Two of the main anchors of the Abbotsford Panthers’ strong offensive and defensive lines over the past few years will again be joining forces at the University of British Columbia.
Linemen Keon Glickman and Luke Pearson officially signed on the dotted line to join the UBC Thunderbirds football program inside a packed Abbotsford Senior Secondary School foyer on Thursday morning.
The towering duo graduate ASSS later this year and will suit up with the Thunderbirds in the fall.
Glickman, listed at 6’ 3” and 330 pounds, was an AAA Eastern Conference offensive line all-star in 2019. Pearson, 6’ 3” and 245 pounds, was named an AAA Eastern Conference defensive line all-star in 2019. The pair played on both sides of the ball for the Panthers.
Pearson was fourth on the Panthers in tackles, recording 29 to go, along with three sacks and one fumble recovery in seven games in 2019. Glickman collected four tackles and scored one defensive touchdown this past season.
The pair were also instrumental in the Panthers’ excellent 5-2 record in 2019 and provided significant blocking for Panthers running back Jalem Catlin, who picked up over 1,300 yards rushing during the regular season and was named the Eastern Conference’s offensive most valuable player. Glickman was also a rookie on the 2017 Panthers squad that fell in the AA provincial final to the Windsor Dukes.
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The Thunderbirds are coming off a 2019 Canada West season that saw the club finish 2-6 and place last in the conference.
UBC’s schedule for 2020 has not yet been released, but it’s likely that the season will begin in late August and conclude in October.
The two signings make it three local football talents moving on to university football, as Bateman’s Phoenix Moller signed with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Feb. 1.