The McMaster Marauders find themselves in a weird spot entering the 2025 season. Their roster is in a state of significant transition after Keagan Hall, the team's star signal-caller over the last four seasons, transferred to York in March where he will play his final year of eligibility for the Lions.
Another player that could be departing for this year is wide receiver Nicholas Adair, as he has been exploring his options elsewhere to put him in a better position to compete for a national title and a future CFL career, as reported by the Hamilton Spectator's Scott Radley.
In a U SPORTS landscape that seems to alter at a rapid rate, continuity is key when fielding a competitive team, and, luckily for them, McMaster is no stranger to periods of adjustment. Although Hall's graduation and Adair's potential departure instills a more negative than optimistic outlook on the Marauder's prospects in 2025, Mac will still retain some highly effective players from last year who will be key contributors this coming season.
Since the season is less than a month away — with training camp beginning even sooner — rosters will start to take shape soon, and many of the questions asked in the offseason will be answered in just a few weeks. Here are some questions that don't need to be answered in the Marauder's lineup come Aug. 23.
Anthony Sestanovic, Linebacker
Anthony Sestanovic is a machine. Entering his fourth year of eligibility, Sestanovic has been a wrecking ball for the Marauders' defence and has shown steady growth in his makeup as a linebacker since his first year with the team in 2022. His strengths are limitless as he can defend the run and the pass equally well.
The 6'0" 220-pound linebacker from Oakville, Ont. is also as tough as they come, which is showcased in his consistent ability to stay on the field while playing such a physical position. Sestanovic has appeared in 25 games throughout his U SPORTS career and is a tackling savant, notching 18 solo tackles in 2023, followed by a nine-tackle jump to 27 in 2024. Getting to the backfield quickly is not an issue, as evidenced by a combined 5.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons and four sacks in 2024 alone, which was good for the team lead.
His athleticism enhances his strength as a versatile linebacker, capable of dropping into any necessary coverage and or run-stopping. He has the right frame to pick up crossing routes run by taller receivers and tight ends. Sestanovic even snagged an interception in 2023 and has had multiple pass deflections over the last two seasons.
If his prior history of consistent and steady improvement in his development is any indicator, then it is reasonable to expect that Sestanovic will be a frequent playmaker on defence throughout the 2025 season, especially with incoming defensive coordinator Adam Grandy's history of coaching linebackers at Western.
His talents and skills suggest that he might even earn recognition as an OUA All-Star later in the year, which would be an excellent achievement for him as he enters his CFL Draft eligibility. He is a dominant force on the field, possessing the sideline-to-sideline range that allows him to cover extensive areas. This impressive range and ability to impact plays make him a player that many opposing teams will find challenging and frustrating to game plan against in 2025.
Jackson Taylor, Wide Receiver
Jackson Taylor wasted no time in his first year as a Marauder in 2024, as he exploded onto the scene as a dynamic receiver capable of being one of the province's best at some point in his U SPORTS career.
Taylor was instrumental in the Marauders reaching their first playoff berth since 2019, as he was the team's leader in receptions (31), receiving yards (374), and receiving touchdowns (four). The 6'1", 180-pound Hamilton native played football at a local powerhouse high school, Bishop Tonnos, is a dangerous pass-catcher, and even took home the prestigious Norm Marshall Rookie of the Year Award as the best rookie in Ontario. His receiving yards total placed him within the top 15 in all of Ontario.
The potential departure of Adair, the team's top wideout over the last few seasons, would open more doors for Taylor to increase his production in 2025. Defences will more than likely begin to scheme specifically against him, but Taylor is talented enough to surpass that and take the next step as a number-one receiver this year.
Whoever ends up earning the job as the starting quarterback at McMaster will find light in the fact that they have one of the premier receivers in Ontario at their disposal. They will most likely experience growing pains, but Taylor's presence and abilities should help to ease them.
Ethan Stuart, Defensive Back.
Ethan Stuart is a tackling machine. He finished tied for first on the team with Sestanovic in total tackles with 33 in 2024, all from a position in the secondary. To go along with that figure, Stuart also recorded two-and-a-half tackles for loss and an interception, which helped earn him an invitation to play in the 2025 East-West Bowl.
Entering his fourth year of eligibility, Stuart is a lengthy athlete with good range and sports a great sense of field awareness. At 6'1" and 220 pounds, Stuart has the weight behind him to play a physical style of coverage and can press receivers well at the line. That same brand of physicality is evident in his tackling figures and shows no signs of slowing down for 2025.
As DeEmetrius Masuka was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in the eighth round of this past CFL Draft and then transferred to Guelph for his two remaining eligible U SPORTS seasons, Stuart has a chance to make his name as the Marauders' top defensive back in 2025 if he plays like he did last year.
He will fit right in with the rest of the Marauders' stingy defence in 2025 and will be put to the test immediately as he faces his old quarterback, Keagan Hall, and a lethal wide receiver, Avontae McKoy.
Editor's Note: Drake Bodi was originally featured on this list but OB.SESSED was informed that he would not be returning for his fifth year of eligibility.