The modern Canadian quarterback renaissance means that the position is no longer considered an afterthought at the CFL Combine, but the most exciting pivot in Edmonton this weekend may be destined to play somewhere else.
McGill’s Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald has been a dangerous weapon at the university level thanks to his dual-threat ability, but scouts have reservations about his passing efficiency. In the eyes of some, he has the athletic tools necessary to make it in the CFL, but only if he switches positions.
That is a possibility that the Montreal native is ready to embrace if required.
“I’d be open to it, 100 percent,” Latendresse-Regimbald told 3DownNation on Thursday. “Playing in the CFL, it’s one of my dreams, and whatever it’s gonna take to have a contract and to help a team out, I’ll gladly do it.”
U Sports quarterbacks changing positions in the CFL is nothing new. Most notably, Brad Sinopoli won a Hec Crighton Trophy while throwing the ball for the University of Ottawa, before collecting two Most Outstanding Canadian awards as a slotback for the expansion Redblacks. Marc-Olivier Brouillette became an East Division all-star at safety for the Alouettes after helming the Université de Montreal, while former Université Laval QB Mathieu Bertrand played nine seasons as a fullback in Edmonton.
One year ago, at the CFL Combine in Regina, University of Manitoba quarterback Jackson Tachinski opted to try his hand at the receiver drills, which led to him signing as an undrafted free agent with the Elks. Latendresse-Regimbald says he is willing to do the same thing at a variety of different spots if requested.
“You have a short period of time to showcase your skills, and you want to turn as many heads as possible,” he insisted. “Whatever it takes. If the coaches are asking me to jump in as a receiver and do a couple of drills, or stay at quarterback, or even (play) safety or whatever on defence, I’d be open and willing to try anything. With the athleticism I have, I’m sure I can find a fit somewhere and use my abilities at my best.”
Not every signal caller asked to hand over his wristband has accepted the possibility so gracefully, and accusations of bias against homegrown QBs have been a frequent retort from CFL fans and players alike. Latendresse-Regimbald won’t entirely dismiss that as a factor, but also understands why teams must be especially selective with who they invest in under centre.
“The quarterback position is a really hard position, especially in the pros. Everything is fast, everything is quicker, and the guys are professional. It’s the best of the best,” he acknowledged. “I do think that (Canadian) quarterbacks need to have a bit of a better chance, but with the showcase that we’ve been having throughout the years with Tre Ford, Nathan Rourke and his brother, and Jonathan Senecal, I think Canadians are getting more chances than before.”
It was not long ago that Latendresse-Regimbald was floated as a prospect on par with some of those names. After he led Vanier College to a Bol D’Or title and was named the Most Outstanding Player in the province of Quebec during his final CEGEP season, most expected him to attend a blue-blood program.
Instead, his commitment to the perennially overmatched Redbirds, a team that has not posted a winning record since 2002, stunned the U Sports landscape. It proved early on that the game-breaking youngster wasn’t afraid to chart a unique path.
“Playing for the underdogs, creating a new culture, and rebuilding the program was something that I was looking for,” Latendresse-Regimbald explained. “That was something that was really driving me, to give what we say in French ‘un second souffle’ — a second breath — to the program and build.”
Sadly, McGill’s outlook in the lopsided RSEQ hasn’t changed much, as they have won just seven games since their alleged saviour arrived on campus. That hasn’t been for a lack of effort on his part, though, as Latendresse-Regimbald won the Peter Gorman Trophy as U Sports’ top rookie in 2022 and has amassed over 10,000 all-purpose yards in 34 total games.
The six-foot-three, 213-pound passer has completed 499-of-957 attempts (52.1 percent) through four seasons for 7,676 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions. However, his greatest impact has come when using his legs, generating 2,805 yards and 32 touchdowns on 322 carries.
Though he played safety early in his youth football days, those rushing numbers would seem to suggest that Latendresse-Regimbald’s greatest value would be remaining on offence. He’s already begun slowly preparing for life as a receiver, but believes his role could be more complex than that, drawing inspiration from one of the most eclectic players in the NFL.
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“One guy that I really look up to is Taysom Hill, being able to be a passer, a runner, a catcher, whatever,” he noted. “He’s a bit of an all-around athlete, so that’s someone I really look up to and wish to be a bit of a Taysom Hill in the CFL.”
Tachinski ran a 4.75-second forty-yard dash before converting to receiver last year, while Sinopoli was clocked at 4.73 back in 2011. Hill, who has played both quarterback and tight end for the New Orleans Saints, reportedly posted a 4.44-second forty at his BYU pro day in 2017, and Latendresse-Regimbald could be closer to that speed benchmark than his CFL Combine predecessors.
Still, it is a current CFL player who shares his elusiveness and angle-busting burst that the pride of McGill will have his sights set on beating when testing commences on Friday morning — one who has thus far been allowed to stay as a quarterback.
“If I’m not mistaken, Tre Ford clocked a 4.4 at the Combine a couple of years back, and that’s the numbers I’m aiming for,” he said of his goal. “We’ll see. I think he’s got an edge on me there; I’ll give him the credit, he’s a quick guy.”
No matter what position he plays, any CFL team that gives Latendresse-Regimbald a shot will be betting big on athletic upside. He believes that it will be a worthy gamble.
“I think my ceiling is pretty high,” he said. “I’m always willing to work, always willing to learn more about either the position of quarterback or just football in general. I’m a quick learner, also, so I feel like I could still reach higher potential.”
The 2026 CFL Draft is slated for Tuesday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
