10 Queen’s football players have recently been selected for the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) National and Eastern Regional combines for 2022.
Taking place Mar. 11 and Mar. 25 to 27 respectively, the Eastern Regional event—one of three other regional showcases taking place across Canada—will be held in Baie-D’Urfé, Quebec, and the National showcase will be held in Toronto. Six Gaels were invited to the regional combine, with the remaining four selected to appear at the national combine.
Among those selected to the national stage were fourth-years Anthony Federico, Rasheed Tucker, and Sakhia Kwemo and fifth-year Jacob Butler.
Federico and Tucker were both named OUA First-Team All-Stars following Queen’s undefeated regular season in 2021. They were also named to U Sports All-Canadian teams following the postseason.
Those invited to the Eastern Regional Combine include third-year Peter Adjey, fourth-years Richard Burton and Jonathan Wedgebury, and fifth-years Josh Mosley, Nolan Bedard, and Konner Burtenshaw.
The Journal spoke to Burtenshaw about the opportunity.
“I’m excited to get the chance to expose myself and some coaches,” he said.
“I didn’t think I was going to get the opportunity, but I’m blessed to get it and just kind of thankful I got it, and I’m going to do my best to get noticed.”
At each combine, athletes are assessed on their physical capabilities in events such as the vertical jump, bench press, and the 40-yard dash, as well as numerous on-field drills.
Although invites to the national combine are sent to athletes prior to the combine, players who demonstrate excellence at the regional combines—which take place beforehand—can also be selected to participate in the national event depending on their overall performance.
As a fifth-year student soon to graduate, Burtenshaw said the invitation was a welcome send-off for his tenure as a Gael.
“It’s been a journey to get here,” he said. “This is the precipice of my football career and basically an interview.”
“I’m really, really privileged to get [an] opportunity that not a lot of guys do […] so I just have to take advantage of what I have here.”
Tags
CFL, CFL Combine, Konner Burtenshaw, Queen's football
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