Valerie Wutti Carleton Athletics
TORONTO — A busy month of testing continues on Wednesday in Montreal as prospects take the field at the Eastern 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 2019 CFL Draft.
2019 CFL COMBINE ROSTERS
> EASTERN REGIONAL (MTL)
> ONTARIO REGIONAL (TOR)
> WESTERN REGIONAL (EDM)
We look at five players you should have on your radar heading into Wednesday:
KALEM BEAVER
WR | OTTAWA
Beaver played in eight regular season games in 2018, catching 16 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed eight times for 27 yards, returned 16 kicks for 288 yards and returned 46 punts (first in U SPORTS) for 426 yards (first in OUA and second in U SPORTS). He also played for the East team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl.
The Ottawa Gee-Gee caught 22 passes for 235 yards and two major scores in 2017. He also added 10 rushes for 25 yards, returned five kicks for 138 yards and returned 36 punts for 372 yards.
In 2016, Beaver caught 27 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns while also adding seven rushes for 65 yards and a major score. He also returned one kick for 12 yards and returned 30 punts for 127 yards. In his rookie season, Beaver returned 25 kicks (second in the OUA) for 566 yards (second in the OUA) and one touchdown while also returning 12 punts for 56 yards. He also caught three passes for 113 yards that season.
The five-foot-11, 185-pounder will be looking to put his versatility on display in front of scouts and general managers in Montreal.
CODY CRANSTON
DB | OTTAWA
Cranston played in eight regular season games in 2018, collecting 19 unassisted tackles and 10 assisted tackles. He also added two forced fumbles, one interception and three pass breakups. The six-foot-two, 175-pound defensive back played for the East team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl.
In 2017, Cranston tallied 21 unassisted tackles and four assisted tackles. He also hauled in three interceptions (third in the OUA), one of which was returned for a touchdown. He collected 31 unassisted tackles and nine assisted tackles in 2016, while also adding three interceptions and three pass breakups.
Cranston played in eight games in his rookie season (2015) and registered 25 unassisted tackles and seven assisted tackles. He also recorded two forced fumbles and two pass breakups. He also played on special teams, returning six kicks for 85 yards and 17 punts for 130 yards.
PHIL ILOKI
WR | CARLETON
Iloki played in eight regular season games in 2018, hauling in 31 passes for 560 yards and five touchdowns.
The six-foot, 201-pound pass-catcher caught a career-high 36 passes for 589 yards and five major scores in 2017. That season he was named an OUA second-team All-Star. Iloki played in all eight regular season games in 2016 and amassed 125 yards and a touchdown on seven catches.
His rookie season saw just six games of action in the regular season and he caught 15 passes for 122 yards.
DAMIAN HALSTEAD
LB | MOUNT ALLISON
Halstead suited up in eight regular season games in 2018, collecting 36 unassisted tackles (third in AUS) and 34 assisted tackles (second in AUS). He also added four sacks (third in AUS) and six tackles for a loss (third in AUS). He was named an AUS All-Star and played for the East team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl.
In 2017, the five-foot-11, 227-pound linebacker registered 21 unassisted tackles and 15 assisted tackles. He collected a career-high 5.5 sacks (first in AUS) and six tackles for a loss. He also recorded one forced fumble and was named an AUS All-Star.
His 40 assisted tackles in 2016 was first in the AUS and second in U SPORTS. He recorded three sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss and was named an AUS All-Star. In 2015, Halstead registered nine unassisted tackles and five assisted while also adding a sack, one tackle for a loss, one forced fumble and two pass breakups.
JEREMIE-BILLAL LARDI
RB | SHERBROOKE
Lardi played in eight regular season games in 2018, catching two passes for 20 yards an a touchdown. The Baie-Comeau, Que. native will hope to turn heads at the regional combine in Montreal.
The six-foot-one, 235-pound running back caught two passes for 34 yards in eight regular season games in 2017. He didn’t play in 2016 or 2014 but suited up in three games in 2015.
