was named OUA first team all-star punter and place kicker, first team all-Canadian punter and second team all-Canadian place kicker. Rob's punting average of 46.1 yards was the highest in the CIS this season and the second highest in CIS history.
Rob Maver (K/P, Guelph): Maver's punting average of 46.1 would've tied him for fourth in the CFL last year, and he also made a very respectable 78% of his field goal attempts. Regular sessions in Arizona this summer with kicking guru Gary Zauner will have him well prepared for the pro game.
Guelph Kicker Rob Maver is the CIS active leader in both career field goals (54) and points (269). Currently sitting in eighth position on the all-time field goal list, the Brampton, Ont., native is one short of Saskatchewan’s Dave Osiowy, two behind StFX’s Jadran Mlinarevic and five short of McMaster’s Michael Ray, who sits in fifth place.
Rob Maver (Brampton) of the Guelph Gryphons is a first-team all-star punter and place kicker, leading OUA with a 92.9 percent accuracy in field goals as well as a league-leading 41.3 yard average in punts.
Article on Rob Maver:
Pro dream alive and kicking for Gryphons kicker
'Football is my life now,' he says; Guelph dominates over U of T in 53-25 victory
Published On Sat Sep 19 2009
Rob Maver knows all too well that pro scouts are watching what he does every time he steps on a football field.
That's what happens when you're the most respected punter and placekicker these days in the Canadian university game.
An All-Canadian in both positions, Maver is also the all-time leading scorer in football at the University of Guelph, and a record holder in at least four other categories.
He continued his dominance last night as his Gryphons defeated the University of Toronto 53-25. Maver accounted for 12 of those points – including field goals from 24 and 23 yards.
Soon to graduate with a political science degree, the 23-year old Maver is also looking at his next step: playing professionally.
The CFL's amateur scouting bureau pegged him among the top 15 university players this season in a report released a few days ago and he's the top pointgetter in the CIS with 33 in two games.
Maver is well aware that football is what has kept him in school.
"Hard to believe, but it's true," said the 6-foot, 200-pounder.
"I was a terrible student in high school, just did what I had to get by. If it weren't for football, I wouldn't be in university. Football is my life now and I'm doing whatever I can to play pro."
Guelph head coach Kyle Walters projects the three-time OUA all-star could go in the first round in the 2010 CFL draft.
"He's getting lots of interest because where else do you get two for one – a quality Canadian punter and placekicker," said Walters.
Perfect in field goals, his furthest this season from 32 yards, Maver has also converted 12 consecutive touchdowns and leads the OUA in punting with a 44.5-yard average. Only Alberta's Hugh O'Neill, averaging 48.1 yards, is better in the country.
Maver's longest field goal was 47 yards in a game two years ago, but he's connected at practice from 64 yards. This year, he had a 70-yard punt against York.
"I want to be perfect on every play and I'm being very picky because to stand a chance at playing pro you have to be that good," said Maver.
Several CFL teams have already been talking with Maver and he has contacted several professional kickers for advice – Montreal's Damon Duval, Sandro DeAngelis of Calgary and Luca Congi from Saskatchewan. He's also chatted with former Argos Noel Prefontaine and Lance Chomyc.
But getting to the next level may be a challenge according to Miles Gorrell, the Argos director of Canadian Scouting.
"I've seen him punt and kick, he is a darn good kicker and has an opportunity to make it but there is lots of competition," said Gorrell.
Coach Zauner's Comments:
I met Rob Maver this past summer when he attended both my PRO Development Camp in St. Paul, Minnesota and also worked my River Falls, Kicking Camp in River Falls, Wisconsin.
I could tell immediately that Rob had a strong leg and would be a potential NFL or CFL kicking specialist.
After a week of working two camps with Rob he decided to make an appointment to come to Scottsdale, Arizona for both some One on One Punting and Kicking Lessons.
During the three days of One on One Instruction I really saw marked improvement in his technique and consistency. As Rob worked several drills during the day and also at night back at the hotel he started punting and kicking with more consistency.
Rob came to Arizona on a mission to get better so he can have a shot at playing in the NFL.
Rob knows to achieve his goal he needs to be the best he can be. When he left he was not only better but knows exactly where he needs to be to be an NFL punter.
If Rob stays up in Canada he will be a top pick in Canada's draft because of his ability to both punt and kick. There are not many punter / kicker combination kicking specialists in Canada or the United States that have the leg and technique that Rob Maver has.
It was a pleasure meeting and working with Rob and I wish him the best of luck in this years draft.
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