Laurier vets impress at CFL draft Combine

(Photo courtesy of Jeff Chan, Goldengaelsphotos)
(Photo courtesy of Jeff Chan, Goldengaelsphotos)

Over the weekend, Laurier football veterans Alex Anthony and Isaac Dell had a chance to improve their shot at playing professional football. The two fourth years were the only two members of the Golden Hawks football team invited to the annual CFL combine; and both posted some impressive numbers.

Dell, a 6’1, 218-pound fullback, turned heads in the broad jump, leaping ten feet, three inches, which was the best among running backs at the combine, and third overall. The Niagara Falls native was also impressive in the three-cone drill, where his time of 6.962 seconds once again put him first among running backs and third overall.

Dell also finished second among running backs in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.755 and third in the bench press, putting up 22 reps.

Anthony’s best event was the 40-yard dash, where he finished third among receivers with a time of 4.623 seconds and eighth overall. The 6’2, 205-pound Victoria, B.C. native also finished third among receivers in the shuttle run, finishing in 4.101 seconds.

“They both did a phenomenal job,” said Laurier head coach Michael Faulds, who kept in touch with Dell and Anthony via text message during the combine.

“Both of them did really well within their positions and tested well.”

Last year, Laurier’s Shamawd Chambers put up the best 40-yard dash time at the combine, amplifying his considerable pre-draft hype. Chambers ended up being drafted sixth-overall by the Edmonton Eskimos, which was actually slightly lower than most expected.

Neither Dell nor Anthony are generating quite the buzz that Chambers did, but Faulds wouldn’t be surprised at all if one, or both, of them got the call during the May 6 CFL draft.

“Every week I’m getting calls from CFL coaches asking about their characters,” he said. “They’re the hardest working guys. There’s a clear reason why they’re here for their fourth year and they’re both doing well academically and have played in the CIS all-star game.

“Hopefully they get a shot in the CFL, but if not we’d obviously love to have them for a fifth year here.”

– With files from Shelby Blackley

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