DAYTON BLACK AND SIRIMAN BAGAYOGO NAMED COACHES’ PICKS ON DAY THREE OF CFL COMBINE
Prospects’ strong showings earn high praise from assembled coaches
EDMONTON (March 24, 2023) – Day Three of the Canadian Football League (CFL) Combine presented by New Era saw the prospects take the field for practice sessions involving individual drills, group teaching and 1-on-1s as coaches and general managers continued their evaluations.
Days Three to Five of the new revamped five-day format involves daily practice sessions that have traditionally been conducted in years past, as well as several new additions, including the pass skeleton and inside run sessions. CFL coaches from the league’s nine member clubs are leading positional groups, and installing offences and defences.
The assembled coaches will make daily picks from both sides of the ball, identifying the top prospects who stood out from their peers over the course of that day’s practice sessions. Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca columnist and Draft Insider, will provide additional insight into the coaches’ top selections.
COACHES’ PICKS – OFFENCE
DAYTON BLACK | OL | SASKATCHEWAN | BRANDON, MAN.
“I think he’s got prototypical tackle type size and he can move in to guard, as well. He has great length, which is a bit more rare in this offensive line class; there are more compact guys here. He also showed more fight today than I expected from him. I really loved the battle he showed during the 1-on-1s.”
– Marshall Ferguson
Honourable mentions
- David Dallaire | FB | Laval | Saint-Georges, Que.
- Jeremy Murphy | WR | Concordia | Saint-Bruno, Que.
COACHES’ PICKS – DEFENCE
SIRIMAN BAGAYOGO | DB | GUELPH | BOIS-DES-FILION, QUE.
“He's got exceptional length, but the thing I liked the most today was his patience reading routes. Playing man coverage in a combine setting can be hard for a defensive back and he made it look easy. You can tell how many reps he’s taken in 1-one-1s. He doesn’t get fooled by anything and he doesn’t jump anything he doesn’t see. He’s really smooth and I think the way he plays the ball in the air is among the best, not just at combine, but in all of U SPORTS this past year.”
– Marshall Ferguson
Honourable mentions
- Anthony Bennett | DL | Regina | Weston, Fla.
- Matt Dean | LB | York | Oshawa, Ont.
POSITIONAL COACHES AT CFL COMBINE
- Offensive Coordinator & Receivers | Pete Costanza (Toronto Argonauts)
- Quarterbacks | Kelly Jeffrey (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
- Running Backs | Jarryd Baines (Hamilton Tiger-Cats)
- Offensive Line | Paul Charbonneau (Ottawa REDBLACKS) and Marty Costello (Winnipeg Blue Bombers)
- Defensive Coordinator | Dwayne Cameron (Calgary Stampeders)
- Defensive Line | Tanya Henderson (BC Lions)
- Linebackers | Noel Thorpe (Montreal Alouettes)
- Defensive Backs | Brandon Isaac (Edmonton Elks)
SCHEDULE: SATURDAY, MARCH 25
Commonwealth Stadium Field House
- 9 – 10 a.m. | Defensive practice
- 10 – 11 a.m. | Offensive practice
- 1 – 2 p.m. | QB, OL, DL, RB and LB individual drills, 1-on-1s and pods
- 2 – 3:30 p.m. | QB, RB, LB, REC and DB individual drills, 1-on-1s and pass skeleton