Johany Jutras/CFL
CFL.ca Staff
#CFLCombine
MONTREAL — Mere moments after being named one of five Montreal Regional Combine participants to earn an invitation to the National showcase in Toronto this weekend, Sherbrooke receiver Francis Lapointe had an announcement to make.
“Looking back on my last two seasons, I did really great. I was also good at the East-West Bowl, and I felt like I was snubbed (about not getting an invitation to the National Combine in Toronto), so I’m glad to get there,” he said.
And with that, the 2014 CFL Combine presented by Reebok has it’s biggest underdog story.
Hailing from the snowy mountains of Mont-Tremblant, QC. Lapointe is admittedly entering the weekend with a massive chip on his shoulder.
“Absolutely,” he said confidently to CFL.ca.
“I feel like I’ve been overlooked, so that being said, if you feel like you’ve been overlooked, you’ll go there and try to show everybody that you deserve to be there,” he added.
“I’m not going there to be the kid that was invited at the last second, I’m going to go there and be big time.”
While his 2013 numbers aren’t overly impressive – 30 receptions for 291 yards and two touchdowns – his Combine tests results prove that he’ll be one to watch when the main event kicks off this Friday.
The kinesiology major registered a 4.70 in the 40-yard dash – the best time of the day – and also had the highest vertical among all receivers, tallying a leap of 34 inches.
If his numbers alone aren’t enough to convince you, then his confidence surely will. The five-foot-11 speedster says the pressure of the bright lights of the National Combine aren’t remotely close to a concern of his.
“Most of the guys who get to the Combine get drafted, so whether it’s the first round, third round or the fifth round, the main goal is the play in the CFL and wherever I go, I’ll be happy,” he said.
With only two days before he makes his way to Toronto for the Big Show, Lapointe is looking forward to spending the next 48 hours off his feet.
“Rest, rest, eat a lot of pasta, and more rest,” he said with a smile.
Lapointe will be joined by three other RSEQ members in Laval running back Guillaume G. Bourassa, Montreal’s Alexandre Dupuis, Concordia’s Travis Bent, as well as Saint Mary’s defensive lineman Nigel Romick out of the AUS Conference.
Like Lapointe, Bourassa is excited for the opportunity.
“It feels great man, I came here and was pumped up and I showed some people that I was able to run the ball,” he said.
Dupuis, a bruising 6-foot-4, 245-pounder, was also hard-pressed to contain his excitement.
“It feels really good, I’m happy with it.” he said.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m really happy to be going.”
