A number of Canadian prospects are attending the College Gridiron Showcase (CGS) in Fort Worth, Texas with the event taking place from January 8-12.
Ten players will be competing for the Desperados: McGill defensive lineman Josh Archibald, Queen’s defensive lineman Anthony Federico, Waterloo defensive back Tyrell Ford, Western offensive lineman Zack Fry, Calgary quarterback Josiah Joseph, Calgary linebacker Subomi Oyesoro, Calgary receiver Jalen Philpot, Calgary receiver Tyson Philpot, Texas State defensive back Eric Sutton Jr., and Saskatchewan offensive lineman Noah Zerr.
Three players will be competing for the Wranglers: Waterloo quarterback Tre Ford, North Carolina State defensive lineman Daniel Joseph, and Wake Forest defensive lineman Luiji Vilain.
Eastern Michigan punter Jake Julien will be participating with the specialists, while Idaho quarterback Mike Beaudry is taking part in the Small College Showcase. Beaudry completed 64.2 percent of his passes in 2021 for 1,299 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions after going unselected in the 2021 CFL Draft.
Fry, the Philpot twins, the Ford twins, and Zerr were featured on the initial scouting bureau rankings for the 2022 CFL Draft.
Joseph (No. 4 overall, B.C. Lions), Vilain (No. 25 overall, Toronto Argonauts), and Julien (No. 31 overall, Ottawa Redblacks) were all selected in the 2021 CFL Draft, though they are eligible for the 2022 NFL Draft.
“As we enter our eighth year, despite the constant challenges of a global pandemic, we are proud to say CGS is as strong as ever and continues to evolve and lead the industry in revolutionizing the draft process for players and teams alike. From comprehensive data and technology-driven tools to the most relevant on-field evaluation structures, no other entity gives players quality opportunities,” said CGS executive director Jose Jefferson in a press release.
A number of former first-round CFL draft picks have attended the event, including Toronto Argonauts’ offensive lineman Peter Nicastro, Ottawa Redblacks’ defensive back Adam Auclair, Calgary Stampeders’ defensive end Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, and retired Ottawa Redblacks’ offensive lineman Alex Mateas.
Many big-name American CFL players also attended the event coming out of college, including Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ quarterback Dane Evans, Calgary Stampeders’ receiver Reggie Begelton, and B.C. Lions’ defensive back Anthony Cioffi,.
