Former Spartan joins Dinos
By Brady Grove, Times Reporter
Photo Courtesy of Amanda Jensen
Jensen had an up and down 2018 in which he suffered an injury to his hand that required surgery, but ended it by winning the Rangeland Conference League MVP.
“The goal ultimately is to play professional football but I also want to make the most of my time with football,” said Jensen. “It’s not a sport you can play forever.”
The Dinos contacted Jensen after the season to gauge his interest in joining their team. They offered Jensen an invite to training camp and a guaranteed spot on the team. Jensen wanted to join a winning team which was another factor in him signing with the team on Dec. 10, 2018.
“Everything just seemed like the right fit,” said Jensen. “Close to home, there was bunch of people I already knew (on the team), and I really like the coaching staff.”
According to Dinos head coach Wayne Harris, the club wanted to recruit locally, which the Dinos consider southern Alberta, and really liked Jensen’s offensive skills, speed and commitment.
“He’s very positive and brings confidence,” said Harris. “We want the right fit in our dressing room and the right kinds of players with the right attitudes.”
Training camp for the Dinos begins in early August which adds about a month and a half to the season. Harris says this time commitment is a big adjustment for players coming out of high school but knows Jensen has the dedication for it.
“We hope to have big things happen with him in the future here,” said Harris.
Jensen played the 2018 season with the George McDougall High School Mustangs, playing multiple positions for the club including slotback and quarterback, depending on who was available.
“I’m a playmaker,” said Jensen. “Whenever we are down or need something happen I want the ball.”
Mustangs head coach Chris Glass had nothing but praise for his star player’s skills and mentality. Glass said Jensen wasn’t the fastest guy on the team, but could play the angles extremely well and could see how the play was forming before it happened.
“He pretty much did it all except kick the ball,” said Glass. “He was a Swiss army knife but very proficient at all the positions we put him at.”
There was a lot of motivation for Jensen this year, but he suffered a broken hand on the first play of their second game on Sept. 6. Jensen knew immediately he had been injured because he heard a pop and his hand had swelled so much he couldn’t get his glove off.
But Jensen is a very tough and determined player and finished the game. He took the week off to heal but played the next game against Cochrane in a cast. Jensen has been injured before, but this was the first time he required surgery.
“When he came back he didn’t have the mobility that we needed from him in his hand,” said Glass. “It really took away a big threat (for us).”
One of Jensen’s goals for the year was to win MVP, but he thought because he missed one game and played one game in a cast, he wouldn’t have a chance. Jensen was nominated for the award in 2017 as a member of the Spartans but came in second. It wasn’t until his second chance in 2018 that he finally was chosen by the other coaches in the league for the award.
“It’s pretty amazing considering his injury and that he didn’t play all the games,” said Glass. “I’m biased and I thought that’s exactly where he should be, but I’m glad the other coaches realized what he was able to do.”
Glass said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Jensen make the CFL one day and that now it would be fun to watch him as a fan instead of a coach.
Jensen wasn’t originally a football player. He quit playing hockey when he was in Grade 6 and tried football because his uncle and dad were both big fans. Jensen said he’s loved it ever since because of the team elements, which he described as one of the most important aspects of the sport. According to Jensen, he received a lot of support from his parents and coaches over the years which helped put him in the position he was in now.
“On the football field, off it, when you’re training, practicing, playing, it really is a family,” said Jensen. “It’s a relationship that lasts much longer than just the team.”