"Cornerback Larry Parker joins the RedBlacks"

Wow it had been two whole weeks since the RedBlacks had signed a guy!  For a while there, we were getting a new signing every two days!

Apparently, Parker was among the last cuts of the Arizona Cardinals in 2012.  But prior to that?  In April of 2012, Damond Talbot wrote an article about him for SBNation which includes a brief Q&A with Parker.  Highlights below, but you can read the complete version here. 

Parker hasn’t had an easy path to make it where he is today.

Parker was born and raised in San Diego, California, and coming out of St. Augustine High School as a very athletic player who played all phases of the game. He was a wide receiver who had 45 receptions, a cornerback who had 44 tackles and 8 interceptions and led the team in Kick Return yards. You would think a player with that type of play would easily get a shot at the next level. 

Well unfortunately, Parker didn’t make it as easy as others.  Parker took a full ride scholarship to play for Sacramento State as a cornerback, but after one year there he made a transfer to a JUCO school, because Sacramento State wanted to play him at wide receiver rather than cornerback.  Parker chose to stay close to home with Grossmont Junior College and play for one year at cornerback, before getting on to San Diego State’s roster. 

Parker had 38 tackles and three interceptions with the Griffins to earn honorable mention all Southern-Conference honors, in 2008. Parker went on to San Diego State and in his first couple years, played in all 12 games, as a reserve cornerback and was able to immediately contribute.  

Standing at 5'11 and weighing in at 170 pounds, Parker has played in all but one game over his career and has been very solid in coverage. This year Parker had his best season as an Aztec, totaling 63 tackles, 7 interceptions, 9 pass deflections and beautiful 22 yard interception return against Air Force this year. 

 Photography by Earnie Grafton

I had the pleasure to talk with Larry Parker in an exclusive interview for Mocking the Draft, so let’s find out a little more about this upcoming late round steal.
... 

What was your most memorable moment in college? 

The first game of this year, I was given the starting spot for the first time. I was always in the second group, and I finally got a chance to lock it down. After I got the spot, I wasn’t going to let it go. 

... 

What was the most traumatic thing that has ever happened in your life? How did you overcome it? 

The most traumatic time had to be, when my friend, Todd Doxey an Oregon football player and high school friend drowned in a river my freshman year in 2008. He was a close friend of mine, and that was really hard to get over. All the guys in the crew stayed close and kept his name alive. 

What was your favorite NFL team growing up? 

Whatever team Deion was on, then when he retired whatever team Michael Vick was on. 

Who in the NFL would say, your game is most like and why? 

I would say Charles Woodson, because we have the same body type, and we are both quick on our feet. He has instincts like me as well. 

If you could meet one person dead or alive; who would it be and why? 

Michael Jordan, always have been a big fan of his 

If it was your last meal on earth, what would it be? 

Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo 

Have you been hearing where NFL teams have you projected in the draft? 

I have heard 5th to 7th round. 

What NFL teams talked with you this year? 

The Jaguars, Dolphins, Patriots, Broncos, Chargers and the Ravens 

When you talk with NFL teams, what do you tell them you will bring to their team? 

Versatility, I have played QB, WR, RB, as well as cornerback. I can see both sides of the field, I understand what the Quarterback is doing and can run the routes of the receiver. 

Do you have any pre game rituals? 

I wear the same socks throughout the whole season. If I wore white wrist tape I had to wear black socks, and vice versa, and listen to music. 

Do you have any hobbies? 

Being a father and playing with my son 

If you were to find a genie lamp and get three wishes, what would they be? 

First wish would be to make an NFL teams 53 man roster, Second would be to stay healthy to play a long career and be there for my son, and Lastly to make sure my son doesn’t have to go without anything. 

There's an interesting connection here already; Parker and recent Redblacks signee Eddie Elder were signed by the Arizona Cardinals on the same day in May 2012. Elder was released by them in August of that year and Parker the following month.

Ottawa Invaders 2014 schedule

Revealed earlier today (but, as usual, subject to change):

The Northern Football Conference appears to be featuring two 5-team divisions this year.  The Invaders are in the East, sharing it with the two Toronto teams (Raiders and Titans), the defending champion Montreal Transit and the Oakville Longhorns.

For those unfamiliar with the club, this will be their 5th year of operation.  They were coached by former Ottawa Rough Rider Ken Evraire during the first three, achieving a 14-9-1 regular season record and reaching the championship game in both 2011 and 2012.  Wayne Jacobs took over for the 2013 season and led the team to a 6-2 record.

The team played at Keith Harris Stadium (Carleton) up until renovations were required for the return of the university's football program.  Games were played at Beckwith last year, but presumably the Invaders will return to Carleton for 2014.

This is a quality club filled with local players who have exhausted their CIS and junior eligibility.  If you have yet to take in a game, do yourself a favour and show up on May 31st.

The daily signing! Cameron Kenney!

If nothing else, I am appreciative to the RedBlacks for making this offseason fly by so far.

OTTAWA – Cameron Kenney, a wide receiver who played collegiate football for the Oklahoma Sooners, has been signed by the Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League.

The 24-year-old comes to Ottawa after spending time on NFL rosters in Denver, Seattle and San Diego, in the CFL with Edmonton and in the United Football League with Omaha.

Kenney (6-1, 199 lbs.) played the 2009 and 2010 seasons with the Sooners, totaling 812 yards on 55 receptions for five touchdowns.

More specifically, he broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with San Diego in July 2011.  He didn't do much in the pros (at least to this point) so let's review his final days as an Oklahoma Sooner:

As a senior, Kenney had standout performances in OU’s last three games last season.

He was instrumental in OU’s 47-41 win against Oklahoma State, catching six passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Sooners, including an 86-yard touchdown during the Sooners’ 23-point fourth quarter.

Kenney’s 65 yards against Nebraska — second-most on the team — helped the Sooners rally back from a 17-0 deficit to win Oklahoma’s seventh Big 12 Championship.

His 154 yards against Connecticut, second only to Ryan Broyles, helped OU end its BCS losing streak by beating the Huskies, 48-20, in the Fiesta Bowl.

RedBlacks sign...a boatload of defenders!

The RedBlacks have taught me a bit of a lesson.

Yesterday, they signed former UOttawa Gee-Gee defensive back Delroy Clarke.  I added his name to the roster and to the transactions list but left it at that, thinking I'd try to find out more about him tomorrow (now today).

Then, they signed three more guys. So now I know: Jump on that stuff right away!

OTTAWA -- The Ottawa REDBLACKS have signed import linebackers Jasper Simmons and Brandon Denson, as well as import defensive back Reggie Jones.

Denson, a 6-foot, 240-pound 26-year-old from Willow Run, Michigan, played university football for the Michigan State Spartans, where he recorded 45 tackles in four seasons.

Denson has experience in the CFL with Hamilton and Montreal. Last season, he served most of the year on the practice roster of the Alouettes. He made his CFL debut with the Tiger-Cats in 2011.  He has also seen action in the Arena Football League with the Cleveland Gladiators.

Simmons joins the REDBLACKS after playing for the Toronto Argonauts in 2011 and 2012.  The 6-foot-1, 223-pound, 24-year-old native of Pensacola, Florida registered an interception in each season with the Argos.

Simmons played four college seasons: two at Missouri after two others at Hutchinson Community College. In 2009, he started 12 games at Missouri and made 73 tackles playing at the safety position.

Jones, a 6-foot, 200-pound 27-year-old from Bellevue, Washington, comes to Ottawa after spending parts of the past five seasons with NFL teams: New Orleans, Washington, Minnesota and Dallas.

He also played in the United Football League with the Virginia Destroyers and helped the team with the 2012 league championship.

Jones played one season of collegiate football at Portland State after switching from wide receiver at Idaho earlier in his career.

Searching for info on the guys, Denson comes up most often, but typically about his battle against diabetes. The following article appeared on thespec.com in 2011.

Brandon Denson watches as his Hamilton Ticat teammates devour a rare after-practice treat, Dairy Queen Blizzards delivered to provide some relief from the sweltering summer heat. As players slurp happily away, Denson has to do a series of complex math equations in his head before making a decision on whether to dig in.

Denson, a 24-year-old rookie linebacker, has Type 1 diabetes and requires daily doses of insulin to survive. Diagnosed as he was entering his final year of high school, Denson has to cope with the challenges of the disease — monitoring his blood sugar level, calorie intake and insulin dosage — as well as the mental and physical demands of pro football.

“I don’t let it get to me, that’s the bottom line. I can’t feel sorry for myself — I just have to move forward,” Denson says. “The main thing was I wasn’t going to let it stop me.”

Denson wears an insulin pump under his equipment to help control the flow of insulin into his body. The size of a deck of cards, it’s generally well protected but, given the nature of his work, it’s still vulnerable: He broke the $8,000 pump during training camp this spring.

“The training staff were a little frazzled about it and I had to go back to injections until we could get a new one,” he says. “But it’s still under warranty.”

Denson has adorned his pump with SpongeBob SquarePants stickers — a seemingly odd choice for a 5-foot-10, 230-pound linebacker who wears a perpetual scowl on the football field. But the stickers were a gift from a five-year-old diabetes patient who Denson met through his work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in his home state of Michigan.

“He had SpongeBob on his pump and I thought it was cool,” Denson says. “A few weeks later, his family sent me some stickers in the mail so I thought it was only right that I put them on my pump, too.”

Denson is heavily involved with the JDRF, visiting with kids during his senior year in high school and during his four years at Michigan State.

“It’s not just about playing football. I tell kids, if you want to be a doctor or a lawyer, don’t let the disease stop you,” Denson says. “It’s a lot of negatives about having diabetes, but there’s a lot of positive that can come from it, too, especially by talking to kids.”

The biggest challenge is the toll it takes on his body. The physical demands of playing combined with the exhaustive meeting schedule, not to mention the amount of calories he has to eat to refuel, are just some of the issues he faces on a daily basis.

“Given the type of work we do, it’s going to affect you,” Denson says. “Everybody loses energy, but I lose it twice as fast because the disease works a little bit harder on my body.”

...

And, just like most challenges associated with his fight against diabetes, Denson had a strategy to win the battle against the Blizzard, too. An admitted sweet tooth, Denson figured out what the ice cream’s impact on his blood sugar would be and made the necessary adjustments to his medication.

“That ice cream looks pretty good,” he said, smiling. “You better believe I’m gonna have me some.”

And then, there's Delroy:

OTTAWA – Delroy Clarke, a non-import defensive back who played collegiate football with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, is the latest player to sign with the Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League.

The 6-foot, 190-pound, 31-year-old native of Kingston, Jamaica was a fourth-round selection (29th overall) by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2008 Canadian College draft. Clarke spent three seasons with the Argos before joining the Eskimos in a March 2011 trade that sent a fourth-round pick in the 2012 Canadian College draft to Toronto.

Clarke, who did not play in 2013, has recorded 45 tackles on special teams during five CFL seasons.

He spent three years with the Gee-Gees, with 34 defensive tackles and two interceptions in 16 games.

The REDBLACKS have signed two players who attended the University of Ottawa: Clarke and wide receiver Simon Le Marquand of Gatineau.

That actually covers it pretty well!  Anything else I come across about these guys, or any RedBlack singing, for that matter, I'll post here as well.

Nepean Redskins become Nepean Eagles

The Nepean Redskins announced their new name today, changing from being named after one NFL NFC East team to another.  Here is the announcement from their revamped website.

The EAGLES it is

Thank you to everyone who put forward ideas for a new name and to those who voted ... your voice has been heard loud and clear.

We now embark on the next phase of our great Club with a new name and colours.

There is certainly one big advantage of having an NFL namesake .. easy access to clothing, jerseys, hats and other swag.

We are working with our core sponsor and will shortly see Eagles product available at Source for Sports in Barrhaven.

The transition begins!

Well, that was a lot faster than I'd anticipated.

I'm not sure I could have come up with a worst outcome to this issue if I tried, however I want to be supportive of local ball so I won't comment much further.  It would be easy for someone on the outside looking in to critisize a group of people who found themselves in an unenviable position.  I'm not the one having to deal with the backlash over a decision that was made decades ago.

So okay, Eagles it is.  Moving on.

"Keith Shologan moving on after expansion draft"

The following article is from cjme.com, written by Joel Gasson.  The picture was taken from the Wikipedia page specific to Shologan (so I'm unaware of who deserves credit for it, I'm afraid).

Needless to say the end of the year was an eventful one for one former Rider.

Ottawa RedBlacks defensive lineman Keith Shologan will remember 2013 for a number of reasons. The tackle of course won the Grey Cup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on home turf and then just weeks later it was all gone as he was left unprotected in the Ottawa expansion draft and was taken by the CFL's new team.

"We were in Austria (when Shologan got the call), my wife she's from there and her grandparents brought us out there so they could see our new son," Shologan told the Green Zone on Thursday.

When RedBlacks General Manager Marcel Desjardins announced Shologan's name there was a sense of collective shock across much of Rider Nation that Shologan was one of the Riders starters that was left unprotected.

Everyone had been making their own mock lists, and for the most part it was expected that Shologan would be protected. As it tuns out, he wasn't.

"That's football, that's the business," said Shologan. "I'm excited for the opportunity over in Ottawa, football wise it's a brand new chapter."

...

So far, Shologan admits he hasn't talked too much with the braintrust or players in Ottawa about what the plan is next year, but everyone appears to be very excited about the opportunity to start something new.

"If we come in with positive attitudes, the sky is the limit," he said. "Sometimes when you get traded or drafted you get a chip on your shoulder, if we can use those chips in a positive way, I think we'll be competitive."

The hardest part for Shologan might actually be getting used to his new surroundings. When he first arrived in Regina it was Scott Schultz that was showing him around the area, but with everyone being new in Ottawa there isn't that veteran there to do that.

As for on the field, Shologan already sees some pretty good battles brewing along the defensive line with himself, the other Canadian rider taken in the expansion draft Zack Evans and some other defensive tackles they had previous drafted or signed.

Where he thinks they need some work right now is definitely on the edges.

"We got to pick up some defensive ends right now, by the look of my count they drafted four Canadian and four American tackles," said Shologan.

Shologan does like the look of the offensive linemen they've been able to pick up so far and of course quarterback Kevin Glenn.

At some point next season Shologan will be returning to Mosaic Stadium to play the Roughriders, something Shologan admits he hasn't thought about too much just yet.

"I'm not too excited about using those locker rooms," joked Shologan.

Shologan doesn't expect to make his way out to the Nation's Capital until just before training camp, excluding a brief stop for some kind of mini-camp sometime in the spring.

A few thoughts about all that.

Not that it's so critical in reality, but even though everyone in Ottawa will be "new", not everyone will be new to Ottawa.  The RedBlacks already have a couple of local players signed and it wouldn't be shocking if more were brought in between now and the time that Shologan has to report (which hopefully includes college draft pick Connor Williams, and edge player that Shologan feels we need anyway).

I love the comment, even in humour, about the locker rooms.  It was never something I gave much thought to, but Frank Clair stadium could not have been much of a selling point to prospective free agents.  New, modern facilities obviously will be.

That's one thing in terms of drawing free agents, but also in terms of retaining them.  No doubt many of the players acquired in the expansion draft have only one year remaining on their contracts (with the exception of receiver Rory Kolhert who will be a free agent next month).  And of those, several were established in other parts of the country.  If we lose half of them after one year because they want to go "home", then the purpose and advantages of the expansion draft are blown. The RedBlack experience needs to be a quality one and facilities will be a big part of that.

"REDBLACKS sign Canadian lineman Brendan Dunn"

The RedBlacks continue to add big bodies to the offensive line.

OTTAWA – The Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League have signed Canadian offensive lineman Brendan Dunn.

The 6-foot-7, 300-pound, 25-year-old native of Burlington spent the 2013 season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after breaking into the CFL in 2012 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

He was drafted by the Blue Bombers in the 2011 CFL Draft, taken as the first pick of the third round (17th overall).

Dunn was a standout with the University of Western Ontario Mustangs, switching to offensive line after playing on the defensive line during his freshman and junior Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) seasons.

He was named to the CIS All-Canadian First Team at offensive tackle for the 2011 season.

Standard operating procedure then: Let's go to this Inside Halton article (from May 2011) for a little background.

Two years ago, Western Mustangs coach Greg Marshall came to Brendan Dunn with a proposal. Entering the most important years of his football career, Marshall wanted to switch the former Burlington Stampeder from defensive line to offensive line.

Marshall made a compelling case as to how Dunn would help the team more by switching to the other side of the line. Marshall also said that if Dunn wanted to pursue a professional career, his chances would be better guarding quarterbacks instead of chasing them down.

“My coaches never led me astray,” the 22 year old said. “I trusted their judgment.”

Dunn would spend the following season as a backup as he learned his new position. This season he stepped into a starting role, helping the Western Mustangs go 7-1 and lead the league in scoring, averaging 39.6 points per game. Dunn made enough of an impression that he was invited to the CFL evaluation camp in March, but being selected in the draft was by no means a guarantee.

Dunn decided to increase his odds with a heavy workout schedule in preparation for the camp.

“That was my one shot to show everyone what I can do,” Dunn said, “my chance to show those scouts that I was good enough to play in the CFL.”

The 6-foot-7, 280-pound Dunn scored the highest vertical leap (33 inches) and the best 40-yard dash time (5.14 seconds) among offensive lineman at the camp and turned in the second best bench press (24 reps of 225 pounds).

Sunday, he waited nervously to see if all his hard work had paid off. The television coverage of the draft was just winding down when his phone rang. It was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who told him they were about to make him the first pick of the third round (17th overall).

“It’s probably one of the most exciting moments of my life,” he said.

The Blue Bombers were pretty excited as well.

Assistant general manager and director of football operations Ross Hodgkinson said the team was “able to select and get our wish list” — a list that included Dunn.

...

Dunn first started thinking about a professional career after making a provincial team while in Grade 11 at Notre Dame. The following year, 2007, he made the Canadian squad for the NFL Global Junior Championship where he helped Canada defeat the U.S. (coincidentally, switching to offensive line for the first time for the tournament).

“It was ‘Woah’, I made a national team,’” he said. “It dawned on me that I could play professionally. It gave me something to aspire to. That became my goal, and my dad told me to shoot for the stars.”

...

Though he was a tackle in university, Dunn was listed as a guard for the Blue Bombers.

"RedBlacks sign kicker Nick Setta"

Nick Setta?  Dude...Where ya been?  Setta hasn't kicked professionally since 2009.

Let's find out more about him from the article below, originally from The South Town Star and published in February 2012.

He kicked a 59-yard field goal as a high school sophomore at Lockport, the longest in IHSA history.

He hit the crossbar from 72 yards in a playoff game as a junior. Then-Porters special-teams coach Jim Hall swears he nailed an 80-plus-yarder in practice.

He averaged 47.8 yards per punt as a senior.

He was 46-of-66 on field-goal attempts during his Notre Dame career, the second-most field goals in Irish history behind John Carney’s 51.

He is in the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ record book for his 97-yard punt — a feat he accomplished twice. He averaged a Canadian Football League-record 64.7 yards per punt in a game.

...

“I’ve never been in this good of shape physically and mentally,” he said during the recent Wish Upon A Star Benefit Softball Game in the Snow, where he was among the guest celebrities.

His readiness is a byproduct of his business, Setta Performance, which he operates from his former high school. He trains local athletes, and he gets right in there with them.

“The Lockport football, baseball, softball, wrestling and swimming and diving teams hired me to work with them, and some others in the area have, too,” Setta said. “They have invested a lot of time in me, and I love doing it. So it’s got to be a good opportunity for me, too, to take another shot at playing.”

At various times, Setta was in NFL camps with the Saints, Buccaneers, Bears, Browns and Bills and he played in NFL Europe before joining Hamilton, where he kicked from 2007 through ’09. He was a two-time CFL All-Star and made 111-of-139 field-goal attempts during that span besides averaging 44.7 yards for 365 punts.

“Three years in the CFL taught me a lot,” Setta said. “For example, they do more directional punting there than they do here because the field is wider. I still have the big leg. I can kick field goals beyond 60 yards, maybe 64-65 on a calm day, and with a little wind, bump it up a bit. I kicked one 74-75 yards in practice at Notre Dame, off the ground.”

The Tiger-Cats released him in January 2010, but he is not convinced that was the end. Not that a comeback will be easy to accomplish.

...

Setta was an All-America high school kicker/punter but is an athlete first and foremost. He belongs in the team picture of the best all-around athletes the Joliet area has produced.

When Setta was in high school, he was one of the top distance runners in the state. He finished as high as fifth individually in the state cross country meet and helped Lockport win two state titles.

As you know, cross country and football seasons coincide. Think about that.

You say kickers have played two sports simultaneously, such as soccer and football? True, but Setta, whose No. 1 sport growing up was soccer, was much more than a kicker/punter.

He used his speed and grit to make tackles after kickoffs. He threw two touchdown passes on fake field-goal attempts at Lockport (at Notre Dame, he threw for a touchdown and ran for another on fake kicks).

Lockport used him at times at wide receiver. Then-coach Bret Kooi said he could have been an all-state receiver if that were his position.

Then there was track and field in the spring, the third sport where he earned four letters. A two-year member of the track team at Notre Dame, Setta won a state championship in the 800 and qualified for state in the 800, high jump (he set the school record at 6 feet, 10 inches) and intermediate hurdles the same year. There’s a trifecta you don’t see every day.

When he says he never has been in better shape physically and mentally than he is now, you have to believe there is an NFL team out there that may get interested. If not, what about the CFL?

“I’d possibly consider the CFL again because a chance to play is a chance to play,” Setta said. “John Carney is in his 40s and kicking.

“If sometime later some team asks if I’m still kicking the ball, I’ll still be kicking and my body will be in shape. I’ll be ready. I like being in the game.”

Somewhat prophetic...

Now I believe that current Redblacks general manager Marcel Desjardins brought Setta to the Ti-Cats late in 2006 in the first place, so there's familiarity there.  Seems like a nice pick up.

Carleton opens its Christmas presents early!

The Carleton Ravens announced the following recruiting commitments on December 23rd.

Steve Sumarah, Ravens’ head coach is pleased to announce the following student/athlete commitments for next season.

James McCallum, a 6’1”, 180 pound, defensive back from Mississauga, Ontario.

McCallum attends Champlain College in Lennoxville, Quebec and played Division 1 College football for the Cougars.

Michael Black is 6 feet tall and weighs 175 pounds. Black is also a DB and hails from Ottawa, Ontario.

McCallum and Black were teammates at Champlain College this past fall as the Cougars were crowned the 2013 Bol d’Or Champions.

...

The program would also like to announce the signing of Tevin Bowen a 6’1”, 260 pound defensive lineman from Robert Hall High School. Bowen is from Orangeville Ontario.

McCallum must be the same that James McCallum that earned an OVFL all-star nod for the Mississauga Warriors this past season.  He was credited with 24 solo tackles, 21 assists and three interceptions.

Black is a little harder to pin down.  He has played on both sides of the ball (receiver as well as DB) and in fact has played so much that you're concerned that you're confusing two people with the same name.  Assuming I have the right guy, he was also not only an all-star in NCAFA (in 2011) but also league MVP for the Midget-level Orleans Bengals and has played for St. Matthews high school.

I believe Bowen had originally committed to McMaster so seeing his name in this release is a bit of a surprise.  He played for the OVFL's Brampton Bulldogs recording 14 solo tackles, 21 assists and two sacks in 2012.

Michael O'Connor re-opens recruitement

How is the news of the Houston Texans hiring (now) former Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien relevent to Ottawa football?  It means that a local quarterback that had previously committed to Penn State is now reconsidering his decision, according to NJ.com, by way of pennlive.com.

NJ.com is reporting that heralded quarterback prospect Michael O'Connor, thought to be a key piece of Penn State's 2014 recruiting class, is delaying his official decision until June, which essentially means he is re-opening his recruitment.

...

O'Connor was expected to enroll at Penn State in January (Jan. 13) but Bill O'Brien's decision to leave Penn State for the Houston Texans has obviously affected his thought process.

Todderick Hunt of NJ.com spoke with Victor Tedondo, who Hunt writes is a mentor of O'Connor's. Tedondo is the founder and director of the Gridiron Academy in Ottawa, according to Hunt.

Rutgers, Michigan State and UCLA are all interested in O'Connor, according to Tedondo.

...

"It's been a terrible week for (O'Connor), to be honest with you,'' Tedondo told NJ.com.

"There have been a lot of distractions. He's a kid who left home at 15 years old and he's been a lot of different places with different coaching staffs. He pushed himself and took extra classes last summer to graduate early because his intention was to go to Penn State in January. And obviously, it once again didn't work out. So it is frustrating for him and his parents.''

Tedondo added: "One thing I know for sure, (O'Connor) told me (Wednesday) that he will not be going to school (at Penn State) in January because he's not sure what he's getting himself into. So he is going to delay his decision until June. I think after tonight he's gonna start planning some stuff out (as far as visits).

The interview being referred to can be found in its entirety here.

Want to know more about O'Connor?  About a year ago, IMG Academy had the following to say about him when he joined them.

“Michael is a great young man who possesses all the qualities we are looking for in our student-athletes that we want leading our team in its first season,” remarked Chris Weinke, Director of Football, IMG Academy. “I believe he has the ability and makeup to be one of the premier high school quarterbacks in the country.”
A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, O’Connor began playing football at the age of seven. He started his high school football career with Ashbury College in Canada, where he threw 51 touchdowns to only seven interceptions in his sophomore season. Seeking a bigger challenge to develop his game, O’Connor opted to play in the United States at Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.) for the 2012 season, helping lead the team to a 7-3 regular season record and a berth in the Tennessee D-II-AA playoffs. O’Connor enrolls at IMG Academy as a junior this spring, and will be a member of the class of 2014.
- See more at: http://www.imgacademy.com/latest-headlines/2013-01-04/standout-canadian-born-quarterback-michael-o%E2%80%99connor-joins-img-academy#sthash.uePo8Esc.dpuf

“Michael is a great young man who possesses all the qualities we are looking for in our student-athletes that we want leading our team in its first season,” remarked Chris Weinke, Director of Football, IMG Academy. “I believe he has the ability and makeup to be one of the premier high school quarterbacks in the country.”

A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, O’Connor began playing football at the age of seven. He started his high school football career with Ashbury College in Canada, where he threw 51 touchdowns to only seven interceptions in his sophomore season. Seeking a bigger challenge to develop his game, O’Connor opted to play in the United States at Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.) for the 2012 season, helping lead the team to a 7-3 regular season record and a berth in the Tennessee D-II-AA playoffs. O’Connor enrolls at IMG Academy as a junior this spring, and will be a member of the class of 2014.

O'Connor also played for the Orleans Bengals in NCAFA.  In any event, he may or may not end up at Penn State, but he remains one to watch for fans of local football.

"REDBLACKS add big lineman from Montreal"

OTTAWA – Anthony Barrette, a non-import offensive lineman, has signed with the Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League.

The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Barrette played university football for the Concordia Stingers before being selected by the Montreal Alouettes in the second round (16th overall) in the 2011 CFL Canadian Draft.

The Verdun native was a CIS Quebec conference all-star and second team CIS All-Canadian in 2010 and was a three-time all-star at Vanier College in the CEGEP league.

To find out more about him, let's turn to The Link, Concordia's newspaper.  The article below is from April 2012. The original version is here.

Like many young Canadians, ex-Concordia Stinger Anthony Barrette’s first passion was hockey. But a chance meeting helped spur his move from the ice rink to the gridiron.

“I used to play hockey up until I was 15,” said Barrette. “But then I kind of lost the passion for it. A year later I was playing pick-up football at a park in Lasalle and a coach from the Lasalle Warriors saw me and asked me to play.”

...

After spending five years anchoring the left side of the Stingers’ offensive line, Barrette was drafted 16th overall in the second round during the 2011 Canadian Football League draft.

The history major started out as a defensive lineman, but seamlessly made the switch to offensive line in his second year at Vanier College. He was skeptical at first, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

“Playing defense was fun, it was more about instinct,” said Barrette, “Offensive line is kind of the same thing, but it’s a controlled violence because it’s way more technical. There’s a lot of thinking involved.”

Despite his obvious talent, going pro was never really in the cards—until he was told it was impossible.

“When I first started playing I never thought about [it],” said Barrette. “I had some coaches at the time who told me I should probably focus on school because I was never going to go anywhere in football. When I was told that, something clicked inside my brain, I told myself that I was going to change everything around, that this was what I wanted to do and that I was going to do it.”

His determination culminated in his name getting called by his hometown team on that fateful draft day in May of 2011.

“In life, if you have a goal, no matter what it is, and you achieve that goal, even when all the odds are against you—that’s one of the best feelings in the world,” he said. “That day when I got drafted, it could have been any team in the CFL, it was just a great feeling—I can’t really describe it. It was such a sense of accomplishment, that all the years of training had paid off.”

Barrette has had a strong supporting cast around him throughout his football career. He credits his parents as being the two most important people in his life, and also singled out his uncle, Peter Folko, as being his role model. Folko played in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, but his career was cut short by a knee injury.

His football role model, Marwan Hage, offensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was key in shaping Barrette’s game.

“I started training with Marwan in my second year at Concordia, and he really made me realize that my dream was possible,” said Barrette. “He taught me to stay focused on getting better at my position and taught me a lot about the business aspect of the league.”

Barrette also credits Bryan Chiu, former Alouettes offensive lineman and current assistant offensive coordinator of the Stingers, for not only helping him improve as a football player, but also preparing him for life as a professional athlete.

Chiu had nothing but good things to say about Barrette, and is confident that he will be a good CFL player for years to come.

“I think Anthony is a great player,” said Chiu, who played 13 seasons with the Alouettes, “He’s got size and great athletic ability, he’s very quick for a guy his size. He’ll do everything you ask of him as a coach and those are the guys you love to have. He’s not the most vocal guy, but he’s a great leader by example.”

His unwavering determination and will to succeed is what got Barrette to this point, and he knows it’s what will allow him to succeed in the CFL.

“The ultimate goal is to become not just a good player in the CFL, but a legend in the CFL,” said Barrette. “It’s going to be a long road, but I’m ready.”

How nice (and motivating) for Barrette that he may get to play with someone he considers a role model?  Not only with him, but perhaps directly next to him; past articles and scouting reports state that Barrette is a better fit in the interior of the line.

After being drafted in 2011, Barrette returned to school for that season, then spent 2012 on the Alouettes injured list.  I'm not sure if Barrette was on the Alouettes roster in any capacity in 2013.

Reserve #42

In an odd bit of timing, the RedBlacks announced the signings of two players late yesterday; wide receiver Antoine Hicks and defensive back Eddie Elder.

I've tried to find out more about both and in doing so, came across the following article from SB Nation.

Undrafted free agent Eddie Elder was as surprised as anyone when he was handed the number 42 jersey to wear during the Arizona Cardinals training camp this year.

Before trying to get a job with the Cardinals, Elder played safety at ASU for two years, so he was well aware of the history and the meaning behind the number. When asked about the number, Elder said, "Honestly, I didn't pick this number, it was a coincidence." He went on to say "I'm honored to wear this number. Pat Tillman is a great person who did everything for Arizona State and the state, so it's an honor."

Back in 1994, Pat Tillman was given the final scholarship awarded to an Arizona State football player that year. He wore the number 42 jersey during his playing days at Arizona State, where he excelled at linebacker despite being undersized for his position. After a successful college career, Tillman was drafted as a safety by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998, and wore the number 40. Tillman was well on his way to a very long and successful professional football career, but after the September 11 attacks, he turned down a $3.6 million contract with the Cardinals to enlist in the Army and serve his country in 2002. In a very unfortunate incident, Tillman was killed by friendly fire in April 2004, while serving in Afghanistan. After his passing, Arizona State retired the number 42, and the Cardinals retired the number 40.

Coincidence or not, Eddie Elder played and graduated from ASU, he also plays safety, and is an undersized football player at 5'10" and 185 pounds.

Elder has had to overcome obstacles along his journey to become a professional football player. After being academically ineligible to enroll at Oregon, Elder attended the College of San Mateo. While there, he played in over 20 games, and by the time he left for Arizona State in 2010, Elder held the school record with 13 interceptions, and had won the NorCal Defensive Player of the Year award in 2009.

Once he transferred to Arizona State, Elder started 20 games for the Sun Devils, and played in all 25 games during his two seasons. He finished his Sun Devil career with 130 tackles, three interceptions, seven passes defended, one sack, and one forced fumble.

Despite having a successful college football career that included playing for a Division 1 school, Elder did not hear his name called during the 2012 NFL Draft.

After going undrafted, Elder did what he has always done before when faced with adversity, and found another way. Elder attended the Cardinals rookie mini-camp in May, and was brought back to the Cardinals training camp in Flagstaff to compete for a job on the team...

...

Perhaps being handed the number 42 is a sign that Elder will once again overcome another obstacle in his life. He has already overcome his size, obtained the first college degree in his family, and has completed a very successful college football career. Being a professional football player has always been something Elder has wanted since he was a kid, and with a little perseverance and determination, he just might reach his goal of playing in the NFL.

Sounds a little like another player who used to wear the number 42.

Interesting, however any Arizona State picture of Elder I've come across has shown him wearing the number 2.  Makes me wonder if the article is incorrect or if Elder chose to change numbers.  If it's the latter, I'm curious as to why.