The CFL Combine commences in Toronto today, where the most highly-touted prospective CFL players from across the country will attempt to impress scouts, coaches and GMs in hopes of seeing their professional football dreams to fruition. The first day consists of player interviews with team personnel before the real fun begins on Saturday morning with weigh-ins and the vertical jump and bench press drills.
On the Tiger-Cats current roster, there are 17 players who have competed in the National CFL Combine. Of the 17 players to take on the six individual testing drills (40-yard dash, short shuttle, 3-cone, vertical jump, broad jump and bench press), receiver Giovanni Aprile holds the top time or distance in four drills.
Aprile, who participated in the 2012 combine following his senior season at Queen’s University, holds current Ticats highs in the short shuttle (4.17 seconds), three-cone (6.54 seconds), vertical jump (39.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 3.5 inches). On top of that, Aprile ranks second in current Ticats for 40-yard dash time at the CFL Combine, behind just Anthony Woodson.
On the eve of the 2016 rendition of the pre-draft spectacle, I took some time to talk to the Ticats “top tester” about his experience at the 2012 CFL Combine. The fourth-year pro touched on his training for the event and the relationship between competitors once he got there while providing some advice for this year’s participants.
First off, let’s talk about how you prepared for the 2012 combine.
“I had a good group of guys to train with, I really didn’t know what to expect once I got there. I feel like I was pretty new to football to begin with. I had only played a year in high school, so every year was a big learning year for me. I talked to a bunch of Queen’s alumni who had gone through the combine; I’d ask what to expect, what the interviews would be like, what kind of questions I should prepare for. That was pretty much all I did ahead of time. When I got there I had the mentality that I didn’t have any numbers I wanted, I just wanted to do my best and if that sufficed, it sufficed.”
You said you didn’t have specific numbers you were aiming for but were you surprised with your results once they came in or was it just par for the course?
“During my training at Queen’s, we did some mock drills so we knew what we were getting ourselves into. That being said, I was familiar with it, but I wasn’t really looking into times to beat or times to set. I didn’t have any personal bests, I just planned to run it, give it my all and if the number was good, it was good. I was pretty comfortable with everything that came at me when I got there and the numbers took care of themselves.”
What was the interview process like for you?
“It’s definitely sort of nerve-wracking. I talked to a lot of guys that had gone through the process, and I asked them what to expect, but once I got down to it and was in the interviews it wasn’t that bad. Some coaches would come at you with questions from a lot of different angles and try to catch you off-guard, but my experience was really easy-going. Everyone was friendly, we had good talks and we laughed. To be honest, I got chirped for my hair quite a bit and that lightened the mood, so I’m thankful for that. When you’re walking to interviews you talk to guys who were in before you. They’ll tell you to watch out for certain questions and which coaches are hard-nosed or easy-going. There was a lot of talk in-between interviews with players who had gone through before me, so I felt pretty well prepared but you have to expect everything going into each interview.”
It seems odd that players would want to help each other out during this process, considering the competitive nature of the event, what’s it like competing alongside players you’ve likely played against throughout college?
“You’re competing against guys you’ve faced in the OUA and obviously the CIS as a whole. Whenever I came across someone from McMaster, Western or Windsor I would have a picture in my head of how the conversation would go, but it would usually be totally different. The guys are so friendly, they’re pulling for each other, advice is given out and everyone is really supportive. Yes, it comes down to who had the better numbers, but the support is really uncanny.”
Knowing what you know now, what sort of advice would you give to players attending the combine this year?
“It’s funny, I actually talked to a couple Queen’s guys recently; Curtis Carmichael, who was heading to the regional combine, and Doug Corby going to the evaluation camp. I just told them to stay calm and focused. You can definitely get jitters just seeing other guys going before you, and seeing them put up good times might get in your head. I just told them to keep a clear mind and stay focused. You’ve practiced and trained for this, good things are going to come.”
It’s been four years since you took part in the combine, do you think you could replicate your results if you were to perform the drills today?
“I think I’d have a different mindset going into it, and I’d know little tricks here and there for each test. I’d like to think that I’d put up similar numbers or better.”
Changing gears a little bit— you recently re-signed in Hamilton, what do you hope to contribute in the upcoming campaign?
“I have high expectations for myself and goals to contribute to the team this season. The past two years I didn’t participate in spring camp or training camp, so I didn’t start the season off on the foot that I wanted to. First of all, I want to contribute really in the special teams game, and I know I have the capability and versatility to do so. I also would love to contribute to the offence. I’m behind some great players in Andy Fantuz and Spencer Watt, and I’m learning with great guys like Chad Owens now, and Luke Tasker has been a great mentor. I’m with a great group of guys, and I just hope to be on the field more often than I was in the past and show everyone that I’m here to work hard and play an important role. In spring camp and training camp I hope that comes across to the coaches.”
