Having finished his third season with the Windsor Lancers, Muftah Ageli has played more football in his OUA career than ever before. "When I made my decision to transfer high schools, it was mainly because I wanted to play basketball for my travel coach."
The 20-year old played grade 9 football at Massey but was not enamoured by the game. "Since I barely played, I stopped showing up and took basketball even more seriously."
Things changed when he transferred to Kennedy and met athletic director Jim MacDougall.
"He was telling me that I was going to play seniors and that I was going to dominate. I didn’t believe him."
MacDougall eventually convinced Ageli to play. "I knew the first moment I saw him that he could be an incredible football playe because it is so rare that a kid that size has such elite movement skills." said MacDougall. "Then when I brought him to the weight room for the first time, his sheer raw strength and power was incredible. He was a kid with no weight training experience that literally had no idea how strong he was."
Ageli only played during his grade 11 year before the pandemic sidelined his graduating season. MacDougall knew Ageli had what it takes to play at the OUA level and made a phone call to Lancers head coach J-P Circelli. "And said that because of Covid, he only played in grade 11, but I know for sure this kid can be elite because not only is he ridiculously strong and athletic, he has a toughness about him that is kind of frightening in the most positive sense of the word."
Circelli indulged MacDougall and then saw Ageli in person. "Watching his full athleticism on display while playing basketball. I mean, at his size if you can dunk a basketball, that is an elite skill set and would catch anyone’s eye."
Ageli is the first to admit, he struggled as a rookie. "My first year of university was the hardest year of my life. I was playing a game I didn’t understand at all." Ageli said. "I couldn’t even tell you what a blitz was or even the different fronts a dlinemen would get called. I would always ask the guy next to me where I had to go because I didn’t even know the playbook."
Remembering his cousin
During his struggles Ageli would often think about his cousin, who had passed on two year earlier.
"I made a promise to myself that I will become a professional athlete and play against the best."
Remembering Western
"After our last game against Western, when they beat us 66-0, I felt lost. I had no guidance, I felt helpless, and felt like I was letting my team and my coaches down. That’s when I started taking it personally. I mean, I started taking everything personally. I was never going to get embarrassed the same way ever again. I would’ve never been able to accomplish anything if it wasn’t for Allah and my family members."
Football acumen
There was one thing that Circelli saw that didn't relate to Ageli's physical ability. "I would say the most impressive aspect of Muftah’s development is his knowledge of the game and his ability to anticipate plays." Circelli said. "When he first arrived as a freshman, he was obviously very athletic and freakishly strong, but because he only played high school football for a short time, teams could out scheme where we lined him up.
Now, teams have a hard time running the ball inside Windsor defence because Ageli has grown into a force that earned him All-Canadian second team all-star honours. "You see how much better he can anticipate plays when he stops a draw or like the pick six on the screen against Queens." Circelli points out. "To hear the opposing coaches sing his praises let’s us know that Muftah has an extremely high ceiling moving forward."
Football Dreams
He's not shy to say it, playing pro is the goal. "I’ve been laughed at by a lot of people in this city when I first started football because I had said that I was going to go to the NFL or CFL, and now those same people praise me." said Ageli.
Following a year in which he helped the Lancers lead the country in sacks with 34 (2nd, stFX with 23), Ageli is expected to be on the radar for the USports East-West Bowl game in 2024 as he continues pursuit of his dream.