By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Aaron Syverson says he's not quite back to 100 percent.
But the Saint John's University quarterback is close enough to be back on the field with the Johnnies, who began their spring practice period this week.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Minnetonka graduate spent two seasons at Division I Colorado State before transferring to SJU prior to the start of the second semester of the 2020-21 school year.
His play during an extended spring practice period a year ago, and again in the preseason last fall, earned him the starting job. And he settled into the spot quickly, throwing for 1,768 yards and 17 touchdowns while leading his team to a 7-0 start.
But it all ended abruptly when he suffered a season-ending broken leg during a 37-7 win at Gustavus Adolphus on Oct. 23. Senior Chris Backes ably stepped in the rest of the way as the Johnnies wrapped up the MIAC title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs where they fell 31-28 to Linfield (Ore.), ending their season with a record of 11-1.
Now, though, Syverson is ready to pick up where he left off.
"I'm feeling pretty good," he said earlier this week. "I don't know if I'm running quite as well as I'd like to be yet. I'd say I'm probably around 95 percent. But I'm able to be back out at practice and that's a good thing."
SJU is preparing for a trip to Canada to take on the Winnipeg Rifles of the Canadian Junior Football League. The CJFL is made up of players age 17-22, a number of whom go on to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The game – which is scheduled for noon on May 7 at IG Field, home to the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers – was originally scheduled for 2020, but had to be postponed because of COVID-19.
When combined with the spring workouts already allowed under MIAC rules, the extra practices allowed by the NCAA to prepare for the trip means SJU could hold a total of 31 practices this spring.
But head coach Gary Fasching '81 said his team will use only 20 of those – including 10 with everyone on the team (the last four with shoulder pads allowed) and 10 more (all with shoulder pads) for those making the trip to Winnipeg.
"The practices will give us a good chance to take a look at some guys we think may have a chance to move into starting spots next season," Fasching said. "Guys may not win those positions during the spring, but they can certainly put themselves in pretty good position going into the fall."
This marks the third time Fasching's team will make a Canada trip, having traveled to Regina, Saskatchewan in 2013 and 2016. But unlike in those years, or during the extended spring practice period that resulted from COVID-19 a year ago, the Johnnies will not play a spring game.
The team will hold a scrimmage on April 24.
"The most important thing is just having the chance to develop a connection with everyone," said Ethan Stark, a returning starter at safety. "Especially with some of the new players who are going to be stepping in."
"I have no idea what to expect out of the game (in Winnipeg), but having the extra practices helps a lot," Syverson added. "Especially when it comes to filling some of the open spots we have."
Indeed, on offense alone SJU must replace All-American wide receiver Ravi Alston, last season's MIAC Most Valuable Player, who has elected to use a final year of eligibility granted to athletes by the NCAA due to the impact of COVID-19 at FCS Montana State.
SJU also graduates All-American center Nick Neumann, as well as several other All-MIAC first-team offensive picks in tackle Tyler Johnson, wide receiver Matt Mohr and running back Henry Trost, who carried the ball for 796 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021.
But key contributors return in All-American tight end Alex Larson, who caught eight touchdown passes last season, and wide receiver Jimmy Buck, who caught seven in his first season with the team after transferring from the University of Minnesota.
"We definitely have some holes we need to fill," Syverson said. "But we also have a lot of guys back who did pretty well for us last season and now get the chance to play even bigger roles."
Syverson said he has actually been able to throw the ball with his receivers much of this winter.
"I've been able to do 7-on-7 with the guys on our own since we got back (to school) in January," he said. "Once I felt pretty good throwing the ball, it made me feel a lot better about getting out here and practicing this spring."
Syverson said it feels different to enter spring practice as the established starter.
"Last year, I was the new guy and I just wanted to learn the ropes and not step on anybody's toes," he said. "This year I know I have to play more of a leadership role.
"My goal is just to do what I can to help us build on the success we had last fall. We have a lot of great players back and we have the potential to do some really big things."
• Fasching said not everyone will travel to Canada. Some players have scheduling conflicts with spring sports while others have been caught up in delays in the passport process and may not have one in time. In all, he expects around 85 players to make the trip.
• A pair of transfers are practicing with the team this spring: Tight end Trey Steinbach is a 2020 graduate of Marshall (Minn.) High School whose father played football at SJU. He spent the 2020-21 school year on the roster at FCS power North Dakota State. Defensive back Noah Chase, a Lutheran Orange County (Calif.) High School graduate, played at Kenyon (Ohio) as a freshman last fall.
• During the game with the Rifles, Canadian rules will be in place when Winnipeg is on offense, meaning 12 players will be on the field and all offensive backfield players besides the quarterback can be in motion before the snap. When the Johnnies are on offense, American rules will be in place.
"I didn't know much about Canadian football before this," said Stark, whose team will likely employ an extra defensive back as its 12th player. "So it will be a learning experience."
• Fasching and fellow SJU graduate Bubba Sullivan '89, the former longtime head coach at Northfield (Minnesota) High School, will be inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association's Hall of Fame during a banquet on Saturday (April 2) at the Doubletree Hotel in Minneapolis.
"I'm looking forward to the banquet and sharing the honor with my family and coaches," said Fasching, who reports he is feeling pretty close to back to normal after a serious bout with COVID that left him hospitalized for well over a week at the end of the football season last fall.
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St. Cloud Orthopedics Feature: Syverson Back on the Football Field for SJU this Spring - Saint John's University Athletics
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