Argos E-camp Rewind

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

TORONTO – The annual CFL Evaluation Camp takes place this weekend in downtown Toronto. The three-day event acts as a chance for some of the country’s premier football prospects to showcase their talents to all eight Canadian Football League clubs.

As the host city, Toronto will have all of its coaches in attendance, as well as scouting staff and other team personnel, as they prepare for the 2011 CFL Draft on May 8. Currently, Toronto holds the fourth overall pick in the draft.

With the potential Canadian stars of the future getting ready to display their skills, argonauts.ca takes a look back at some of the more memorable e-camp performances of the past. The Boatmen currently have twelve previous E-Camp participants on their roster.

Last year’s E-Camp was arguably the Argos’ most important in recent memory.  Heading into last year’s showcase, the Argos held three of the first 11 picks in the draft, including the coveted first overall selection.  With nine total picks, the Argos set their sights on finding both size and speed.

They found size in the way of towering Washington State lineman Joe Eppele, who they eventually selected with their first pick in the draft (2nd overall following a trade).  The 6-foot-6-inch, 309-pound behemoth finished fourth overall in the bench press with 28 lifts.

The star of 2010 Evaluation Camp, however, was Bishop’s speedster and Argos receiver Steven Turner.  Turner finished first in both the shuttle and the vertical jump, and finished second behind another Argos draft pick, LB Cory Greenwood, in the broad Jump.  It was his performance in the 40-yard dash that stole the headlines. Turner shattered the previous E-Camp record of 4.39 seconds (Jamall Lee in 2009) and blazed to a time of 4.31 seconds.  As draft day approached, tryouts with NFL clubs slightly hindered Turner’s value but he was eventually taken by the Double Blue in the fourth round (30th overall).

Turner made headlines with his speed but Danny Brannagan made headlines with his position. Fresh off a Vanier Cup championship, the quarterback signed a contract with the Argos the day after 2010 E-Camp. Brannagan was a special invitee in 2010 as his draft year was actually in 2009 . He was passed over by every CFL club that year, but the Burlington-native had the last laugh. Queen’s University’s all-time leader in passing, Brannagan later became the first Canadian QB to take a snap in a regular season game for the Argos since 1969.

Another E-Camp headline came about during the 2007 edition of the showcase. York University product Andre Durie participated – his first real tryout since rehabilitating a career-threatening knee injury. His performance at the weekend did not necessarily standout, but the fact that he was even able to perform drew the attention of many.  

Durie’s well-documented injury while playing at York put his entire career in jeopardy, let alone the chance to go as a high pick in the draft.  Sporting a brace, Durie ran a solid 4.74 in the 40-yard dash but his injury history became too much for any club to take a chance on him in the draft.  Then-Argos G.M. Adam Rita saw potential in Durie and offered him a free agent contract the day after the draft.  He has since become one of the Argonauts’ more versatile and reliable non-import talents and is entering his fifth CFL season.

Below is a complete list of current Argos that have been invited to CFL Evaluation Camp: