Joey Nemet has a lot in common with Jesse Lumsden, the greatest running back in the history of McMaster University football.
By the end of this Ontario University Athletics season, those two Burlington natives could be 1-2 in the Mac record book for career rushing yardage. Former Hec Crighton Trophy winner Lumsden is the runaway leader at 4,138 yards, while Nemeth currently ranks fifth with 2,325. Ahead of him are Kyle Pyear (2,637), Jordan Kozina (2,439) and Kojo Aidoo (2,389).
“I realize that in my fifth year there’s a couple of milestones that I’m on the brink of reaching,” Nemet said recently during Mac’s final week of training camp at Ron Joyce Stadium. “Jesse is kind of far off in the distance. But it seems quite likely by the end of the season I’ll end up second behind him. It would be very special to have my name under his.”
Special because of how dominant Lumsden was at the Canadian university level, particularly in his fourth and final season for Mac in 2004. That year, the first-round CFL draft choice set a CIS single-season rushing record of 1,816 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. That despite often being pulled in the third and fourth quarter of games because the Marauders had built big leads. His average gain was 10.2.
If Nemeth stays healthy, he could surpass Lumsden (459) and Ross Tripp (471) for most career rushes by a Marauder. Entering the 2011 campaign, Nemet has carried the mail 406 times.
The opener of Mac’s eight-game schedule is Monday at 2 p.m. in Kingston (AM 900 CHML) against the Queen’s Gaels. The home opener is Saturday, Sept. 10, against the Western Ontario Mustangs.
Ironically, Nemet played three years of senior high school football in Burlington at Robert Bateman for Lumsden’s father, Neil, who was the head coach at the time. In addition, earlier this summer, Nemet spent two months training at the same high-performance training centre in Arizona that Jesse used to launch his career.
“It was very beneficial,” Nemet said of his stay in Scottsdale with Performance Enhancement Professionals. “Not only in terms of training experience. Obviously, I made some big gains physically. But I’m a kinesiology graduate, so to see what they do and how they prepare their athletes was great.”
At 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, Nemet has been a durable gridiron performer.
“Joey has been a consistent player, which is why he’s so high up on that (career yardage) list,” said Marauders offensive co-ordinator Jon Behie. “He got a chance to play right away in 2007. He hasn’t had that one breakout season yet like Kyle or Jesse — that’s why he’s under the radar a bit in terms of recognition. Joey works hard. We’re expecting good things from him this year, too.”
The Mac attack last year started bringing Nemet out of the backfield on occasion for passes. The second-team OUA all-star finished with nine catches for 108 yards and two receiving touchdowns in conference play.
“Joey proved he could take that on,” Behie said. “I think we’ll probably plan on using him the same way this year. When he came in, he wasn’t much of a route runner. He fought the ball a little.
“He’s a smart kid and a great teammate for the guys in the locker-room.”
Other players expected to take hand-offs this season are Jimmy Hill, Chris Pezzetta, Kasean Davis and Matt Kit. “I’m kind of the old man of the group,” Nemet said. “We have a new batch of young talent. They’re talented and will do great things once I’m gone.”
Mac enters the season ranked No. 3 nationally. Western is No. 2 and the defending Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or is No. 1.
“We have a lot of potential,” Nemet said. “There’s no reason why we can’t contend for a Yates Cup. I look forward to having a good season.”
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