As the dust settles at the CFL Combine in Edmonton, attention now turns to draft boards across the league.<\/p>\n
As the dust settles at the CFL Combine in Edmonton, attention now turns to draft boards across the league. With testing complete, interviews wrapped up and on-field drills in the books, the CFL\u2019s nine teams are now in evaluation mode as they prepare for next month\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n
According to 3DownNation.com reporter J.C. Abbott, a handful of prospects did more than show up; they significantly boosted their stock.<\/p>\n
At the top of that list was Queen\u2019s offensive tackle Niklas Henning, who delivered what may have been the most eye-opening performance of the entire combine.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there was a couple people who really aided their case. The big star to me was Niklas Henning,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cI knew he was a freak going in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henning\u2019s path to this point has been anything but conventional.<\/p>\n
Just two years ago, he was an All-Canadian tight end at Queen’s before making the move to offensive tackle in hopes of improving his professional prospects.<\/p>\n
The transition appears to be paying off.<\/p>\n
Despite adding the size needed for the offensive line, Henning has maintained elite athleticism, highlighted by a 4.9-second 40-yard dash, a remarkable time for a lineman.<\/p>\n
Abbott noted it was the first sub-five-second 40 by an offensive lineman at the CFL Combine in a decade, a performance that has already caught the attention of NFL scouts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are already NFL teams calling CFL staffers and Henning\u2019s camp asking, \u2018Who is this guy?\u2019\u201d Abbott said.<\/p>\n
Another player who turned heads was linebacker Eric Rascoe from Angelo State.<\/p>\n
A late addition to the draft class after securing Canadian citizenship, Rascoe entered the combine as somewhat of an unknown, but quickly changed that perception.<\/p>\n
Abbott said Rascoe tested exceptionally well and looked comfortable adapting to the Canadian game, while also impressing teams during interviews.<\/p>\n
For clubs looking to gauge his commitment to playing north of the border, Abbott said the answers were exactly what they wanted to hear.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a lot of ways, he seems gung-ho about it,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cI think he really helped himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the more intriguing storylines from the combine came from McGill quarterback Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald.<\/p>\n
Expected to transition to receiver at the professional level, Latendresse-Regimbald impressed during drills at a position many converted quarterbacks struggle to adjust to.<\/p>\n
Abbott said the McGill product looked smooth and natural, drawing comparisons to former CFL star Brad Sinopoli, who successfully made the same switch earlier in his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s an incredible athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the combine now in the rear-view mirror, teams will spend the coming weeks finalizing their draft lists and weighing which of these standout performers could become the next impact CFL player.<\/p>\n