The Valley Huskers have added a talented player to their backfield with the early commitment of Remis Tshiovo.
The Winnipeg native spent last season with with the University of Manitoba Bisons after enjoying a hugely successful high school career with the St. Paul’s Crusaders.
“Remis is an outstanding dual threat running back, a U-Sports transfer who brings a serious offensive skill package to the Valley,” said Husker bench boss Bob Reist. “He should provide a legitimate scoring threat for the Huskers.”
Tshiovo put up video game numbers during his last two campaigns with the Crusaders (he played four in all).
In 2015 he produced 775 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns on just 81 carries, averaging 9.57 yards every time he carried the ball.
He added 237 receiving yards.
In 2016, a season that ended with a Winnipeg High School Football League championship, Tshiovo rolled up 621 rushing yards (12.9 per carry) and 10 TDs on 48 carries and was named a WHSFL all-star.
He was also named MVP of the Crusaders.
The 19 year old only dressed for one game with the Bisons last year, which can be tough for a kid who dominated the high school ranks. He felt comfortable in practices but never got the chance to show what he could do facing live bullets.
Feeling the need for a change of scenery, he responded to a Facebook message from Reist that set the wheels in motion.
“I feel like I’ve seen it all and done it all and been through this Winnipeg same-route same-travel thing, and it’s been driving me crazy,” Tshiovo said. “I don’t know too much about B.C., but I visited a friend in Delta two or three summers ago and it was just beautiful.
“And I love the rain. It brings peace of mind.”
Reist and Tshiovo first connected at Recruit Ready Football, a training camp that Reist is a part of.
“I’ve been doing that camp for as long as I can remember, six or seven years, and he (Reist) is an awesome coach,” Tshiovo said. “He knows that I need to get a foot back in football, and he knows that once I hit the field again, regardless of where it is, I can only go up.
“I think he’s the right coach and this is the right step to get me back on track with my football career.”
Listed at five-foot-10 and 175 pounds as a high schooler, Tshiovo says he’s now a solid 200 pounds and ready to roll.
“If you watch me play you won’t think I’m five foot-foot-10 and 200 pounds, for sure,” he said. “I can do everything from the big 100 yard play to laying down the boom.”
Tshiovo has played receiver in the past and feels comfortable coming out of the backfield to catch passes.
He sees himself as a dual threat who can add a lot to the Huskers, and he’s not worried about joining a team that’s had extremely limited success in the last decade.
“The history of the Huskers doesn’t concern me at all because I just know, new year new team,” he said. “Any time I face adversity I just rise above, and I feel like in my past experience the more I rise up the more everybody else around me rises up.
“I’m a leader. I’m not a follower.”
Reist likes Tshiovo’s confidence and believes he’ll bring an edge to the offence.
“He’s a very confident player that backs it up with his play on the field,” the coach noted. “Confidence is contagious and I expect Remis to bring that attitude to the Huskers day in day out.”
See valleyhuskers.org