By IAN HAMILTON, Leader-Post May 22, 2010
REGINA — Todd Reesing may have graduated from the University of Kansas in December, but his education is ongoing.
The 22-year-old product of Austin, Texas, has spent the past few months taking what he calls "a crash course" on Regina, on Saskatchewan and on the CFL in preparation for a possible career with the Roughriders.
The former Kansas Jayhawks quarterback is expected to sign with Saskatchewan before rookie camp opens June 2.
"At this point, it's looking like that's probably going to happen and I'll be finding my way up there soon," Reesing said Friday from Lawrence, Kan.
"I'm extremely excited," he continued. "Just having a chance to play football after college is a dream come true. Everyone has high hopes for the NFL, but the reality is I was shot down based upon size. I had the numbers and the productivity in college just as good as anyone else. The lack of height and size really set me back.
"But that's no big problem. I actually think the style of play in the CFL is much more suited to what I'm good at — being in the shotgun, being able to scramble around and use my legs to create plays and improvise."
Reesing is listed at 5-foot-11, but NFL teams passed him over in the draft. Some clubs showed interest in signing him as a free agent, but none did — and he thinks it was because of his height.
"It's just a whole lot of BS," Reesing said with a chuckle. "That's the way it works. It's a size-important league nowadays. If you don't fit the profile, it's hard to change people's minds."
The gaudy numbers he compiled at KU couldn't change NFL minds, either.
The gaudy numbers he compiled at KU couldn't change NFL minds, either.
As a sophomore in 2007, Reesing completed 275 of 445 pass attempts for 3,486 yards with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The following season, he was 329-for-495 for 3,888 yards with 32 TDs and 13 picks. Last season, he hit on 313 of 496 attempts for 3,616 yards with 22 majors and 10 interceptions.
Interested in continuing his playing career, Reesing — who was put on the Roughriders' negotiation list in 2007 by then-GM Eric Tillman — briefly considered the United Football League before turning his attention north.
"You don't really know what the future holds with (the UFL) and how it's going to work," said Reesing, who graduated from Kansas in December with a double major in economics and finance. "With the stability of the CFL and the fan support it has, it just seemed like a much better fit."
It didn't hurt the Roughriders' cause that Reesing got favourable reviews of the province and the CFL. A relative who used to live in Regina raved about it to Reesing, and legendary quarterback Doug Flutie — who came north because of his stature — praised the CFL during a chat he had with Reesing.
"That's kind of where I first learned what I know about it," Reesing said. "He said he loved his time playing up there, loved the style of play, loved the people and just everything about it.
"To hear that from him, someone who may be the best all-time in the CFL, that's all you really need to hear."
"To hear that from him, someone who may be the best all-time in the CFL, that's all you really need to hear."
If he signs, Reesing faces a steep learning curve. He has never stepped onto the expansive CFL field, he hasn't thrown a CFL ball and he hasn't seen a game in person.
"I'm sure the first few weeks getting acclimated will be tough, but it's the same with any offence," Reesing said. "Anytime you're learning a new offence, you have to grasp the terminology, the play concepts, the motion, the commands — everything that goes into it.
"When it comes down to it, you're still learning football, which is something you've been doing an awful lot."
"I'm sure the first few weeks getting acclimated will be tough, but it's the same with any offence," Reesing said. "Anytime you're learning a new offence, you have to grasp the terminology, the play concepts, the motion, the commands — everything that goes into it.
"When it comes down to it, you're still learning football, which is something you've been doing an awful lot."
The Roughriders landed a big-name NCAA quarterback last season, too, but Graham Harrell spent the 2009 campaign on the injured list. This off-season, he asked for and was granted his release — and on Thursday signed with the Green Bay Packers.
Reesing vowed things would be different with him.
"I'm coming up there with the intention that I'll do what I'm asked to do," said Reesing, who'll join Cole Bergquist and Kent Smith — and possibly former Winnipeg Blue Bombers pivot Ryan Dinwiddie — on the depth chart behind Darian Durant. "I'm going to compete for whatever spot I get a chance to compete for and I'm just going to learn.
"If I get a chance to play, I'm going to do the best I can and show that I have the talent to be a starting quarterback. If not, then I'll bide my time and keep working until that chance comes.
"I have no intention of leaving after one year to try to pursue anything else. This is what I want to do and I'm going to stick with it."
"I have no intention of leaving after one year to try to pursue anything else. This is what I want to do and I'm going to stick with it."
No comments:
Post a Comment