Alberta’s never seen a stampede quite like the Western Mustangs’.
This weekend, fifth-year backup quarterback Jérôme Rancourt and fifth-year offensive lineman Keegan O’Neil represented Western University at the Canadian Football League’s 2026 national combine in Edmonton.
The Mustangs pair competed among a pool of 100 athletes — ranging from U Sports all-stars to impact players in the NCAA — hoping to bolster their odds of being selected in the 2026 CFL draft.
Jérôme Rancourt doing the broad jump at the CFL Combine in Edmonton, March 27, 2026.
“I want to go against the best of the best, that’s why we’re here,” said O’Neil.
All nine CFL teams had front-office representatives in attendance to evaluate talent. Among them was Ryan Dinwiddie, head coach and general manager for the Ottawa Redblacks, who holds the first overall pick in the 2026 draft.
“You’ve got to look at some of your needs, but we have to make sure we evaluate the best football player on the board. Obviously, there are some positions we’re looking to add to, but we’re gonna take the best player available at one,” said Dinwiddie.
Friday’s testing saw players complete the 40-yard dash, 3-Cone, short shuttle, broad jump, vertical jump and bench press.
Saturday and Sunday included practice drills with the pads on, giving teams a chance to see players up close in game-like scenarios such as one-on-ones and full-team scrimmages.
The combine also gives CFL front offices a chance to interview prospects one-on-one and gauge their personality.
“The football film never lies. But just to go see the drills and confirm this guy runs as fast as what you saw on film, it’s great for us to see them live. Personally, I love the interview process as I get to see who they are as a person,” said Dinwiddie.
Jérôme Rancourt smiling after completing the bench press at the CFL Combine in Edmonton, March 27, 2026.
Despite serving as Western’s versatile short-yardage backup quarterback this season, Rancourt participated in the combine as a fullback and tight end.
“With my size, position, and athletic background, I have a good opportunity to go at tight end and also contribute as a short-yardage quarterback like I’ve done at Western,” he said. “In today’s game, that’s more and more important, so I think that’s something that teams are looking for.”
Rancourt described his versatility as better than a buy-one-get-one deal — getting an athlete who can play tight-end, fullback, special teams and even quarterback.
Jérôme Rancourt blocking a bag that is being held up by another player during a fullback and running back drill at the CFL Combine in Edmonton, March 28, 2026.
Rancourt measured in at 260 lbs and 6′ 4 1/8″, making him the second-tallest skill-position player at the combine.
In eight games this regular season, Rancourt rushed for 12 touchdowns — the second most in all of U Sports. This rushing ability shone in the tests when he ran a 4.8 40-yard dash, the fastest among players 6′ 4” or taller.
“It took a lot of hard work and sacrifices. I’m balancing civil engineering and football, both require a total of probably 70 hours a week in the fall. Even in the winter, if you don’t have games, combine prep mixed with the capstone [project] takes up a lot of time,” he said.
Among the pool of giants his size, he also ran the fastest 3-cone at 7.16 seconds, and the third-fastest shuttle at 4.62 seconds.
But Rancourt fell short on the bench press and vertical. He benched 19 reps and jumped 29 inches, both the weakest among the tight end/fullback group.
Measuring at 6′ 3 1/8″ and 313 lbs, O’Neil projects himself as an interior offensive lineman at the next level — even saying that he’s practiced snapping the ball to prepare for scenarios where he is needed to play at center.
Keegan O’Neil running during an offensive line drill at the CFL Combine in Edmonton, March 29, 2026.
“I’m hoping to play wherever, whatever spot they need me at. If it’s tackle, guard or center, I’m ready to go for all of them. But, I definitely see myself as an interior guard or center,” he said.
Regardless of where he plays on an offensive-line, he’s sure to make an impact with his top-tier strength — a skillset proven at the combine with his 30 reps bench-pressing 225 lbs, the most of any player this weekend.
This marks the second year in a row a Mustang led the combine in the bench press drill, with defensive tackle Max Von Muehldorfer having 34 reps in 2025.
“I’ve always been known for having a strong bench,” O’Neil says. “The other side of it is I’ve really been working towards my quickness. That was something that I’ve truly focused on the most.”
Although O’Neil ran the fifth-slowest 40-yard dash at the combine at 5.44 seconds, he impressed with a 7.97-second three-cone drill — the third-fastest among offensive linemen. He also ran a 4.9-second shuttle, ranking fifth among offensive linemen.
Keegan O’Neil runs upfield during an offensive line drill at the CFL Combine in Edmonton, March 28, 2026.
Despite being the sixth heaviest player, O’Neil excelled in jumping tests with a 26″ vertical and a 7′ 11″ broad jump.
Along with an impressive combine, O’Neil earned himself a nod as a 2025 OUA-first-team all-star this past season. This marked a seamless bounce-back following a torn ACL that sidelined him for the entire 2024 season.
“I’ve had some injuries throughout my career, and I’m actually grateful for those. It showed me how to be tougher and showed me how to just persevere,” he said.
Although neither Rancourt nor O’Neil were projected to be selected in the top 20 in 3Down Nation’s pre-combine mock draft, the Mustangs both showed flashes to CFL front offices this weekend.
In the 2025 CFL draft, six Mustangs were selected out of the seven that participated in the combine.
“They’ve been a really good program, and Coach Marshall does a great job there. It’s the established culture, it just trickles down to the new players who are coming in. They learn how to work, they know how to be pros at a college level. I think that’s why they’ve had sustained success over the last two decades,” said Dinwiddie.
The CFL draft takes place on April 28, with the Ottawa Redblacks officially on the clock at 7 p.m..