March 8, 2018

5 players to track at the Ontario Regional Combine

Kyle Rodriguez/University of Guelph

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 2018 CFL Draft.

2018 CFL COMBINE ROSTERS

NATIONAL COMBINE

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

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

ORION EDWARDS
DB | GUELPH

Looking for a dynamic defensive back to track on Friday? Look no further than Guelph’s Orion Edwards.

What Edward’s lacks in size – he’s five-foot-nine and 180 pounds – he makes up for in skill. The Newmarket Ont. native, who is a two-time team MVP, played in eight games last season and recorded 15 unassisted tackles, eight assisted tackles and three pass breakups.

In 2016 he suited up for the West team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl and in 2015 was a part of the team that won the Yates Cup.

Keep an eye on Edwards during the 40-yard dash after he posted a 4.69 second time at the 2016 East-West Bowl Combine.

MITCH O’CONNOR
REC | McMASTER

McMaster receiver Mitch O’Connor will be one to watch on Friday as he goes head-to-head with defensive backs in the one-on-one drills.

The six-foot-two, 195-pound pass catcher played for the West team in the East-West Bowl in 2017 while also suiting up in eight regular season games with the Marauders. O’Connor caught 14 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown.

His breakout season was in 2015 – the year after he and his Marauders won the Yates Cup – where he caught 26 passes for 311 yards.

CHRIS REID
RB | MOUNT ALLISON

Don’t let his small stature confuse you, Mount Allison running back Chris Reid is a big-time playmaker.

The five-foot-six, 180-pounder had an impressive rookie season in 2014. That year, he was named an AUS All-Star, a CIS Second-Team All-Canadian and was named the AUS Rookie of the Year. He rushed 173 times for 987 yards and five touchdowns while also catching 16 passes for 156 yards on the way to helping the Mounties win the Loney Bowl.

Last season, Reid rushed 124 times for 776 yards and five touchdowns while also hauling in six passes for 60 yards. The Brampton, Ont. native was also named an AUS All-Star in 2016 and 2017.

HARRY McMASTER
REC | WESTERN

Harry McMaster had an impressive 2017 campaign as he and his Mustangs won the Yates Cup, Uteck Bowl and the Vanier Cup.

The six-foot-one receiver played in seven regular season games and caught 31 passes for 582 yards and four touchdowns. That performance helped him to be named an OUA Second-Team All-Star.

In 2015 and 2016 combined, McMaster suited up in 16 regular season games and hauled in 50 passes for 771 yards and six touchdowns.

MARVIN GAYNOR
RB | WINDSOR

Another running back on this list, Windsor’s Marvin Gaynor, has the potential to turn heads of scouts and general managers on Friday.

Gaynor, a five-foot-nine, 185-pound Etobicoke, Ont. native, exploded onto the scene in 2017. He rushed 131 times (fourth in the OUA, eighth in U SPORTS) for 935 yards (second in the OUA and fifth in U SPORTS) and four touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 58 yards and a major score.

From 2014-2017, Gaynor only collected 199 rushing yards with 198 of those yards coming in his 2015 season.