SACKVILLE, N.B. — He’s been defined as the best running back in the region by opposing coaches and Mount Allison Mountie coach Peter Fraser describes Oliver Longpre as ”one of the best backs in Canadian football.”
After having been courted by universities across Canada, Longpre has signed to join a host of other former Titans in the Mountie lineup in 2020 and beyond.
“I had visited some of these football schools,” said the Titan star recently, “but my gut feeling was to remain at home and be comfortable playing with so many of my former teammates.”
Former coach Scott O’Neal has only positives to say about the young man who missed playing all of the 2019 season due to injuries.
“He has long played beyond his age, both with the Titans and with Team New Brunswick. He has quickness, vision, determination and great cutting ability,” says O’Neal, “and he should fit in nicely with the Mounties in their rebuilding process.”
Oliver credits minor coaches Tim and Isaac Cormier for properly preparing him for high school ball and he excelled in his rookie season. Then, while in Grade 11, he ran for 1,946 all-purpose yards and 29 touchdowns, several of which came from punt and kick returns.
An upper body injury while playing hockey a year ago was nicely healed when he suffered major injuries to his leg while performing with Team NB earlier this year. As a result, he sat out his entire senior year during recovery.
“He was our number one cheerleader during the past season,” says O’Neal, “and can you imagine what he would have done to the record books if he had been healthy.”
Meanwhile, Oliver has never let up on his training and is currently participating in the Mountie off-season program with daily heavy workouts.
In addition to being a touchdown machine for the Titans – leading them to three provincial championships – Oliver spent one season with both the provincial U15 and U16 teams and two years with the U18. He was named offensive MVP during the Canada Cup playoffs during his final year.
Fraser was all smiles as he announced that Longpre would be joining his team next fall, noting that he was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country.
“Just imagine, signing one of the top candidates in the country who was developed right here in our own backyard,” added Fraser. “It is indeed great that coach O’Neal has been able to turn out so many fine players with many of them coming over to us.”
He will be joining the likes of Lucas and Dylan Cormier, Aaron Rose, Jack Estabrooks, Aidan O’Neal and several others who were instrumental in the long string of Titan successes.
So where will Oliver Longpre fit into the Mountie schemes?
“He’s such a talented player, we will use him in many positions,” says Fraser. “He will try his hand at returning kicks and punts – something he has done well both with the Titans and Team NB, be slotted in at slot and no doubt will see plenty of action in the tailback spot.”
It would be unique if Jack Estabrooks and Oliver Longpre become the running back tandem, much like Chris Reid and Keil Ambursley were over a five-year stretch.
And so the march across continues with athletes being properly trained to take that next step. While Oliver Longpre may be the latest. it is certain he will be far from the last.
Thus, local sports fans have even more reason to support their Mounties – it continues to look more and more like a Titan alumni group.
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