The Canadian QB Thread

[rdavies]

Regina-born QB leads West Florida to impressive season
3Down Staff 3downnation.com December 18, 2017

Regina is more than 3,300 kilometres away from the University of West Florida but despite the distance, there is a football connection.

Quarterback Mike Beaudry was born in the Queen City and moved to Orlando as a child (11 years old). He stood out in high school football in Florida and became the first player to sign with West Florida.

Beaudry broke his left fibula during spring practice in 2016 which caused him to miss the program’s inaugural season, but he returned in 2017 to assume the starting quarterback role. As a redshirt freshman, Beaudry started 14 games throwing for 3,215 yards, 29 touchdowns against 13 interceptions with a 55 per cent completion rate. He led the Argos to an 11-4 record and the NCAA Division II National Championship game, which the team lost.

Regardless the future seems bright for Beaudry. The six-foot-five, 240-pound QB has prototypical quarterback size. Beaudry is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.

Prairie roots are close to his heart, he keeps track of the Riders, watches their games on ESPN and counts himself as a Brandon Bridge supporter.

[OV Argo]

Laval's QB Hugo Richard - great passing stats, good size & mobile; led his team to 2 straight National title games = should be some sort of measuring stick to see if CFL G ... er, decision makers, have any real interest in giving Canadian QBs a shot to compete for roster spots. Will he be drafted or even get a FA invite to compete?

There's some other good young Canadian QBs as potential CFL QB prospects for down the road : Michael O'Connor (UBC - already won a Vanier, recruited to Div I Penn State); Chris Merchant (won a Vanier this season; also formerly on a US college ball team; size, arm & mobility); and Nathan Rourke - starting at Div I Ohio and led them to wins, plus put up good stats - especially as a running QB.

Proof is in the pudding. CFL thinkers can show they are open to Canadian QBs getting a real look for a change - by drafting or singing some of these young Canuck QBs for a real shot - and not handing them roster spots for the sake of flag-waving - but just honest shots to compete in a CFL TC with teams in need of QB competition (think for example, Montreal or Winnipeg or Ottawa or Edmonton now - who do they have as 2nd thru 3rd stringers or even a 4th QB for TC?).

CFL talking heads like Sunderland can yak all they want with platitudes. Show me some real proof. And Sunderland might have grasped and pointed out that his RedBlacks CFL GC winning team was actually starting/playing more like 10 to 12 Nationals when it counted in that GC season - in the play-offs and the GC. Ottawa reverted to standard 7 only need apply CFL form last season - and got smoked in the play-off game.

[rdavies]

Old article but inspiring

Canadian QB wants shot in the CFL
Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun April 27, 2014

Myles Gibbon doesn't know if he'll be the quarterback who changes the way things work in the CFL.

But as a Canadian quarterback in a league that for a long time has used Americans at the position, he would like nothing better than to get a shot.

Gibbon, who starred at York University, was on hand for the Ottawa RedBlacks open tryout camp on Sunday.

“I'd love to play football,” he said. “That's why I came out today, hopefully get a chance to throw in front of some coaches and impress them. I'm going to give it all I can. If not, I plan on coaching quarterbacks. I'll make sure the guy I'm coaching is able to play with these kids. Eventually there'll be Canadian quarterbacks in the CFL. If it doesn't start with me, it'll start with someone.”