As a testament to the strength of the Queen’s Men’s Football program, nine Gaels received invites to the Canadian Football League (CFL) Combine.
Ashton Miller-Melancon, Silas Hubert, and Darien Newell, all ArtSci ’25, received invites to the National Combine. Keegan Vanek, ArtSci ’25, Eric Johnson, ArtSci ’25, Liam Sutherland, ArtSci ’25, Jas Khaira, Comm ’25, Nathan Falconi, ArtSci ’25, and Nico Kwemo, Kin ’25 received invitations to the Invitational Combine.
Although an invitation to either combine is a huge achievement, the Invitational Combine precedes the National Combine, so should Vanek, Johnson, Sutherland, Khaira, Falconi, or Kwemo perform well at the Invitational Combine, they should then receive invites to Miller-Melancon, Newell, and Hubert at the National Combine, the premier U SPORTS and Canadian NCAA student-athlete scouting event.
Defensive players Newell, Miller-Melancon, and Hubert played pivotal roles for the Gaels this season, driving fear into the hearts of opposing offensive schemes.
Newell ranked 11th in the OUA in both sacks and tackles for loss, with 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, earning him First Team All-Star honours.
Newell also traveled to Dallas, Texas, to compete in the College Gridiron Showcase. This event, which featured American and Canadian talent, allows Canadian players to test themselves against American talent, and Newell shined brightly.
Miller-Melancon also had a solid season for the Gaels, recording 31 tackles and three interceptions.
Hubert, a terror for opposing quarterbacks, was named an OUA Second Team All-Star for his four sacks and 20.5 tackles, which placed him sixth in the OUA.
Not only does this emphasize how dominant the Gaels’ defensive scheme was this past season, but it also serves as a testament to Queen’s ability to develop their student-athletes into football players fit to play in the pro leagues.
Just recently, defensive back Stephane East, Comm ’23, inked a pro deal with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, and based on the performance of the Gaels, who have already made the National Combine roster, you can expect to see a few more Gaels make their way onto professional rosters in Canada.
On a broader scale, the high level of talent U SPORTS has been producing has gone much further than the CFL, with Laurier quarterback and reigning HEC Crighton Award winner Taylor Elgersma being invited to the Senior Bowl. The first Canadian quarterback ever to do so.
The landscape of Canadian football is rapidly evolving, and sooner rather than later, more U SPORTS players will inevitably break through to the National Football League.
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