Justin Ball (April 2024)
Five Ravens Football Players ruffle feathers at the 2024 CFL Combine ahead of tonight's CFL Draft.
Carleton Football teammates Ife Onyeka, Louis Lavaud, Patrick Lavoie, Malik Yusef, and Hunter Brown joined one another in representing Carleton at the CFL Combine.
The National Combine was held in Winnipeg from March 19 to March 24, with the Invitational Combine taking place in Waterloo on March 8.
Every year, top Canadian athletes from schools across North America gather to showcase their talents and impress scouts from CFL franchises. The combine features a variety of physical and agility-based events taking into account all forms of athleticism.
Getting invited to the CFL combine is no small task, and according to head football coach Corey Grant, it's the mindset that is taking these athletes to the top.
“These guys have been putting in the hours and doing the work themselves, so it's nice to see people are starting to notice the fruits of their labour,” Grant said.
Hard work pays off, with all five Ravens putting up impressive stats in various events.
Hunter Brown
Wide Receiver Hunter Brown is no stranger to hard work, and pushing through adversaries.
After having an impressive training camp in Fall 2023, he was not selected as the starter. Despite this setback, Brown continued working hard and later stepped up after the starter was injured. Through dedication, he proved himself fit for the position and assumed the starting wide receiver role even after the other player became healthy.
“(Brown) held that chip on his shoulder and kept battleting… He is resilient and he is a fighter,” Coach Grant said.
Ife Onyeka
Defensive lineman Ife Onyeka is a dynamic player and talented leader both on and off the field. Onyeka is the recipient of the 2023 John Ruddy Award for commitment to the team, community, athletics and academics.
For Onyeka, football is a family affair. With two older brothers and two cousins in the CFL, Onyeka is looking to follow in their footsteps and take his game to the next level.
“(This opportunity) means the world to me honestly, I have been dreaming of a moment like this for my entire life… It takes coming in on off days. It takes extra sets. But above all it takes discipline, which is your ability to do the same thing over and over again, the same way, even if you don’t always want to,” Onyeka stated in an interview.
Louis Lavaud
Defensive Back Louis Lavaud approaches defensive plays with cunning and agility. He has previously played for Team Quebec and Team Canada, also appearing in the U Sports 2023 East-West Bowl.
Patrick Lavoie
Lavoie is a seasoned Offensive Lineman. He previously won the RSEQ CEGEP Bol d’Or in 2018 and attended the Junior World Championships with Team Canada.
Malik Yusuf
Linebacker Malik Yusuf has grown into a potent defensive force during his time at Carleton. Having worked with several defensive coordinators and different offences while with the Ravens, Yusuf is an adaptive player who is ready for anything that comes his way. He has previously played for Team Ontario and Team Canada, as well as the 2023 U Sports East-West Bowl.
“He has all the intangibles, the athletic ability, and the size. If anybody asks me about him, I tell them he will run through a brick wall. He will hit anything that moves,” Coach Grant said.
Coach Grant believes that passion will always be the deciding factor for football and throughout life.
“Life isn’t easy, and if you love something, you find a way to do it.”
