Preview: Getting you primed for the 2018 CFL Scouting Combine

REGINA — For 52 of Canada’s top draft-eligible football prospects, the next two days could be career-defining.

The 2018 CFL Scouting Combine presented by adidas has arrived, with testing starting on Saturday morning at Winnipeg’s RBC Convention Centre and finishing with one-on-ones on Sunday at the University of Winnipeg RecPlex.

The lights are on, the scouts are watching and the moment has arrived for prospects to try and elevate their draft stock and leave one final impression before the 2018 CFL Draft on May 3.

CFL.ca will provide more in-depth coverage, analysis and camera angles at the combine than ever before, including a live look at player one-on-ones for the second year in a row (For more information on all upcoming live broadcasts, visit CFL.ca/Live.)


Photo: Reid Valmestad/CFL.ca

Quick Slants

» Schedule | Roster
» Records | Historical Results
» Combine 101: A look at each drill
» Regional Combine Invites
» Key Storylines
» What to Watch for on Saturday
» What to Watch for on Sunday


With three regional combines already in the books, the main event officially commenced Friday as players arrived in Winnipeg for medicals, measurements and team interview sessions.

The real action picks up on Saturday with the 40-yard dash, short shuttle and three-cone drill in the morning and the bench press in the evening.

On Sunday morning, the testing portion of the combine concludes when players take part in the broad jump and vertical as the scene shifts to the University of Winnipeg. The focus then turns to the football field, where coaches put each position group through a series of drills.

The last chance to impress onlookers comes Sunday afternoons, when the one-on-ones pit players against one another in a show of skill and athleticism. For the second year in a row, CFL.ca will carry this live with commentary from James Cybulski and Marshall Ferguson.

The schedule for Saturday and Sunday at the combine is as follows:

COMBINE SCHEDULE — SATURDAY

TIME EVENT
9:30 a.m.  Height/Weight & Video Shot
11:00 a.m. 40-Yard Dash, Short Shuttle & 3-Cone
8:00 p.m. Bench Press

*All times in EDT

COMBINE SCHEDULE — SUNDAY

TIME EVENT
10:00 a.m. Broad Jump & Vertical Jump
12:00 p.m. Individual & Group Drills
3:30 p.m. Completion of Combine

*All times in EDT

LAST-MINUTE INVITES

In addition to the 39 prospects originally on the national combine list, 13 more added their name to the roster the last few weeks via the regional combine circuit.

Regional combines in Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg expanded the field to allow even more draft-eligible athletes the opportunity to impress the scouts. Those who have been invited will get a chance to show what they can do against the country’s most highly-regarded prospects for the 2018 CFL Draft.

Regional Combine Results
» Four selected to move on from Montreal
» McMaster leads six invited from Ontario Regional
» Three prospects extend stay in Winnipeg

William Watson is among 13 players who added their names to the national combine roster (Reid Valmestad/CFL.ca)

“Consistency, competitiveness,” said Toronto Argonauts assistant general manager Spencer Zimmerman, asked what the teams are looking for from advancing prospects. “Whether they can rise to the level of competition.

“With the main combine having an overall more consistent elite level athlete, that’s going to allow prospects to compete and show they can continue to do that.”

Added Argos director of football administration Catherine Raiche: “Now they’re going to compete with the best guys that are actually available for this year’s draft. They need to maintain the same standards if not even more.”

In short, keep a close eye on the regional combine invites. Since the regionals were implemented in 2013, 44 out of 61 (72 per cent) of late invites have been taken in the CFL Draft.

NOTABLE STORYLINES

From family ties to the best of the best, CFL.ca breaks down some of the storylines you should know about heading into the weekend:

The Picton family bloodline

The Pictons are one of Regina’s biggest football families. A year after receiver Mitch Picton was one of the most highly-regarded combine participants, now it’s Noah’s turn. The Regina Rams’ quarterback has plenty of family ties: Older brother Aaron Picton played offensive line for Regina from 2010 through 2015. Rams teammates Mitchell Picton and Blake Anaka are cousins. Dad Dean Picton quarterbacked the Rams to national junior championships in both 1986 and 1987.

Noah will certainly be one of the players to watch at this weekend’s combine. A fiery competitor, what the 5-foot-9 pivot lacks in size he makes up for in heart and skill. He goes into Saturday with something to prove.

Jack back in the spotlight

Archelaus Jack is a rare combine prospect with some CFL experience under his belt, having spent time on the Riders’ practice roster before going to Saint Mary’s. That led to some controversy surrounding his eligibility, which came to light just before the team’s Loney Bowl game last November. After a three-day delay, the game wound up being played and Acadia defeated Saint Mary’s in overtime, 45-38.

The Onyeka family dynasty?

Just like the Herdman brothers a year ago, two more siblings are participating in the combine this year as Kene and Godfrey Onyeka look to become first round picks in the May CFL Draft. It’s all part of a rich family bloodline that also includes brother Nakas, who was chosen by the Toronto Argonauts in 2017, along with cousin Kosi, who currently plays at Guelph.

Suffice to say, this weekend won’t be the last we hear of the Onyekas at combine, but keep an eye on Kene and Godfrey, ranked 14th and sixth respectively in the December Scouting Bureau rankings.

It runs in the family

Another prospect with family ties, Sam MacMillan is looking to follow the path of his older brother, Nolan, a former first round pick and current starting offensive lineman for the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Sam, who attends the University of Toronto, earned the late invite to the national event after turning heads at the Ontario Regional Combine. Could Nolan’s success at the next level factor in to Sam’s draft stock?

Something to prove for Simonise

Rashaun Simonise was considered a surefire first round pick before having his draft year deferred to 2018 due to a positive drug test. The former Calgary receiver should see his name atop many of the testing leaderboards this weekend, as he comes into the combine as one of the most athletic prospects in the country. A pro-ready prospect, Simonise may have both most to lose and the most to gain this weekend.

The other Canadian QB

With Brandon Bridge and Andrew Buckley enjoying success at the pro level, the noise around Canadian quarterback prospects is louder than usual these days. Everyone’s talking about Noah Picton, but Christian Strong is the other pivot at this weekend’s event and the Seton Hill product will be one to keep an eye on.

Projected first overall?

With the Als on the clock in May’s CFL Draft, and the team in need of some Canadian reinforcements on the O-line, Peter Godber could be the early favourite to go first overall. Godber is the top-ranked prospect at this week’s combine (ranked fourth overall in the CFL Scouting Bureau) and fits an obvious need on Kavis Reed’s team. Of course, it was Mason Woods in Godber’s position last year, with Woods eventually falling out of the first round at the draft.

Fashionably late

Regional combines have uncovered diamonds in the rough that otherwise may not have been noticed. Jermaine Gabriel and Kris Robertson are two success stories, each getting drafted in the second round after earning their way to nationals. It means look out for the 13 late invites. One of them could quickly become the story of the combine with a dominant showing.

Roll Call: Who’s absent?

Not all of the country’s top prospects will be performing for scouts and GMs this weekend. Some of the top-ranked players are skipping the event for various reasons, including their participation in their own pro days in and around the combine. David Knevel, Trey Rutherford and Ryan Hunter, the top three players in the most recent CFL Scouting Bureau, will not be seen at the weekend’s events.

A Cinderella story

Sean Harrington is the Cinderella story of this weekend’s combine after going to Michigan State as a walk-on. Harrington has overcome those long odds as well as a torn ACL in 2016 to become one of the more intriguing linebackers at this weekend’s combine, with the athleticism to contribute both defensively and on special teams.

The cream of the crop

If the most recent CFL Scouting Bureau rankings are any indication, the aforementioned Peter Godber (4), Julien Laurent (5) and Godfrey Onyeka (6) are the players to keep a close eye on in Winnipeg. Onyeka’s confidence in himself has made headlines, with the defensive back suggesting he should be the first overall pick in the draft, while Laurent is a powerful interior defensive lineman out of Georgia State University.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR ON SATURDAY

Saturday morning at the combine is all about speed and quickness, starting with the 40-yard dash followed by the three-cone drill and short shuttle.

The 40-yard dash tests both quickness (10 and 20 times) and straight line speed (40 time). Speed is at the top of the list of things that can’t be coached and for defensive backs and receivers especially, evaluators will often set a minimum benchmark.

A poor 40 time can severely inhibit a prospect’s draft position while a fast time can separate someone from the pack. Imagine the span of four to five seconds potentially defining a prospect’s future.

 

“With the 40, you work a lot on your starts because they say that the first 20 meters or so is mostly technique and the rest is just run,” said former fourth overall pick and current Argos receiver Brian Jones. “You kind of use everything — you’ve built up in your strength and conditioning but there are also a lot of technical aspects.”

Tunde Adeleke‘s 4.58 was the fastest 40-time at the combine last year, while current Montreal Alouettes defensive back Tevaughn Campbell remains the all-time electronic record holder after running a 4.36 in 2015. Rashaun Simonise and Godfrey Onyeka are considered the biggest contenders to wow in the event this year.

The three-cone drill tests a player’s ability to change direction, balance and reach top speed quickly. The short shuttle tests lateral quickness, start-and-stop quickness as well as agility.

Last year defensive back Jordan Hoover helped his draft stock by topping all participants in both the short shuttle (4.03) and the three-cone (6.98), helping him get drafted 31st overall by the Edmonton Eskimos.

After a break from the testing, all eyes will be on the bench press, which takes place at 8 p.m. ET. In this test of sheer strength, prospects get one attempt to complete as many 225-pound reps as possible in a high-pressure environment.

 

This is particularly important for offensive and defensive linemen. Former Toronto Argonauts general manager Jim Barker once said he wouldn’t even consider one unnamed offensive lineman if he didn’t improve following a 12-rep showing at the East-West Bowl Combine.

“I told him after the game, ‘if you don’t bench press over 18, we won’t even put you on our board’.

“There’s a certain strength you have to have to be able to pass protect,” Barker added. “The bench press, to me, is a guy who is willing to spend the time in the weight room.”

Two years ago, Laval and now Montreal Alouettes offensive lineman Philippe Gagnon destroyed the rest of the field with 40 reps. Another Laval O-lineman dominated the bench last year, with Jean Simon Roy’s 39 reps leading all participants. In a bit of a rarity, there are no Laval offensive linemen at this year’s combine.

Meanwhile, Michael Knill’s record of 47 reps, set back in 2011, remains well intact.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR ON SUNDAY

Sunday is the last day prospects can make an impression at the combine, featuring two more tests, positional drills and the all-important one-on-ones.

It starts bright and early with the vertical jump, where players start from a set position and perform a two-footed jump, touching the highest slat-marker possible. A year ago, Queen’s University’s Jonah Pitaki led everyone with a 36.5-inch vertical, while current Alouette Chris Ackie‘s 40-inch jump in 2015 is the highest in recent memory.

Prospects will test their explosiveness and body control with the broad jump, which requires players to stand behind a line and jump forward as far as possible. Last year no one had a better broad jump than towering Carleton receiver Malcolm Carter, who recorded a jump of 10’5.25″ at the Eastern Regional Combine.

Then come the one-on-ones. After the testing numbers are finalized, the rest of the work is to be put on film as coaches, scouts and general managers turn their attention to head-to-head football drills. It’s a highly-competitive setting that’s unique to the CFL Combine.

 

“You should do your due diligence and go over the list (of participants),” said Kwaku Boateng, who was picked 41st overall by the Eskimos last season before a strong rookie season. “Definitely look at the O-linemen, the tackles and the guards, if you play D-line. If you’re a receiver, you have to look at all of the DBs.

“It really comes down to looking at them and then finding their tape. Then once you find the tape you can do your homework upon that and just hope to find anything that you can beat them with.”

Tunde Adeleke, who stood out at the combine a year ago with the fastest 40 and a good showing in the one-on-ones, says he also watched CFL film to get pointers on how man coverage is different in the professional ranks than in it is at the university level.

“I was one of the guys that went in there knowing that in the CFL you can review pass interference and grabbing something you can’t get away with in the CFL,” he said. “I worked really hard making sure that I wasn’t reaching and cheating a little bit in one-on-ones.”

Last year another defensive back stood out in Dondre Wright. Wright became a third round pick (20th overall) by the Als, eventually starting at safety. Both Wright and Adeleke could be in line to start at safety for their respective teams, Montreal and Calgary, this season.

For up to the minute analysis and a live look-in on the combine, stay tuned to CFL.ca throughout the week.

More Combine Quick Hits

For Comparison’s Sake: Projecting the combine’s top prospects – https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/21/comparisons-sake-projecting-combines-top-prospects/

Cauz: Some ‘interesting’ new ideas for Mark’s CFL Week – https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/20/cauz-outside-box-ideas-marks-cfl-week/

Canadian QB ready to compete in Winnipeg – https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/20/oleary-canadian-qb-strong-ready-compete-combine/

O’Leary: MSU walk-on keen to prove people wrong – https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/21/oleary-msu-walk-keen-prove-people-wrong/

Combine 101: Breaking down the drills – https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/20/combine-101-basics-behind-prospect-drill/

Acing the Interview: The hardest part about Combine – https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/20/behind-closed-doors-interviews-significant-part-scouting-combine/

Mock 1.0: Who’s on the CFL Draft radar this weekend? – https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/15/mock-1-0-will-alouettes-take-first/

Costabile: More to the Combine than meets the eye – https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/18/cfl-scouting-combines-meets-eye/