Edouard Wanadi

[j-ski]

One of the players I was looking forward to watching in U Sports this year was former Western running back Edouard Wanadi. Unfortunately he was caught using illegal performance enhancing drugs and suspend for 4 years, a sentence
I think was a little too severe (maybe 2 years?). For example Andrew Harris was suspended only for 2 games by the CFL when he was caught. He continues to pursue his football dreams by playing in the Alberta Football League, and was recently named a first team All Star while playing for the Cold Lake Fighter Jets. Here's hoping he stays clean and one day makes his way into the CFL.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=797122385535126&set=pb.100057121164306.-2207520000

[Mocha]

One of the players I was looking forward to watching in U Sports this year was former Western running back Edouard Wanadi. Unfortunately he was caught using illegal performance enhancing drugs and suspend for 4 years, a sentence
I think was a little too severe (maybe 2 years?). For example Andrew Harris was suspended only for 2 games by the CFL when he was caught. He continues to pursue his football dreams by playing in the Alberta Football League, and was recently named a first team All Star while playing for the Cold Lake Fighter Jets. Here's hoping he stays clean and one day makes his way into the CFL.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=797122385535126&set=pb.100057121164306.-2207520000

4 years is indeed harsh, though I get why they want to go harsh.

I see Daryl Leason is also on that all-stars list!

[j-ski]

Yup, I saw Daryl Leason too. Too bad he didn't get a fair CFL shot.

[OV Argo]

Wanadi is a good RB, but don't forget his Western team-mate Keon Edwards (the better RB, IMO) was totally snubbed last CFL draft (after running a 5 second 40 at the CFL Combine) - so outstanding production in lower levels of Canadian football is often meaningless to the GOB "scouts".

Believe I saw ex- Hec wining QB Jordan Heather's name on a Senior Ontario team's stat sheet; ex U Sports starting QBs like Kaleb Scott (SMU), Brett Hunchak, Tanner DeJong (Carleton) have been playing in the European pro leagues (as Chris Merchant was till he retired from injuries (?); so, Canadian Senior ball or European pro leagues are where Canadian trained QBs have to go if they want a chance to play after college ball.

Good for these guys still playing the game they love - even just for fun - how old is Leason now - he played in that 2000 Vanier vs. Ottawa ?

[gilthethrill]

OV I see Edwards was 8-128 yards on Saturday vs York in a 83-0 Western victory ruining former Argo 1st Round Pick Brian Jones debut as “Co Associate HC” of the Lions. Is that performance indicative of his talent? What can he do against real competition?
What an embarrassment for CIS football.

[OV Argo]

OV I see Edwards was 8-128 yards on Saturday vs York in a 83-0 Western victory ruining former Argo 1st Round Pick Brian Jones debut as “Co Associate HC” of the Lions. Is that performance indicative of his talent? What can he do against real competition?
What an embarrassment for CIS football.


Edwards is close to un-stoppable against average defences in U Sport ball; and sure Western usually has the big, strong O-Line and go with lots of run, but Edwards is a special talent IMO - better than many star Mustang RBs of the past - he is just a combo of power, vision, balance and despite his 5 second forty speed he breaks many big gainers; Laval did shut-him down - somewhat - in last year's National Semi, but he still had over 100 yards in the first half till Marshall panicked and abandoned the run heavy attack.

York obviously have both coaching smarts AND on field talent issues to get slaughtered like that. Sad to see, but maybe they can at least improve some as the season goes on. A young coaching staff might take lots of time to put some things together and if they can't recruit some good player talent ( they did get Andre Durie, Ricky Foley not that long ago?) then it will be real tough.

Slaughters like that happen some in US college ball BTW; last year's National Title game was a joke of a slaughter, and maybe some thought of it as an embarrassment for US college ball.

[Mocha]

York obviously have both coaching smarts AND on field talent issues to get slaughtered like that. Sad to see, but maybe they can at least improve some as the season goes on. A young coaching staff might take lots of time to put some things together and if they can't recruit some good player talent ( they did get Andre Durie, Ricky Foley not that long ago?) then it will be real tough.


York also had this guy not too long ago, and he's doing pretty well for himself in the CFL:

https://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Luther-Hakanavanhu-c-282x300.png

https://www.cfl.ca/players/luther-hakunavanhu/166278/

[OV Argo]

York also had this guy not too long ago, and he's doing pretty well for himself in the CFL:

https://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Luther-Hakanavanhu-c-282x300.png

https://www.cfl.ca/players/luther-hakunavanhu/166278/


Yeah, he has flashed some real big play ability (couple of drops, but a number of more targeted veteran American receivers seem to be forgiven of that) - love to see what he could do targeted 5 to 7 times a game; him plus Philpot & Clark Barnes give the Stumps some very promising, young Canadian receiver talent.

[Mocha]

Wanadi is set to play in the national champsionship game tonight, between the Ontario champion GTA All-Stars and the Alberta champion Cold Lake Figther Jets. Wanadi plays for Cold Lake. There's supposed to be a youtube stream of the game on the AFL Youtube channel. Kickoff is at 8 PM EDT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pio9_eQfN6w