April 27, 2019

O’Connor aiming to build on championship resume

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

TORONTO — Quarterback Michael O’Connor has already won a championship in his young football career, helping the UBC Thunderbirds in a Vanier Cup victory in 2015.

He’s now hoping to add another championship to his resume, the Grey Cup. But before that can happen, he has to wait for his name to be called by a CFL team during the draft on May 2.

“Any team that drafts will me will be getting someone who comes to work everyday with an intense work ethic and a passion to get better and to help guide the team to a Grey Cup in whatever capacity that may be,” said O’Connor.

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“It’s (football) taken me all across the country, both in Canada and the United States,” continued the six-foot-five, 228-pound pivot. “Being a kid from Ottawa, I’m very privileged to have been through that and then going down to Florida playing at Penn State and then coming to UBC and being able to win a Vanier Cup was pretty special.”

O’Connor was one of two Canadian quarterbacks to attend the CFL Combine presented by New Era last month, as he hoped to show off his arm strength and accuracy by throwing in the one-on-one sessions over the weekend.

He participated in the athletic testing drills as well, putting up an impressive 14 reps on the bench press. He also jumped 29″ in the vertical jump and 9’2.63″ in the broad and finished the 3-cone drill in 7.50 seconds and the shuttle in 4.69.

With the combine behind him, O’Connor is looking forward to what’s next and starting his professional career.

“Playing in the CFL, for me, would be a childhood dream come true,” he said. “Being a Canadian quarterback, having a chance to play in the CFL, I do realize what that entails and what that comes with. But at the end of the day I’m just worried about preparing myself to give myself the best opportunity to play at the next level and do everything I can to help the team succeed and win a Grey Cup.”


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