Canadian running back Chase Brown has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, the top showcase event for senior NFL draft prospects. He has one year of college eligibility remaining after this year, though this is an indication he could declare for the NFL draft after this season.
The native of London, Ont. has rushed 309 times for 1,582 yards and nine touchdowns this season along with 26 receptions for 197 yards and three touchdowns. He ranks first in the NCAA in carries, rushing yards, plays from scrimmages, yards from scrimmage, rushes of ten yards or more, and 100-yard games. He also ranks fourth in touchdowns in the Big Ten.
Brown is 116 rushing yards away from breaking Illinois’ single-season rushing record with one game remaining on the schedule. He is also 221 all-purpose yards away from reaching 2,000 all-purpose yards this year, which has never been done by a player in team history.
Brown was recently named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the top running back in college football. Previous winners include Eddie George, Ricky Williams, LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Reggie Bush, Melvin Gordon, Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, and Najee Harris.
Canadian offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron, a native of Victoriaville, Que., has also accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.
Canadian players that have attended the Senior Bowl in the recent years include receivers Chase Claypool and Josh Palmer, defensive lineman Neville Gallimore, and defensive back Benjamin St-Juste. All were eventually day-two selections in the NFL draft, going in the second or third rounds of their respective drafts.
Ottawa native Jesse Luketa attended last year’s Senior Bowl and was a seventh-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals. He has dressed for four games this year, recording one total tackle and one tackle for loss.