Source: Canadian Football League

Toronto, ON - (February 23, 2012) - Four Western Mustangs football players are set to take part in the 2012 CFL Evaluation Camp presented by Reebok, which will host 59 of Canada's top football prospects eligible for the upcoming draft. The three-day event from March 2-4 is an opportunity for general managers, coaches and scouts to test, interview and evaluate prospects who they may select in the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft on Thursday, May 3.

Running back Nathan Riva, offensive lineman Matt Norman, defensive end David Lee and defensive tackle Mike Van Praet will represent the Mustangs at the camp and look to impress prospective teams.

Riva, a fourth-year Mustang, ran for 568 yards on 92 carries in 2011, good for fourth overall in the OUA. His nine touchdowns, meanwhile, were second-best in the league behind teammate Tyler Varga.

In a four-year career at Western, Norman has earned OUA first-team all-star honours three times and has been named a CIS first-team all-star twice (2010 and 2011). In January, he was ranked No. 15 on the CFL Scouting Bureau's prospect list for the 2012 draft.

Lee and Van Praet, both talented defensive players, were also OUA all-stars in 2011, as Lee was named to the first team and Van Praet earned a second-team nod.

This year's camp features 11 of the top 15 Canadian prospects as identified by the CFL's Central Scouting Bureau, including top ranked Ben Heenan, a 6'4", 310 pound offensive lineman from the University of Saskatchewan, and Arnaud Gascon-Nadon (#13), a 6'3", 250 pound defensive end from Université Laval. Both recently participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Canadian university football continues to be well represented at the event, as 54 of the 59 E-Camp invitees are from CIS programs.

Also participating at this year's scouting combine are three quarterbacks, Billy Greene (UBC), Kyle Graves (Acadia) and Kyle Quinlan (McMaster). Quinlan capped off a tremendous year by being named the game MVP at each stage of McMaster's post-season run, including the Yates Cup, Uteck Bowl, and Vanier Cup victories. The 6'3", 215 pound pivot had one of the best games in the 47-year history of the CIS football final completing 36 of 55 passes for 482 yards and two touchdowns, and adding 106 yards on the ground on 14 carries.

Last year, both quarterbacks attending received playing time in the CFL in 2011. Brad Sinopoli was a 4th round selection (29th overall) of the Calgary Stampeders and landed a roster spot as the club's third string quarterback. Marc Mueller went undrafted, but signed a contract with the Edmonton Eskimos. He saw action during the team's first pre-season game before returning to the Regina Rams to play is last year of eligibility in the CIS. In 2010, Vanier Cup Champion quarterback Danny Brannagan from Queen's was signed by the Toronto Argonauts as a free agent and spent that season with the club.

For a PDF version of the roster, click here.
(Includes high school or Cégep and hometown)

For the event's media guide, click here.

For the 2012 Evaluation Camp presented by Reebok, the CFL is pleased to work with Sport Testing Inc., the world's leading athlete evaluation company with a mandate of improving sport internationally.

Sport Testing Inc. provides a full combine solution, real time scores, report cards, athlete comparison, and long term athlete tracking. They can be found at www.sporttesting.ca.  

The full selection order for the first round of 2012 CFL Canadian Draft is:

1.    SSK
2.    EDM via TOR
3.    HAM
4.    BC via MTL
5.    CGY
6.    EDM
7.    WPG - Forfeit
8.    BC

Schedule

The 2012 CFL Evaluation Camp presented by Reebok kicks off Friday afternoon with player arrivals and team interviews. On Saturday, the players' strength and flexibility will be tested at the Park Hyatt Toronto Hotel. The camp finishes on the football field at Varsity Centre at the University of Toronto on Sunday.

For the event's detailed schedule, click here.

Friday - March 2
Media interviews by request only.

Saturday - March 3
Morning session (bench press): from 8:30AM to Noon (approx.)
Afternoon session (vertical, broad jumps): from 2:15PM to 5PM (approx.)
All player interviews will follow testing and evaluation drills.

Sunday - March 4
From 8:15AM to 2:30PM
All player interviews will follow testing and evaluation drills.

Media planning to attend this event are asked to please RSVP to Jamie Dykstra at jdykstra@cfl.ca by Wednesday, February 29.