Johany Jutras/CFL
CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO — Byron Archambault (17) was a topic of discussion entering the 2015 National Combine, and on Saturday he justified the hype.
After expressing desire to break the all-time record of 47 entering the week, the Montreal Carabins linebacker put up 41 reps on the bench press, setting an all-time record among linebackers and putting him second all-time to offensive lineman Michael Knill (2011).
His efforts captured the excitement of a busy Day 2 of the CFL National Combine in Toronto, one that kicked off a series of tests including the bench press, broad jump and vertical jump.
“I’m happy considering you’re under the spotlight to perform, so I think I showed the coaches that I’m able to perform under the spotlight,” said Archambault. “Personally this isn’t my personal best, so for me I was disappointed I wasn’t able to put up 45 reps.”
“Overall it’s a good start for the weekend.”
While Archambault swept headlines early, defensive backs Chris Ackie and Tevaughn Campbell raised a storm in the afternoon, finishing one and two respectively in both the broad and vertical jumps.
Ackie’s 40-inch vertical cleared the competition with relative ease, while he also had the furthest broad jump by nearly two inches with a 10’11.50″ leap. Equally touted as an athlete, Campbell placed second with a 38.5″ vertical and a 10’9.75″ broad jump.
CFL Combine Insider Justin Dunk says all three improved their stock on Saturday, but scouts and GMs will still want to see more.
“For Ackie, you knew the guy was athletic but you wanted to see him come out and do it,” says Dunk. “Jumping 40 inches, you see that explosiveness.”
“In the broad jump this guy is CFL-ready,” he continues. “Some teams are looking at him as a linebacker and some as a DB – maybe he can play both in the CFL and be kind of a tweener guy.
“Ackie’s no doubt a great athlete.”
While Ackie projects as either a defensive back or linebacker, Campbell’s versatility also puts his position up in the air. Campbell was one of Dunk’s top picks for this weekend’s ‘testing monsters’, and the combine analyst expects a big Sunday from the Regina alum.
“Tevaughn Campbell, I knew he was going to be a freak,” says Dunk. “I have him in my testing monsters, and he’s going to go out and run fast tomorrow and it just looks like he has such an easy athleticism.”
“Translating that to the CFL, teams aren’t sure what Tevaughn is. Can he come in to play corner? Does he need to get a little bigger? Or does he have the football sense to play safety?” asks Dunk.
“That will be determined on Sunday.”
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