March 25, 2017

Saturday Stars: Ferguson’s 3 early risers

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

REGINA — A running back ran as a receiver and one pass-catcher might have separated himself from the pack.

There’s plenty to take away from the final day of the CFL Combine presented by adidas, from Johnny Augustine’s route-running to Danny Vandervoort’s dominance in the one-on-one drills.

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That’s not even to mention the morning tests, including the 40-yard dash, the 3-cone drill and the short shuttle.

With two days’ worth of testing in the books, CFL.ca’s Marshall Ferguson gives us his Saturday stars:

1. Johnny Augustine
RB | Guelph

While no one has doubted the Guelph running back’s physical attributes, Johnny Augustine needed to show something in the one-on-ones on Saturday and he did — so much that he was asked to come back out and run with the receivers.

“He basically planted Jordan Herdman on the one rep,” said Ferguson. “You like to see when a guy who looks like Augustine — and measures like Augustine — plays in a way that matches his physicality on paper.

“I thought he did that and much more. I was surprised by how smooth his route running was.”

Augustine Day 2 Results

Height-Weight 40 3-Cone Shuttle
5-8, 202 pounds 4.77 7.34 4.40

2. Adam Laurensse
DB | Calgary

Arthur Ward/CFL.ca

A strong day in one-on-one coverage boosted Adam Laurensse’s stock on Saturday (Arthur Ward/CFL.ca)

The last few days have been good to Calgary defensive back Adam Laurensse, who earned his way to the national spotlight through the Western Regional Combine.

Laurensse might still face difficult odds but he turned some heads on Saturday.

“He’s undersized, he’ll have challenges in special teams at the next level but he ran a top-end 40 and had one of the three best man-to-man coverages of the entire combine,” said Ferguson.

“I’m not sure what his fit is because he’s not going to be a free safety so it will take the right team to find him a home.”

Laurensse Day 2 Results

Height-Weight 40 3-Cone Shuttle
6-foot, 187 pounds *4.75 *7.28 *4.22

*Indicates regional combine result

3. Danny Vandervoort
WR | McMaster

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

Danny Vandervoort looks in a pass during drills on Saturday in Regina (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Danny Vandervoort didn’t test off the charts but when the lights came on, the McMaster pass-catcher seized the opportunity.

“Danny did what Danny does,” said Ferguson. “He complemented all of his athletic tests with exactly what I thought I’d see from him on the field: Smooth route-running, exceptional top-end speed, strong hands and a competitive nature in special teams drills that I don’t think a lot of people will know about until he makes a roster.”

With Vandervoort and Behar jockeying for position as the draft’s top receiving prospects, Ferguson says Vandervoort may have the edge.

“They’re 1-A, 1-B and I have Vandervoort as 1-A because every time I want to give Vandervoort the upper hand, whether on special teams or personality or athletic ability or hands, you find yourself realizing that Behar has the exact same skill-set and is equally elite at what he does.”

Vandervoort Day 2 Results

Height-Weight 40 3-Cone Shuttle
6-1, 203 pounds 4.73 7.20 4.35