It could be a record setting year for players with roots north of the border in the NFL Draft. In 1986 and 2012 three Canadians were picked – the most ever in one draft – and there is a good chance that number will be surpassed when the draft hits Radio City Music Hall in New York City on May 8-10. Let’s get you up to speed on five Canadians who might realize their professional football dreams and set a record in the process.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OL, McGill
Hometown: St. Hilaire, QC
Draft Projection: Rounds 3-6
Duvernay-Tardif – more affectionately known as ‘Larry’ – has his stock pointing upwards and could go even earlier than this projection. He was limited in terms of how many times he could practice per week at McGill because of his stringent academic schedule as a medical student. The big offensive lineman held his own Pro Day on March 27 and nine NFL teams were represented. Scouts from the Raiders, Chiefs, Eagles, Cardinals, Jets, Packers, Bears, 49ers and Bills made the trip to Montreal to see Duvernay-Tardif in person. In early April, the Eagles went back to Montreal and held a private workout with Duvernay-Tardif. He has since visited with seven NFL teams: the Packers, Chiefs, Dolphins, Cardinals, Seahawks, Bills and 49ers. He has all the athletic tools scouts look for, but he needs to refine his technique. Talent evaluators have said he has a high football IQ, including one Eagles offensive assistant coach saying he is one of the smartest players he has ever been around. If Duvernay-Tardif does indeed get selected in the draft he would become just the second Canadian University offensive lineman drafted from the CIS to the NFL.
“We saw him in St. Petersburg in the East-West game,” says NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis. “He’s a big, big guy who’s played a lot of tackle, and I think he looks better moving inside as a guard, but he’s getting some good training in the off-season. I know he’s been working out with a former NFL offensive lineman named Bruce Wilkerson who’s tried to help him with quickness, trying to get better in movement.”
Brent Urban, DL, Virginia
Hometown: Mississauga, ON
Draft Projection: Rounds 3-6
Urban started for two years on the defensive line for the Cavaliers. In his senior season he had 13 solo tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, one sack and also led the NCAA in passes knocked down with 11. He was invited to the 2014 Senior Bowl, but an injury caused him to miss the game. The main knock against Urban is that he has been nicked up too often and needs to stay healthy – a large part of his draft stock will depend on how teams feel about his medical results. On the positive side, however, he looks as good as any prospect at his position physically. He carries his weight well and fits in as a 3-4 defensive end. He’s still raw, but Urban is versatile and viewed as a high upside type of player.
“Brent Urban, to me if you’re a team that runs a 3-4 [defence], you want a five technique defensive end, that’s what you want him to look like,” says Daniel Jeremiah, a former NFL scout with the Ravens, Browns and Eagles. “You’d like to see him get a little stronger, a little functionally stronger. You’ve got definitely somebody you can develop there.”
T.J. Jones, REC, Notre Dame
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Draft Projection: Rounds 4-7
While his late father Andre was playing for the Blue Bombers in 1991, T.J. was born in Winnipeg before moving to Georgia where he went to high school. His senior season at Notre Dame was his most productive; Jones caught 70 passes for 1,108 yards and scored nine touchdowns. After a productive 2013 campaign Jones helped his draft stock. It’s a strong receiver class and Jones certainly adds to the depth of the group.
John Urschel, OL, Penn State
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Draft Projection: Rounds 4-7
Born in Winnipeg before moving to the United States and playing football at Canisuis High School in Buffalo, N.Y., Urschel might be just as well known for being a math genius as he is for his play on the football field. Urschel earned a masters degree in math in 2013 and is working on his second masters degree in math education. He was a team captain for the Nittany Lions and earned all-Big 10 honours in his last two seasons at Penn State. Urschel was one of just 15 offensive guards invited to the 2014 NFL Combine. At the next level he could play guard or centre – a good draw because teams want a smart centre to make calls at the line of scrimmage.
Bo Lokombo, LB, Oregon
Hometown: Abbotsford, BC
Draft Projection: Rounds 4-7 or Priority Free Agent
Lokombo moved to Canada from the Congo in 1996. He was raised in Abbotsford, B.C., and attended W. J. Mouat High School. Lokombo became somewhat known for making big plays during his time at Oregon. He piled up 17 tackles for a loss, seven sacks and five interceptions – two which he took back for touchdowns including a pick-six on Andrew Luck while the Colts star was at Stanford in 2011. Lokombo is a naturally gifted athlete and has already been drafted once in his football career; the B.C. Lions selected him in the third round with the 21st overall pick in the 2013 CFL Draft.
