2019 CFL Combine

[jerrym]

With CFL Combines starting next week, Marshall Ferguson takes a look at some of the top prospects below.

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/03/07/fergus...ombine-season/

[doubleblue]

There are suppose to be about 16 European League players coming to the combine. A lot of unknown's at least publicly how teams will select any of these players. A special draft or be included in the CFL Canadian draft? I presume any European player would be classed as an International because Montreal kicker Boris Bede from France is listed as an International. Long odds competing for 23 spots against all the American players with NFL experience.
But how does Randy get Europe and Mexico watching CFL games unless there are some players from those areas on CFL teams?

[gilthethrill]

There are suppose to be about 16 European League players coming to the combine. A lot of unknown's at least publicly how teams will select any of these players. A special draft or be included in the CFL Canadian draft? I presume any European player would be classed as an International because Montreal kicker Boris Bede from France is listed as an International. Long odds competing for 23 spots against all the American players with NFL experience.
But how does Randy get Europe and Mexico watching CFL games unless there are some players from those areas on CFL teams?

If football fans from these other countries see that their best players don't make it onto to CFL rosters, it would show them that this Canadian league must have high quality players much like the NFL and peak their interest.

[gilthethrill]

https://www.americanfootballinternat...eague-combine/

[jerrym]

The German Football Federation will be sending six players to the CFL Combines.

https://www.americanfootballinternat...l-cfl-combine/

[OV Argo]

If football fans from these other countries see that their best players don't make it onto to CFL rosters, it would show them that this Canadian league must have high quality players much like the NFL and peak their interest.

I guess / maybe? - Don't know till you try; but this is real pie in the sky, big reach thinking to me. What - the CFL is going to get a better $ TV contract and sell more merchandise because a few hundred fans in Europe or Mexico suddenly care about the league ?

We'll see with the new CBA maybe; but the more I think about this, part of Randy's incredible, visionary 2.0 pla thinking here is to maybe help serve to soften the blow (to those who care) when the new CBA ushers in roster changes that sees less Canadian content and more American content for the CFL; it what a typical GOB & BOG would want and be asking for. So Randy can say: "well, there is less opportunity for Canadian talent to play in the big pro league in their own country, but hey, maybe they can go play some American football in Mexico or Europe - be quite the experience to "develop". see another country and maybe earn minimum wage Euros or Pesos. Mark my words here. Hope I am wrong though, but less Canadian players in favor of more American ones a CFL way now.

[jerrym]

Here are the results from the Western Regional Combine.

https://www.cfl.ca/combine/2019-cfl-...ional-combine/

[jerrym]

Here's an update on which European players are coming to the CFL Combines.

At least 16 European players will attend the Canadian Football League’s new-look combine later this month in Toronto. Confirmed so far are six German players and four each from France and Finland. There will also be either two or three from Denmark. ...

Included in most of those agreements was a provision for federations in each country to nominate players for the CFL combine. It is not known whether players from Austria, Norway or Sweden will attend. The CFL already held a combine and draft for Mexican players in January.

Included among the European players set to arrive in Toronto for the March 22-24 event is just one quarterback, 26-year-old Sonny Weishaupt of Germany. He plays for the Grenoble Centaures in France.

Two of the four French players invited to the combine already attend university in Canada. Running back Asnnel Robo is at the University of Montreal, and linebacker Maxime Rouyer is with McGill.

Thirty-eight national players received direct invitations to the CFL combine. Players who impress scouts at regional combines held in Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto between Monday and March 21 will earn their way into the big event.

https://torontosun.com/sports/footba...g-labour-talks

[jerrym]

Three players at the Western Regional have been selected to attend the National Combine: WR Shai Ross and DL Tariq Lachance from the University of Manitoba, and University of Calgary RB Jeshrun Antwi.

Ross ran a 4.65 40-yard dash, second best among all invitees, 4.17 shuttle, 6.87 three-cone, recorded a 37.5-inch vertical, 11-foot, three-inch broad jump – all first in the respective testing categories. He had 29 catches for 389 yards and four touchdowns last season for the Bisons.

Antwi ran a 4.90 40-yard dash, 4.22 shuttle, 7.19 three-cone, recorded a 30.5-inch vertical, nine-foot, seven-and-one-quarter-inch broad jump with 16 reps of 225 pounds on the bench. In five games with the Dinos, Antwi rushed 42 times for 360 yards and three touchdowns during the 2018 year.


LaChance checked in at six-foot-two, 260 pounds, ran a 5.08 40-yard dash, 4.66 shuttle, 7.72 three-cone, recorded a 30-inch vertical, nine-foot, nine-and-three-quarter-inch broad jump.

https://3downnation.com/2019/03/11/three-usports-prospects-earn-trip-to-national-cfl-combine/

[OV Argo]

Three players at the Western Regional have been selected to attend the National Combine: WR Shai Ross and DL Tariq Lachance from the University of Manitoba, and University of Calgary RB Jeshrun Antwi.

[/FONT][/COLOR]https://3downnation.com/2019/03/11/three-usports-prospects-earn-trip-to-national-cfl-combine/

[/FONT][/COLOR]

Ross and Antwi were pretty accomplished players in U Sports ball; OTOH - little to find in stats to suggest LaChance did much of anything in actually playing for the Bisons (but maybe i am wrong or missing something there?) - might be an example of some CFL scouts liking something about the kid - "athleticism" ? - but at 260 he's a bit light for a CFL DT - unless he was super strong with some eye popping testing #s (which he just does not have) - or maybe he's a DE? Maybe a good ole special teams "project" ?

[jerrym]

Here are the results from the Eastern Regional Combine:

https://www.cfl.ca/combine/2019-cfl-...ional-combine/

[jerrym]

Five players from the Eastern Regional Combine are heading to the National Combine.

After breaking two combine records, Carleton University defensive back Jacob Dearborn was one of five players added to the roster for the CFL National Combine presented by New Era.
Dearborn set an all-time combine record at his position on Wednesday at the Eastern Regional Combine with an 11-foot, one-inch broad jump, while his 41-inch vertical was the highest ever by a defensive back at a regional combine, setting him apart from the rest of the competition. ...

Montreal’s Scitec Dome hosted the second of three regional combines, with Dearborn joining Carleton offensive lineman Daniel Omara, St. Francis Xavier linebacker Gordon Whyte, and Montreal defensive backs Kerfalla-Emmanuel Exume and Jean-Sebastien Belisle as players selected to go to Toronto.

The national showcase will take place March 22-24, as prospects look to impress the scouts before the 2019 CFL Draft on May 2. All 35 of Wednesday’s participants are draft eligible.

One of the biggest players at Wednesday’s regional, Carleton O-lineman Omara has booked his ticket to national after a strong performance in the one-on-ones. The 6-foot-5, 324-pound blocker also had 15 reps on the bench press. ...

Like the offensive linemen, the linebackers were also outnumbered throughout the day, but Whyte took advantage of the additional reps, impressing the scouts during individual drills. The St. Francis Xavier product had 11 reps on the bench press and led all linebackers with a 7.84 in the three-cone drill.

Kerfalla-Emmanuel showed his speed and explosiveness in the testing portion of the day, ranking top-five in both the 40-yard dash (4.78) and three-cone drill (7.34). His Montreal teammate, Belisle, will join him in Toronto after running a 4.79 in the 40.

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/03/13/dearbo...d-setting-day/

[Wobbler]

18 extra players at the combine seems like a pretty big jump. I hope that the league and teams are prepared for the extra work.

[jerrym]

Here is the CFL Combine broadcast schedule.

Featuring play-by-play commentary from resident CFL.ca Combine guru Marshall Ferguson, the weekend broadcast will bring fans into the Combine experience with analysis, sideline access with up-to-the minute reports and interviews with some of the league’s most prominent football minds. Ferguson will be joined by CFL.ca analyst and former all-star defensive back Davis Sanchez as well as CFL.ca host Brodie Lawson who will take fans through a weekend full of drills and testing as prospects showcase their skills for CFL squads.

LIVE PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE FOR CFL COMBINE PRESENTED BY NEW ERA
EVENT	DATE	TIME	HOW TO WATCH
Bench Press	Saturday, March 23	11:30am ET	WATCH
Individual Player Drills + 1-on-1 Drills (OL, DL)	Sunday, March 24	10:00am ET	WATCH
40-Yard Dash	Sunday, March 24	11:00am ET	WATCH
Individual Player Drills + 1-on-1 Drills (RB, LB, WR, DB, QB)	Sunday, March 24	12:30am ET	WATCH

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/03/15/cfl-ca...-2019-combine/

[doubleblue]

New name has been added to the National Combine List that was not there previously. DB Shamar Busby 6'0 195 out of South West Louisianna from Montreal, QC
Looks like TE Andre Savard has been added to the no shows.

[OV Argo]

A few more players added from the Onatrio regional.

But some curious MIAs - like 3 time OUA all-star guard Gregoire Bouchard (Western); and athletic (very good set of testing #s) DB Nick Hallett (U of T) - up there amongst OUA leading tacklers a couple of years back - from a DB ! ??? Love to see the Argos be able to get both of these guys in the later rounds if most CFL scouts think little of them. Bouchard could maybe make the roster or even push for a starting spot; Hallett might make a very good safety prospect.

Also - Laurier RB Levondre Gordon - 5th in U Sports rushing - puts up one of the top 40 times and has a couple of explosive jump #s - but doesn't make the cut ??? Maybe they already have their quota of Canadian RBs in such a "thin" Canadian talent pool ?

[doubleblue]

New name has been added to the National Combine List that was not there previously. DB Shamar Busby 6'0 195 out of South West Louisianna from Montreal, QC
Looks like TE Andre Savard has been added to the no shows.

I see where Betts isn't on the list now either. I guess that confirms he or his agent believes he is going to be in the NFL next fall and doesn't want to risk an injury.

[doubleblue]

A few more players added from the Onatrio regional.

But some curious MIAs - like 3 time OUA all-star guard Gregoire Bouchard (Western); and athletic (very good set of testing #s) DB Nick Hallett (U of T) - up there amongst OUA leading tacklers a couple of years back - from a DB ! ??? Love to see the Argos be able to get both of these guys in the later rounds if most CFL scouts think little of them. Bouchard could maybe make the roster or even push for a starting spot; Hallett might make a very good safety prospect.

Also - Laurier RB Levondre Gordon - 5th in U Sports rushing - puts up one of the top 40 times and has a couple of explosive jump #s - but doesn't make the cut ??? Maybe they already have their quota of Canadian RBs in such a "thin" Canadian talent pool ?

These players will still get drafted in the later rounds. 8 round draft is 72 players and then there is that secret draft the teams do afterwards and two free agents are signed. So by my numbers you're looking at about 90 players in camps as non counters. There's only around 50 at the combine.

[jerrym]

Matt Ferguson projects the top prospects below:

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/03/20/compar...p-prospects-2/

[jerrym]

Here's a preview of the combine in terms of the schedule, roster of players, global players, last minute invites, first overall pick and Canadian QB hopefuls.

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/03/22/previe...uting-combine/