Matt Dionne | Sports and Health Editor
Featured image: Adeboboye will look to build on his performance next weekend. | Courtesy of York Lions
One Lion is looking to evolve into a Tiger-Cat, Alouette, Argonaut, Redblack, Roughrider, Blue Bomber, Eskimo, Stampeder or a Lion, but of the black-and-orange variety.
The CFL regional combine was this weekend, and York’s Adam Adeboboye—affectionately nicknamed Bobo by his teammates—was the only Lion invited to attend.
“It was a great experience; at the beginning of the day I was a little nervous because I didn’t know how well I would do compared to other guys and with all the scouts watching. But through the whole experience I just had fun and relaxed as much as I could,” says Adeboboye.
The regional combine is less in-depth than the national combine, with potential draftees performing drills for the scouts, such as the 40-yard dash, pro agility drills, the vertical and broad jump and one on ones.
“I didn’t feel any extra pressure to perform even though I was the only Lion invited. I saw it more as motivation because I wanted to show everyone that we are very talented at York,” he adds.
Of the 43 participants of the Ontario combine, only five were invited to the national one taking place next weekend in Saskatchewan, including Adeboboye.
Although he hopes to make his dream of playing professional football a reality, Adeboboye doesn’t have a specific team he would like to be drafted by.
“I just want to keep playing. If I do get drafted I would just be grateful for the opportunity to keep playing,” he says.
No matter what happens, Adeboboye will not be returning to play for York.
“I have enjoyed every minute being a Lion. York has been my home for five years, despite my long travel from Scarborough. I […] had some great coaches who helped me grow and pushed me to become who I am.
“I have made some great friends on the team, some of whom I would consider my brothers.
“It feels like yesterday that the fifth-year guys were telling me this. I am glad that I had such a great time; there were hard times, but to say that I made it through and with some of my friends, it’s something that will stay with me forever.
“The brotherhood that I was a part of, the change that I was a part of, I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything because they shaped me,” he says.
Adeboboye will look to convince scouts of one of the nine teams to call his name on draft day—May 7 of this year—Friday in Regina.
