Chris O'Leary
EdmontonJournal.com

EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Eskimos like Hugh Charles for his versatility.

A running back with good hands and the ability to return kicks, he was shipped from the Saskatchewan Roughriders to the Eskimos last Wednesday at the Canadian Football League’s trade deadline in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2014.

The Eskimos may have got more than they anticipated in the 25-year-old from Dallas.

In addition to his jack-of-all-trades abilities on the field, Charles is a natural athlete who learned to backflip — a manoeuver he saves for touchdown celebrations — as a child in gymnastics. As a teenager, he got his pilot’s licence.

“When I was 16, I got my civil licence,” said Charles, who was getting settled in his new locker-room on Monday. “But I was in football in high school and then getting ready for college. I couldn’t fly enough hours to get my pilot’s licence. I was a civil pilot for a year and then it expired. It’s something I may look at as a Plan B when I’m done.”

Still a pup as a professional athlete, Charles shouldn’t have to turn to a Plan B until later in life. For now, the five-foot-eight, 190-pounder is concentrating on his future with the Eskimos. That’s a future that includes a post-season — something he wouldn’t be enjoying if he had remained with the Riders.

“The guys in Saskatchewan got upset, you know, that I got traded to a playoff team, but I’m excited,” Charles said. “It’s another opportunity for me to go out when I get the opportunity to shine.”

To this point in career, Charles hasn’t gotten much of an opportunity to show what he can do. He’d been buried on the depth chart behind running back Wes Cates and handled some kickoff returns for the Roughriders this season. Still, he compiled 242 rushing yards with a touchdown on 38 carries, along with 15 receptions for 94 yards and two TDs, and returned 14 kickoffs for 296 yards.

“I knew my role going in because Wes Cates is a great back and he’s been there for a while and he’s been the favourite go-to guy,” Charles said. “My whole mindset was that I wanted to spell him and get the opportunities that I got and take advantage of them. I want to be the next guy in line and, when I come in here, I plan to do the same thing and hope to get that playing time and make something happen.”

Before anything can happen, though, Charles needs to make an impression on the Eskimos coaching staff. That will start with his first practice with the team on Tuesday. Head coach Kavis Reed told Charles to take his time coming to Edmonton, since the team hadn’t planned on using him in last Saturday’s game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“I’m excited and I think everything will come easy, because the offence is pretty much the same as Saskatchewan, so I’ll pick up from where I left off,” he said.

Reed said he sees Charles getting a lot of playing time once he gets into a game.

“Right now, we‘re looking at him as a guy that brings us a lot of depth, both as a returner and as a running back,” Reed said. “We have to make certain going down the stretch that we have ourselves secured in case of injuries — that’s something we’ve suffered a lot of this year — so he’s one of those guys who are a double threat and that’s the reason why he’s on this team.”

In his four years with the Riders, Charles had the best seat in the house for two runs to the Grey Cup game. This year, he’d like to help his new team reach the final game of the season.

“I think it could be great, going into the playoffs and making that Grey Cup run,” he said. “I’ve been in two Grey Cups and haven’t won a ring yet. I haven’t played yet, so hopefully I’ll be able to play in the playoffs and play in the Grey Cup.”

Courtesy: www.edmontonjournal.com