The Coventry Jets are potentially about to reap the benefits of the Academy that they established in 2009 under the guidance of Dave Cowen. The 2012 season will see the first fully-fledged batch of graduates from the club’s Junior set up and none are likely to have a greater impact than quarterback Joe Brammer. The 19 year old Texan has started for the Juniors in each of the past two seasons and is now primed to step into the role for the Seniors.
Born in Birmingham, but raised in Houston, Texas from the age of seven, the 3D Modelling and Animation student will step under centre in place of Dominic Olney, with the GB wide receiver reverting to his natural position. “I want to win the Division this season” said a confident Brammer “I think that is an essential target for a team with this potential. We have strength and coaching in every position and I think that we can return to the playoffs this year. I fully expect my team mates to have the same goals as myself and I anticipate that few teams will look forward to playing us.”
“Joe’s a fantastic competitor” stated Head Coach Paul Rickhuss, “he’s very confident in his own ability and inspires those around him which is no mean feat for a man of his age. I’ve got a lot of faith in Joe and feel he’s the right person to lead this team on the field. He’s still young of course but he’s already got a lot of experience and has a few old heads around him to help him out. His decision making is very good, he knows when to tuck the ball in and break the pocket, he’s very physical for a quarterback and will lead by example.”
Brammer has spent the winter leading his University team, the Derby Braves, to a respectable 4-4 record in the tough Midland Athletic Conference of the British University American Football League. Through eight games Brammer compiled an impressive 1,500 yards passing with just four interceptions. The 2011 Offensive MVP for the Juniors, Brammer puts much of his recent success down to his time in the Jets’ Academy system.
“I think the Jets are one of the UK's best American Football clubs” he said, adding “the Jets’ name is known around Europe as a team who are successful. We’ve spent recent months trying to revive that name and what it stands for, hopefully this season we’ll do that.” Apart from representing the Jets and Braves Brammer also played in High School with the Klein High Bearkats and the Doerre Junior High Warriors. He moved to Coventry in 2009 and has been with the Jets since then.
Coventry begin their season away to the Nottingham Caesars on the 15th of April and Brammer’s eager to get started, “it’s just over a month until we get going and I can’t wait to show the league what we have. The Olympics mean that the season’s quite condensed this year so in the meantime we have to make every training session count.” If you’d like to join Brammer and the Jets visit their new website www.covjets.com.