University of Ottawa
TORONTO — Testing season kicks off Wednesday as 50 prospects take to the field in Montreal at the Eastern Regional Combine.
It’s the start of an important month in the Canadian Football League off-season, as Canada’s football future takes the spotlight and young athletes look to prove their worth ahead of the 2018 CFL Draft.
At the first of four combines, including three regional combines and then the CFL Scouting Combine presented by adidas from March 24-25, prospects will look to prove their worth and ultimately earn an invite to Winnipeg later in March.
With that, we look at five names you should know about going into the Eastern Regional Combine:
JEREMY MAGAN-FRANCE
DL | BISHOP’S
At six-foot-two and 260 pounds, Jeremy Magan-France will be looking to put his size and skill on display at the Eastern Regional Combine.
In eight games at Bishop’s in 2017, the defensive lineman tallied 13 unassisted tackles, five assisted tackles, two sacks and five tackles for a loss (sixth in the AUS).
The Rexdale, Ont. native played in eight regular season games in 2016, recording 28 total tackles, including one tackle for a loss, and tallied one forced fumble and two pass breakups.
BRYCE VIEIRA
RB | OTTAWA
Vieria will be looking to showcase his versatility at the Eastern Regional Combine this week (University of Ottawa)
Studying theatre at the University of Ottawa, Bryce Vieira will be looking to bring the drama, and versatility, to his one-on-one drills at the Eastern Regional Combine this Wednesday as he tries to get an invitation to Winnipeg.
In 2017, the running back played in seven games with the Gee Gees rushing 95 times (ninth in the OUA) totaling 460 yards and one touchdown. He also caught 23 passes for 255 yards and one touchdown and returned four punts for 27 yards. The versatile Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. native also played for the East Team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl.
Vieira will be looking to improve on his 2017 East-West Bowl Combine results after he posted 15 reps on the bench press.
DYLAN BELL
DB | ST. FX
Defensive back Dylan Bell is quite the playmaker and look for him to put that on full display at Wednesday’s regional combine. Last season he played in eight regular season games and recorded 37 unassisted tackles (sixth in the AUS) and 21 assisted tackles (eighth in the AUS).
Including his tackle total last season, the five-foot-11, 195-pounder had his best statistical season, adding one forced fumble, one fumble return and two interceptions. In 30 career games, the Brockville, Ont. native has collected 106.5 total tackles, four forced fumbles, two fumble returns and eight interceptions.
Bell was also a part of the team that won back-to-back AUS Championships in 2015 and 2016.
GUILLAUME PAQUET
REC | MONTREAL
If you’re looking for a dynamic receiver to track on Wednesday, look no further than Guillaume Paquet.
Paquet played in just five regular season games in 2017 and still caught 26 passes for 371 yards (10th in the RSEQ) and three touchdowns (first in the RSEQ). He also rushed six times for 58 yards and one touchdown and returned two kicks for 46 yards and two punts for four yards. That performance helped the five-foot-11, 190-pound receiver to be named a RSEQ All-Star for the second year in a row and a U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadian.
In 2015, the Montreal, Que. native was part of the team that won the Dunsmore Cup (RSEQ Championship) and the Mitchell Bowl.
NOLAN MCGREER
OL | CARLETON
Offensive lineman Nolan McGreer will be one to watch on Wednesday as the law student looks to get an invite to the national combine in Winnipeg.
McGreer played for the East team in the East-West Bowl in 2017 as well as playing in, and starting, eight regular season games at offensive tackle. The six-foot-four, 280-pounder was named an OUA First-Team All-Star as well.
The Kingston, Ont. native played in eight regular season games at tackle in both 2016 and 2015. He only suited up in three regular season games in 2014 with one start at guard and one at tackle after missing five games with an injury.
