TELEGRAM: Hounds David Canney Hopes to Run the Right Route Again!

Delivering on routes: David Canney catches on for Hounds

TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER --- DAVID CANNEY was a record-breaking running back at Narragansett Regional High School. Assumption coach Cory Bailey thinks Canney can be a mark-making wide receiver at the college level.

"He's tremendous," Bailey praised after Tuesday morning's practice. "He's a legitimate player."

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Canney is coming off a solid freshman season in which he started every game and caught 32 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned kicks and topped the Northeast-10 Conference with an 18.6-yard average. He was the NE-10 leaders in all-purpose yardage.

"I thought my freshman year went well," Canney said, "but I hope to do much better this year. As a sophomore, you know the plays, you know what you're going to do, you know all the people, you're more into it."

Canney was really into it this summer. He and new Greyhounds quarterback Taylor Humphrey, a transfer from UMass (via Hawaii), worked one-on-one two days a week to get comfortable with each other and perfect their routes and timing.

"It was great," Canney said. "Taylor's one of the hardest working players I know."

Humphrey will have a number of dependable targets in 2007. Canney, a Templeton resident, was one of four Assumption receivers to have at least 32 catches last season. Senior JAKE BEERS had a team-high 51 receptions for 685 yards and seven touchdowns. He led the NE-10 in receptions per game (5.1) and receiving yards per game (68.5). Senior tight end JAKE LONGENECKER caught 34 passes for 387 yards and junior JOEY FABIANO had 32 for 312.

"We've all started every game we've been here, and we've made big plays," said Beers, a first-team Northeast-10 selection last year. "We've been catching every ball that's been thrown to us in practice, and our quarterback has been right on the money. We're optimistic about the season."

Canney rushed for 1,878 yards as a senior to set a Narragansett single-season record. He led Central Mass. in rushing yards and points (238) that year as well and led the undefeated Warriors to the Division 3 Super Bowl title. Canney was a two-time T&G Super Team member and helped 'Gansett to the Super Bowl as a sophomore as well.

"When we recruited him, his running style didn't really match what we do offensively with our type of running game," Bailey said. "But he's a 6-1, 200-pound kid who can run and catch. We immediately put him at receiver. He's done everything we've asked him to do. "

Canney said he averaged about 16 carries during his record-breaking season.

"I don't get the ball as much now, but I like playing wide receiver," he said. "I do more blocking and that kind of stuff. It's a lot faster, going from Central Mass. Division 3 to college, but after a few games, I got used to it. With all the hard work and experience, it should be a much better year for me and everybody."

The Hounds were 4-6 last season, matching their 2005 record.

Canney had one of his better games against Merrimack. He caught five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown and finished with 145 all-purpose yards.

Canney, an honor roll student in high school, is majoring in biology and made the Assumption student-athlete honor roll his first two semesters.