CIS Roundup

[jerrym]

Below two UBC players, OL Dakota Shepley and WR William Watson, who performed well at the National Combine, discuss how the university helped them develop into top players.

At 6’5 and 290 pounds, Shepley is considered one of the top offensive linemen in what is considered yet another deep draft for the position. Although these evaluations are common practice, the native of Windsor, Ontario admits it is a little bit of a different beast when you’re doing it live in front of the brass from all nine CFL clubs.
“I’m generally a pretty chill guy and don’t let anything get to my head. I just treat it like anything else and don’t stress about it,” Shepley said after running the 40-yard dash and three-cone drill on Saturday. ...


Committing to UBC proved to be a wise choice for the 2017 Canada West All-Star. In his four years at the Point Grey campus, Shepley started all but one game and was a key member of the unit that protected quarterback Michael O’Connor in the Hardy Cup, Uteck Bowl and Vanier Cup journeys that 2015 provided.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my UBC family,” he said.
“It was coach (Sean) Olson who recruited me and Coach (Blake) Nill who developed me into the player that I am now. I had never visited the west coast prior to my recruiting trip. I went out there with my Dad and as soon as I arrived, I knew I wanted to go there based on the academics at the school. The program wasn’t the best then but they had faith in me, I had faith in them and the rest is history after that.”
Shepley made his mark later Saturday evening by winning the bench press competition with 27 reps at 225 pounds. He will look to take that momentum into Sunday afternoon’s one-on-one drills. ...


Watson, a wide receiver and product of Semiahmoo Secondary in South Surrey, has a little bit more to prove after missing all but three games in 2017 due to a nagging groin injury. He is one of three prospects that advanced from Thursday’s Western Regional Combine.
“I performed a bit better there than I have here so far,” Watson explained. "This whole process has just been a great experience, just an awesome time.”
In two previous seasons prior to the injury, Watson racked up over 1,000 yards receiving and had eight touchdowns. He was also a contributor on special teams, returning five kicks for 90 yards. He also acknowledged the combine is best treated as another game situation. Just like when we go play, I try to block out all of the noise,” he added.
“Being able to win at UBC has definitely helped me prepare for this and have some extra competitiveness under my belt. I’ve seen a lot of these guys at the East-West game and of them even throughout playoffs in 2015. I want to elevate my game and make the opponents around me elevate theirs as well.”

https://www.bclions.com/2018/03/24/t...ional-combine/