March 13, 2017

5 players to track at the Ontario Regional Combine

Rick Zazulak (McMaster University)

TORONTO — A busy month of testing continues on Friday in Toronto as 41 prospects take the field at the Ontario Regional Combine.

Draft-eligible prospects will participate in four combines across the country this month to prove their worth in hopes of eventually getting drafted in the May 7 CFL Draft.

2017 CFL COMBINE ROSTERS

> NATIONAL COMBINE

EASTERN REGIONAL (MTL)
ONTARIO REGIONAL (TOR)
WESTERN REGIONAL (SSK)

A week ago, five prospects at the Montreal Regional Combine earned invites to the CFL Combine presented by adidas from March 23-25. Who will join them?

We look at five players you should have on your radar heading into Friday:

JESSE MCNAIR
DB | WESTERN

Brandon VandeCaveye/University of Windsor

Jesse McNair picked up first team OUA and CIS All-Star honours after a stellar 2015 season (Brandon VandeCaveye/University of Windsor)

Jesse McNair first made waves in 2013 in his first season with the Mustangs, playing eight regular season games and starting three of them on his way to earning OUA All-Rookie Team honours.

After missing four games in 2014, the 5-foot-11, 198-pound defensive back enjoyed a career year the following year, picking up OUA First Team All-Star and CIS First Team All-Canadian nods thanks in part to his 39 solo tackles.

Months after leading his team with four pass breakups, McNair turns his attention to the Ontario Regional Combine where he’ll look to earn an invite to the CFL Combine in Regina.

RICHARD GILLESPIE
DB | TORONTO

University of Toronto

Richard Gillespie co-led the OUA with five interceptions in his senior season at Toronto (University of Toronto)

Friday won’t be the first time Richard Gillespie is under the spotlight as the 5-foot-9, 190-pound defensive back took part in the CIS East-West Bowl in 2016 for Team West, registering three tackles and one assisted tackle.

On top of running a 4.65 a year ago, Gillespie put up 16 reps on the bench in a strong showing in front of all the scouts in Montreal.

A volunteer defensive backs coach for the Oshawa Hawkeyes’ senior varsity team, Gillespie co-led the OUA with five interceptions in 2016, recording 29.5 total tackles and three pass break ups along the way.

JAKE HEATHCOTE
LB | MCMASTER

Rick Zazulak (McMaster University)

Jake Heathcote (left) makes one of his 26.5 tackles during a Marauders game in 2016 (Rick Zazulak/McMaster University)

A 6-foot-4, 220-pound linebacker out of Aldergrove, B.C., Jake Heathcote showed toughness and versatility throughout his time at McMaster, playing in all 24 regular season games the last three seasons while racking up 88.5 tackles.

Last year, Heathcote accumulated 26.5 tackles (23 solo, seven assisted) while adding a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.

On Friday, he’ll look to put on display the ability that helped him lead the Marauders with 36.5 tackles and four interceptions (also a team-high) during a stellar 2015 season.

ZAC SAUER
DL | QUEEN’S

Queen's University

Zac Sauer recorded 35.5 tackles during his final season at Queen’s in 2016 (Queen’s University)

No one at Queen’s has recorded more sacks and tackles for loss over the last two years than Zac Sauer, who’s disrupted opposing offences to the tune of nine sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss over that span.

The Ayr, Ont. native checks in at 6-foot-3, 236 pounds and has been a constant force during his time in Kingston, recording 35.5 tackles this past season — impressive for a defensive lineman — along with 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for a loss.

Sauer also participated in the CIS East-West Bowl a year ago, where he recorded a sack and hit 18 reps on the bench.

JORDAN HOOVER
DB | WATERLOO

University of Waterloo

Jordan Hoover, a 6-foot-2 defensive back out of Waterloo, has proven to have a nose for the football (University of Waterloo)

A 6-foot-2 defensive back out of the University of Waterloo, Jordan Hoover intrigued the scouts enough to earn an invite to the CIS East-West Bowl for Team West last year. There, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. native recorded a 4.69 40-time while notching 3.5 tackles in the game.

Hoover has played all eight regular season games for his team in each of the last three seasons, breaking out in 2014, his sophomore season, with 39 tackles (32 solo, 14 assisted) and an interception to go with three pass breakups.

In 2015, Hoover led his team with five interceptions, while last season the 2017 draft prospect finished second on the team with 44 tackles, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble and an interception — not to mention six catches for 157 yards on offence.

Hoover appears to have a nose for the football, something he’ll look to show on Friday in Toronto.