Canadian kicker Vincent Blanchard has landed a rookie mini-camp invite with the New England Patriots, per sources.
The 25-year-old is regarded as the top specialist in the 2024 CFL Draft but will now get a chance to compete for a spot in Foxborough with the rest of the NFL Draft class.
A native of Quebec City, Blanchard was named a second-team All-Canadian last season after posting a 94 percent mark on field goals. He is best remembered for his five-for-five outing that powered the Laval Rouge et Or to victory in the 2022 Vanier Cup game, which included a career-long make of 49 yards.
In 29 games for Laval, Blanchard has connected on 53-of-71 field goals (74.6 percent), while nailing 88-of-89 extra points and adding 14 singles. He has also handled the team’s punting duties, booting 186 times for an average of 39.7 yards and pinning 55 kicks inside the twenty-yard line.
The 2024 CFL Draft is set for Tuesday, April 30 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Blanchard’s NFL opportunity is not expected to significantly affect his draft stock.
