David Moll/University of Calgary
WINNIPEG — The last call has arrived for prospects to punch their ticket to the CFL Scouting Combine presented by adidas, as the Western Regional Combine unfolds in Winnipeg on Thursday.
38 prospects will take the field in front of scouts, coaches and general managers, all with the same goal in mind: to boost their stock ahead of the 2018 CFL Draft.
Thursday’s showing caps off this year’s circuit of three regional combines, which lead into the national combine Saturday and Sunday.
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Saskatchewan’s defensive lineman Tristian Koronkiewicz is among can’t-miss prospects in Winnipeg while Manitoba’s defensive back Jayden McKoy will be one to watch in the one-on-ones after collecting a career 13 interceptions as a member of the Bisons.
Scouts will also keep an eye on Calgary’s Dallas Boath on Thursday, who may be small in stature but makes big-time plays as a member of the Dinos. In 2017, the five-foot-nine, 180-pounder caught eight passes for 142 yards and a touchdown in just a single game and also suited up for the West Team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl.
Last year, 15 players from regional combines were extended an invitation to the CFL Combine, 11 of those being selected in the 2017 CFL Draft. Five of those 11 drafted came from the Western Regional Combine including reciever Julan Lynch, running back Ante Milanovic-Litre, receiver Alex Morrison, defensive back Adam Laurensse and receiver Mitchell Hillis.
Lynch was selected by the Calgary in the second round (17th overall) while Milanovic-Litre was taken in the fourth round (28th overall) by the Stampeders. Morrison was selected in the fourth round (29th overall) by the Montreal Alouettes, Laurensse was taken by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the seventh round (61st overall) and Hillis was selected by the BC Lions in the eighth round (69th overall).
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Testing starts at 9:00 a.m. CST with height and weight, hand and arm measurements, video shot, vertical and broad jumps and the bench press. At 11:00 a.m., prospects will take part in the highly-anticipated 40-yard dash as well as the short shuttle and 3-cone drill.
After positional drills and one-on-ones at 1:30 p.m., the final announcement of those invited to the national combine is expected at approximately 3:50 p.m.
2018 is the sixth year row that the CFL will host regional combines and the fourth year it will host a trio of them. The first regional combine took place in Montreal on March 7 while the second took place in Toronto on March 9.
At the CFL Scouting Combine presented by adidas, players will undergo medical examinations; performance, strength and speed tests; on-field football drills; and team interviews over a span of two days in front of coaches, scouts and general managers.
By the Numbers:
– Of the 38 players currently on the Western Regional Combine roster, 29 are draft eligible.
– The field is fairly split, with seven defensive backs and running backs leading the way among most popular positions (Full breakdown: 7 DB, 7 RB, 7 LB, 6 OL, 6 WR, 3 OL, 2 K)
– 19 schools/programs will be represented, led by the six from the University of Manitoba. The full breakdown is as follows: UBC (4), Regina (4), Calgary (3), Saskatchewan (3), Calgary Colts (2), Edmonton Wildcats (2), Minot St. (2), Winnipeg Rifles (2), Westshore Rebels (1), Berry College (1), Concordia (1), Edmonton Huskies (1), Humboldt St (1), St. Mary’s (1), Simon Fraser (1), St. FX (1), Texas (1), UTEP (1).
