A Drumheller Titan is bound for Kamloops to further his football career as a member of the Kamloops Broncos football team.
Jackson Upton, son of Lynnette and Dallas, has been playing Drumheller community Football since he was in Peewee. He has signed a Letter of Intent to play with the Kamloops Broncos. The Broncos play in the BC Football Conference, which is part of the Canadian Junior Football League.
“The main goal was to continue to play, ideally at university, so this is a stepping stone towards that,” Upton told the Mail.
He says the program is well established with a new coach and just last year sent two players to the University of British Columbia. Upton has some great opportunities to explore this route, as the St. Anthony’s graduand has strong academics.
Upton plays on the offensive line, and the coaching staff of the Broncos reached out to him after seeing some of Upton in action.
“The coach, since he saw some highlight films, gave us some specifics about my game. He liked that I finished my blocks, went to the whistle and he liked the physicality I brought,” said Upton.
He said Junior Football gives him the opportunity to improve and mature before he heads to university.
“Ideally I could play one of two years because I don’t use up any eligibility for university sports. I can approach universities as a 20-year-old rookie as opposed to an 18-year-old, with the extra years of development,” he said.
Depending on restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he is scheduled to start training with Broncos on July 10.
He is grateful for the support from the Titans program and the coaches who allowed him to develop as a player for seven years.
