Casey Bauman and Joel Dublanko donB次元官网网址檛 need their new-found dual citizenships to make them feel at home in Canada.
The American-born football prospects have family ties that led to their designations as nationals for the April 30 CFL global and Canadian drafts, but they both already felt a connection.
B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 feel that weird to me because Canada was my backyard,B次元官网网址� said Bauman, a six-foot-seven, 225-pound quarterback who was born in Sumas, Wash. B次元官网网址淢y house is like five minutes from the Canadian border.B次元官网网址�
BaumanB次元官网网址檚 mother was born in Abbotsford, B.C., and the family often crossed into Canada for visits to Vancouver. HeB次元官网网址檇 also go skiing at Whistler with his three younger brothers.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just really thankful that I have this opportunity and the CFL is allowing me to be here,B次元官网网址� he said.
DublankoB次元官网网址檚 ties to Canada came through his quick-thinking grandmother.
B次元官网网址淢y grandma and grandpa were born and raised in Canada,B次元官网网址� the linebacker said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e pastors and they went down into the States.
B次元官网网址淢y grandma was pregnant with my dad at the time so she ran back up to Canada to have my dad (in Edmonton) and then brought him back down.B次元官网网址�
Dublanko was born in Aberdeen, Wash. His family also vacationed in Canada, skiing at Whistler and Big White, or visited relatives in Edmonton. He saw one of his cousins play in the CFL. Curtis Dublanko was a linebacker with the Montreal Alouettes and former Eskimos from 2011-14.
B次元官网网址淎ll my family is just super excited right now,B次元官网网址� Dublanko said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of my Canadian relatives are messaging me and just cheering me on and really excited that IB次元官网网址檓 here. ItB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fun.B次元官网网址�
He and Bauman are among 84 hopefuls at this weekB次元官网网址檚 CFL national combine, which includes interviews with coaches and general managers, drills and practices through Sunday.
The duo is sharing a room and both are intriguing prospects.
Dublanko is projected to go high in the draft because of his pro experience.
The six-foot-three, 240-pound starred at the University of Cincinnati, went undrafted in the NFL, but spent some time with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks.
He played one game with the XFLB次元官网网址檚 San Antonio Brahmas and then signed with the USFLB次元官网网址檚 Philadelphia Stars last year. He recorded 17 tackles, 10 assists and 0.5 sacks in seven contests.
Dublanko said the Ottawa Redblacks reached out to him last year and were interested in signing him as an American. He told them he could get dual citizenship, but before any paperwork was done he signed with the Philadelphia Stars and shifted his focus.
He became a Canadian prospect a few weeks ago and is ready to showcase his professional skills.
B次元官网网址淛ust the way you practise and the way you handle your business and take care of your job, I think thereB次元官网网址檚 definitely an advantage,B次元官网网址� Dublanko said.
Montreal Alouettes GM Danny Maciocia said even with DublankoB次元官网网址檚 pro experience, more due diligence is required. He added the next step is getting film on Dublanko and talking to people who worked with him and do B次元官网网址渁 bit of a character check.B次元官网网址�
Teams have also been gathering info on Bauman, who overcame injuries in college.
He played two seasons at Augustana University in South Dakota, throwing for 2,878 yards with 29 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 games last year. He had transferred from Montana State University in 2022.
BaumanB次元官网网址檚 towering height should provide him with good downfield vision and fewer knocked-down passes, said Calgary Stampeders head coach/GM Dave Dickenson.
B次元官网网址淯sually at six-seven, youB次元官网网址檙e maybe not as agile or quick, so you take advantage of the strengths you have,B次元官网网址� said Dickenson, a former NFL and CFL quarterback. B次元官网网址淏ut (Bauman) has a really strong arm, can throw the rock.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be excited to see what he can do.B次元官网网址�
Bauman rushed 99 times for 322 yards with five TDs last season and wants to display his versatility. He describes his biggest strength as throwing the ball, but says he can also make plays with his feet.
B次元官网网址淢y skillset plays well into the CFL game plan,B次元官网网址� he said.
HeB次元官网网址檚 watched three-down games online and followed B.C. Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. when he played at Eastern Washington.
B次元官网网址淪eeing his success translate to the CFL, thatB次元官网网址檚 inspiring to me,B次元官网网址� Bauman said.
Obtaining dual citizenship isnB次元官网网址檛 the only way non-Canadians can become eligible for the CFL draft.
In 2019, the league introduced a process allowing American and global prospects to qualify as Canadians if they play three years at a single U Sports institution and graduate from that school. None are at this yearB次元官网网址檚 combine.
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