Two USports players selected to prestigious U.S. university all-star game
Justin Dunk 3downnation.com November 24, 2017

Two Canadian university football players will get a chance to show their skills in front of pro scouts at an American all-star event.

University of Alberta offensive lineman Mark Korte and University of Montreal receiver Regis Cibasu have been selected to the East-West Shrine Game, the oldest college football all-star showcase in the United States. It features a week of practices in front of NFL and CFL coaches and talent evaluators followed by a game broadcast on NFL Network on Jan. 20.

The Shrine Game has served as an NFL launching point for Canadian players such as tight end Antony Auclair (Bucs), offensive lineman Geoff Gray (Jets), defensive lineman David Onyemata (Saints) and offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (Chiefs) in recent years.

Korte was the Canada West conference Most Outstanding Lineman in 2017. The Spruce Grove, Alberta native was an integral part of the Golden Bears offensive line that paved the way for running back Ed Ilnicki to set a new conference single-season rushing record with 1,468 yards.

Alberta head coach Chris Morris, who won three Grey Cups as a player with the Edmonton Eskimos (1992-2005), describes Korte as an “old school” offensive lineman. He is very athletic and should be able to compete well south of the border.

Cibasu burst on to the USports scene as a freshman with 90 receiving yards in Montreal’s 2014 Vanier Cup victory and earned game MVP honours for his effort. Since then Montreal’s talented receiver has developed further and added more muscle to his already impressive frame. Carabins head coach Danny Maciocia said from day one when Cibasu stepped on campus that he could have a chance to play in the NFL if full potential is reached. Physically, Cibasu already has a pro body – one NFL scout believes he has the size – and possesses natural ball skills and run-after-the-catch ability.

Montreal’s offence is more about ball control and limiting turnovers so there weren’t many passes being thrown around. Cibasu had 27 catches for 387 yards and two touchdowns, which included a 99-yarder, in seven games as a senior with the Carabins. Over four years in USports, Cibasu has 145 receptions for 1,797 and seven touchdowns.

The last receiver from the Quebec conference to get a Shrine Game invite was Samuel Giguere in 2008 who spent parts of four seasons with the Colts and Giants before coming north to the CFL where he’s played six seasons.