Peter Power/CFL.ca
TORONTO — When Chris Osei-Kusi arrived in Toronto for the CFL Combine presented by New Era last month, he made a promise that he was going to be one of the fastest prospects at the event.
“I’m a bigger-bodied receiver so I’m going to be able to go up and get those jump balls, I’m going to be able to make those catches in traffic,” Osei-Kusi told CFL.ca on Friday, one day before the testing began. “I’m probably going to be one of the fastest guys here and I’m going to hope to bring that to the next level.”
The Queen’s product stayed true to that promise, finishing the 40-yard dash with the fastest time (4.47 seconds). He also bench pressed 19 reps, the most of all receivers.
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Osei-Kusi finished up his testing by jumping 35.50″ in the vertical jump and 9’7.88″ in the broad while also posting a 3-cone time of 7.19 seconds and 4.31 in the shuttle.
Along with his stellar testing numbers, the six-foot, 192-pound pass-catcher impressed scouts and general managers with his one-on-one session. With his pads on, in the biggest job interview of his life, Osei-Kusi put his route-running skills and his ability to make tough catches against the best defensive backs at Varsity Stadium on full display. That performance wasn’t surprising for a player who thrives on competition.
“Whether it’s at practice, whether it’s in the weight room, everywhere you look you’re going to find me competing,” said Osei-Kusi. “And you can see that on the film. I don’t like to be average. I’m not one to fall into the trap of complacency. So any time I can compete, I will do it.”
The next step for Osei-Kusi is to wait and hope to hear his name called during the CFL Draft on May 2, the first step for him to become a top receiver in the league.
“I want to be the best at what I do,” he said. “So whether that’s in the classroom, whether that’s in the community, whatever it is. When I pick up a football, I don’t want to play football just to play football. I want to be professional and I want to be one of the best to do it.”
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