BU Boys Impress at CFL Combine
By Jordan Winnett on March 17, 2010
The Bishops Gaiters football team sent three players to the 2010 CFL Evaluation Camp in Toronto this past weekend with hopes of impressing CFL scouts and general managers. Shawn Gore, Nick Poloniato and Steven Turner did more than impress; they dominated.
Gore and Poloniato were mentioned on TSNs Duane Fords list of eligible Canadian players to watch for before the start of the CIS season and they did nothing but improve their draft stock at the combine. Gore entered the weekend as one of the best receivers available, but thanks to great test results and dominant one-on-one drills, Gore was named by TSN as the best receiver and possible number one prospect heading into Mays CFL Draft.
I had a chance to speak with Gore following the weekend and it was clear he was still buzzing from the experience:
Its hard to put this weekend into words. I had a lot of fun with the interviews with all the teams and their coaches; at times they got very intense making me quite nervous, but I was able to keep my composure and get through them all with my usual smile. Individually I felt that I had a very strong performance, I was always one of the leaders in testing and excelled in the on-field drills. Months of training and a lot of discipline went into this short two day event, but it was definitely worth it as I was able to show professional teams that I can compete at the next level.
Poloniato demonstrated his athleticism as a defensive back, running the third fastest 40-yd dash at 4.46 seconds and finishing in the top ten of the sixty players invited in three of the other four testing categories. Poloniato expressed his content with the weekend to me after, saying, Im very happy with my testing. I knew I could put up the numbers I just had to do it. It was something I worked hard for on and off the field for the last four years to get to that point. On Sunday I felt I could have done a little bit better, but overall it was an awesome experience and I was just excited to be there and have the opportunity to show everyone what I am capable of.
Without a doubt the story of the weekend was Turner as he nearly swept the board, leading four of the five testing categories. Turner began by almost eclipsing former Gaiter and current BC Lion Jamall Lees vertical jump record of 44, with a 43.5 jump. Then he leaped a ridiculous 10 4.5 in the broad jump while also leading all wide receivers with 20 bench press repetitions at the 225-lb weight. This was all on Saturday, and his best events were supposed to be Sunday. Well, he didnt disappoint there either, running a combine record 4.31 40-yd dash (breaking Lees record of 4.39 from last year) and a camp best 4.03 shuttle. Turner was the least heralded BU player entering the camp, but it appears he took a lesson from former Gaiter James Yurichuk who was in a similar position last year before impressing at the combine and sky-rocketing up the draft board.
Turner had this to say to Monday following the combine:
I would like to thank BU and all the support throughout the combine. This past weekend at the e-camp was an experience of a lifetime. It felt amazing to be able to go and compete with the top prospects in Canada. Prior to the camp Coaches Blugh and McBrine gave me their word of advice which helped me stay calm and relaxed throughout the weekend. Being a part of the three athletes to go and represent Bishops at a national event and perform to the best of our abilities was a feeling that could not be put into words. I would especially like to thank the coaches for preparing us for four years the way they did to compete at a level as high as the CFL; not only physically, but mentally.
Overall, the three BU players ran the first (Turner 4.31), third (Poloniato 4.46) and fourth (Gore 4.50) best 40 yard dashes.
Clearly BU Head Coach Leroy Blugh and the rest of his staff are doing a great job preparing their players for the combine as the last two years have basically been a Gaiter showcase. Speaking with Lee following the remarkable results, he acknowledged the work the three players put in to be where they are now: The performance of the guys just goes to show what you can accomplish when you do things the right way and dont make excuses. Between Polly being overlooked for well deserved all star awards in the past, Gore coming back from, and playing with a broken arm/hand in a cast, and people doubting Turner because of his lack of size, these guys worked hard, made no excuses, and have been silencing the doubters, and now the country got to see it first hand.