Top prospects showcase talent at CFL Combine in Regina

Article content

Lane Novak is hoping to put his best foot forward this week at the CFL Combine.

Article content

Article content

Or both feet forward when it came to his broad jump measurement on Friday afternoon inside the AffinityPlex.

Novak, a White City product and linebacker for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, is among 74 Canadian Football League prospects who are showcasing their skills in front of all nine CFL teams this week in Regina.

Article content

Following Friday’s individual skill sessions, which included the broad jump, 40-yard dash, vertical jump, bench press, three-cone shuttle and short shuttle, players will suit up on Saturday and Sunday for a pair of practice sessions which include one-on-ones and team sessions.

“Just work and give it everything I’ve got on every rep,” Novak said leading into the one-on-ones. “And even if I don’t win them, the coaches are going to see that I gave everything I had. So that’s really all I can do.”

While Novak didn’t shatter any records with his individual results on Friday, he was happy with how he performed in front of scouts and general managers, who will use the combine as a tool to decide who they might select on Apr. 29 in the CFL Draft.

For Novak, who has one more year of eligibility left with the Huskies, he’s hoping his name is among those selected.

“That’s definitely an exciting day and something that I’m very hopeful that does happen,” he said of the draft. “I’m putting my beans in this basket right now to try and make the CFL and if not, I love my program, I love that group, I love being a leader of that group so if I have to go back, or if I get to go back, whichever it is, then yeah, I’m going to thrive and finish my degree and play out my fifth year and enjoy it as well.

Article content

Article content

“I’m in a win-win situation no matter what. I get to play football. I get to compete. I get to be on the field. It doesn’t get much better.”

Ethan Vibert, a Regina product who just wrapped up his college football eligibility, is in the same boat.

After playing high school football with the Miller Marauders, Vibert headed to the United States to play for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, where he was a starter in his senior season along the offensive line after being a backup during his first few years of NCAA Division 1 football.

“We always had one of, if not the best O-line in the country at our level,” said Vibert. “We’ve got guys playing the NFL and I mean, at the end of the day, it made me the best player I could be competing with those guys every day.”

And like Novak, Vibert was excited to wrap up Friday’s individual session before getting a chance to go against an opponent on the weekend.

“Especially for linemen, in the pads is more showing of what kind of player you are and how you can actually compete at the next level,” said Vibert.

As for Friday’s individual performances, while there weren’t any all-time records broken, there were still several solid times put up by this year’s top prospects.

Article content

In the 40-yard dash, University of Alberta running back Opemipo Oshinubi led the way with a time of 4.41 seconds, which was the fifth fastest time ever at the combine. Bishop’s Steven Turner holds the record with a time of 4.31 seconds (handheld) in 2010 while former Regina Rams defensive back Tevaughn Campbell has the fastest electronic time at 4.36 seconds, which he ran in 2015.

In the bench press, Western University defensive lineman Max Von Muehldorfer led all participants with 34 reps of 225 pounds. Wilfrid Laurier’s Michael Knill holds the all-time record with 47 reps in 2011.

In the vertical jump, Wilfrid Laurier defensive back Maliek Cote-Azore jumped 41 inches to lead the way. Bishop’s Jamal Lee set a record of 44 inches in 2009 that still stands.

In the broad jump, University of Ottawa defensive back Eric Cumberbatch led all participants with a jump of 11-feet, 2 3/8 inches. Manitoba’s Shai Ross still holds the record of 11-feet, 5 1/2 inches in 2019.

In the three-cone shuttle drill, University of Laval defensive back Anton Haie had the best shuttle time at 6.62 seconds. Rutgers’ Jawann Westerman still holds the record of 6.49 seconds which was set in 2012.

And in the short shuttle, University of Saskatchewan receiver Daniel Wiebe was the fastest with a time of 3.95 seconds. It was the best time since St. Francis Xavier’s Dylan Hollohan ran it in 3.89 seconds in 2012, which is a combine record although Manitoba’s Alex Vitt also ran it in 3.95 seconds at the regional combine in 2016.

[email protected]

Article content