Highly touted Canadian QB Jonathan Senecal spurns UConn for University of Montreal

The top rated Canadian quarterback in the 2020 class, Jonathan Senecal has decided to stay at home for his university football career.

Senecal signed his letter of intent to play for the University of Connecticut on full scholarship in December 2019, however, the Huskies called off their 2020 football season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 20-year-old Senecal enrolled early at UConn in January and had been on campus with the Huskies recently preparing for games until all were cancelled. That changed Senecal’s mind and led to him deciding to play at his hometown school, the University of Montreal.

“The pandemic and the cancellation of the season by the Huskies team made me think, the context is not at all the same as when I announced my decision. It made less sense for me to study off campus and not have the experience of playing football in the United States. After some thought, I felt it was better to come back to my family,” Senecal said.

“I am very happy to join a leading team, in which I have always had a great interest and which brings together several players that I know well. I have seen several players develop with the Carabins over the years and they offer me an environment where I can flourish, without forgetting that I can count on the advice of Anthony Calvillo.”

The six-foot, 195-pound Senecal played for Andre-Grasset CEGEP college and led the Phenix to its first Division I Bol d’Or championship in program history. In only 19 games with Andre-Grasset, Senecal completed 63 percent of his passes for 5,976 passing yards, and 59 touchdown passes, a CEGEP record-tying total.

Senecal was named CEGEP Rookie of the Year in 2017 and CEGEP MVP in 2018. His 3,116 passing yards in 2017 remain a CEGEP circuit record. The 2019 season ended abruptly in the first game, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee.

By all accounts Senecal is healthy and could be ready to take the field is the Quebec Conference is able to find a way to play games.