Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — Football always surrounded CFL Draft prospect Mercer Timmis, but just not any football — Canadian football.
The CFL is in his bloodlines and his childhood after growing up watching Ticats games at old Ivor Wynne Stadium and learning about his great grandfather Brian, a Hall of Fame player in the 1930s and eventually a Grey Cup-winning coach.
For a kid who’s long dreamed of playing in the CFL, it’s safe to say May 10 will be a pretty big day. Timmis describes his love of the game in the final prospect profile, which has highlighted some of the country’s top amateur talent heading into the draft:
“Football’s kind of always been in my history,” said Timmis, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound running back from the Calgary Dinos. “My great grandfather Brian Timmis played for Hamilton and coached for Hamilton and won four Grey Cups with them.
“He was first class for the Hall of Fame, we always went to games at Ivor Wynne and just the whole experience with Steeltown – it’s great.”
Timmis is the top running back on the board entering the draft, a speedy back who rushed for 666 yards in six games for the Dinos in 2015 to go with 10 touchdowns. The Burlington, Ont. native started his high school career in his hometown but transferred to Canisius in the states after two years, living with a host family in Buffalo for the next two years and competing against rival St. Joseph’s.
After high school he headed back north for the chance to continue playing on the offensive side of the ball, where he had played his entire life.
“A lot of schools down in the states wanted me to play defence, but I love running back,” said Timmis. “I love offence – that’s kind of been my passion since I was a little kid.
“I kind of just started out as a running back, they just kind of put the ball in my hands and said ‘you’re the fastest kid, so just run’.”
Timmis remains a highly-touted prospect in this month’s draft despite falling from seventh to 13th in the CFL Scouting Bureau. Now all that’s left to do is wait.
“I love the CFL and being around football all the time,” said Timmis, reflecting on his young football aspirations. “If I could get a CIS game in on Saturday and I could get a CFL game in somewhere — watch Darren Flutie play for Hamilton — it was great.
“Growing up, football just always surrounded me, it’s always been part of my life,” he added. “I’m excited to show what I have on the field and leave it all out there.”
The CFL Draft will take place on May 10 at 7 p.m. ET. Click here for broadcast information and full draft order.
