University of Hawaii defensive tackle Blessman Ta’ala, a native of American Samoa, and British defensive end Max Parkinson have won the bench press at the 2023 CFL Combine by posting 29 reps.
Western offensive lineman Phillip Grohovac was the top Canadian with 26 reps. Japanese sumo wrestler Hidetora Hanada also posted 26 reps while German offensive lineman Roman Wahrheit came fifth with 24 reps.
Ta’ala has played 64 games over five seasons for Hawaii, making 142 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and four sacks. Parkinson plays for the University of West England, where he made 43 tackles and 9.5 sacks in nine games last year.
Last year’s winner of the national event was Bryant running back Daniel Adeboboye with 28 reps. Global defensive lineman Noke Tago posted 30 reps as the top finisher.
Other recent winners of the event include Alberta offensive lineman Jonathan Harke (32 reps, 2019), UBC offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley (27 reps, 2018), Laval offensive lineman Jean-Simon Roy (39 reps, 2017), Laval offensive lineman Philippe Gagnon (40 reps, 2016), Montréal linebacker Byron Archambault (41 reps, 2015).
The all-time CFL Combine record holder for then bench press is Michael Knill out of Wilfrid Laurier who recorded 47 reps in 2011.
The rest of the bench press results from the 2022 CFL Combine can be found below.
Nationals
LB Emmanuel Aboagye-Gyan, Ottawa — 16
DB Tolu Ahmed, Toronto — 9
REC Gabriel Appiah-Kubi, York — 6
DB Siriman Harrison Bagayogo, Guelph — 9
REC Clark Barnes, Guelph — 10
REC James Basalyga, Waterloo — 9
RB Bertrand Terancy Beaulieu, Montreal — 13
DL Francis Bemiy, Southern Utah — 13
DL Anthony Bennett, Regina — 16
RB Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, Delaware State — DNP
DB Jacob Biggs, Calgary — 5
OL Dayton Black, Saskatchewan — DNP
DL Kwadwo Boahen, Alberta — 21
LB Michael Brodrique, Montreal — 17
DB Patrick Burke Jr., Wilfrid Laurier — 11
REC Richard Burton, Queen’s — 15
LB Max Charbonneau, Ottawa — 13
DB Lucas Cormier, Mount Allison — 10
DB David Dallaire, Laval — DNP
LB Dawson Davis, York — 19
LB Matt Dean, York — 12
REC Willy-Pierre Dimbongi, Ottawa — DNP
RB Keon Edwards, Western — 12
DL Alex Fedchun, St. FX — 13
OL Evan Floren, Queen’s — 18
DB Jaxon Ford, Regina — 6
OL Theo Grant, Queen’s — 18
OL Phillip Grohovac, Western — 26
QB Eli Hetlinger, Alberta* — 1
LB Jack Hinsperger, Waterloo — 16
TE Sebastian Howard, Saint Mary’s — DNP
LB Markcus Jean-Loescher, Saint Mary’s — DNP
DL Aidan John, Saint Mary’s — 15
REC Zakariya Karim, St. FX — 5
DB Jake Kelly, Bishop’s — 14
DL Collin Kornelson, Manitoba — 21
DL Lake Korte-Moore, UBC — 18
DB Bruno Lagacé, Montreal — 12
DB Breton MacDougall, Windsor — 10
REC Savaughn Magnaye-Jones, Western — 10
QB Ben Maracle, Ottawa* — 16
OL Alexandre Marcoux, McGill — 17
DL Reece Martin, Mount Allison — 21
FB Jacob Mason, McMaster — 15
OL Spencer Masterson, Guelph — 16
REC Caleb Morin, Saskatchewan — 5
REC Jeremy Murphy, Concordia — 15
TE Spencer Nichols, Western — DNP
REC Daniel Oladejo, Ottawa — 20
LB Ife Onyemenam, Wilfrid Laurier — 8
DB Robert Panabaker, Western — 4
OL Edouard Paradis, Houston Christian — 22
REC Daniel Perry, Saskatchewan — 10
LB James Peter, Ottawa — 14
DB Charles Ringland, Saskatchewan — 7
REC Jonathan Rosery, Alberta — 17
QB Olivier Roy, Concordia — 0
DL Tanner Schmekel, Regina — 21
DL Quintin Seguin, Charleston Southern — 19
DB Jassin States-McClean, Saint Mary’s — 13
DB Jacob Taylor, Alberta — 17
LB Nick Thomas, Manitoba — 18
OL Anthony Vandal, Sherbrooke — 12
LB Josh White, Regina — 14
RB Adam Williams, Toronto — 18
Globals
LB Julian Baldi, Valdosta State — DNP
DL Merinio Dendoe, Morgan State — 14
RB Atsumu Endo, Dentsu Caterpillars — 13
LB Emmanuel Falola, Bristol Aztecs — 20
DL Alejandro Fernandez, Barcelona Dragons — 6
DL Hidetora Hanada, X League — 26
RB Daisuke Kato, IBM Big Blue — 17
DL Robert Lachmann, Clarion — 15
OL Lucas Lavin, Tennessee-Chattanooga — 19
REC Ryota Miyazawa, J.F. Oberlin University — 7
LB Ludvig Myren, Berlin Thunder — 16
FB Finley Old, Nottingham University — 17
DB Eddie Onamade, Birmingham University — 12
DL Max Parkinson, University of West England — 29
OL Erick Alonso Perez, CETYS Universidad — 17
OL Tobias Rodlauer, Berlin Thunder — 22
DL Simon Sandberg, Oregon State — DNP
LB Lino Schroeter, Cologne Crocodiles — 23
DL Blessman Ta’ala, Hawaii — 29
OL Roman Wahrheit, Towson — 24
OL Leander Wiegand, Cologne Centurions — DNP
* denotes underclassman who is not yet draft eligible