Selected No. 9 in 2007 CFL Canadian Draft
By Darrell Davis,
Regina Leader-Post
David McKoy learned lots at the University of Guelph.
In addition to his studies as a studio art major, McKoy learned how to run routes and catch touchdown passes like a CIS all-star receiver and — perhaps most importantly as he participates today in the first workout of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ rookie camp — be on time!
“When coach (Kyle) Walters took over Guelph’s program, he ran it as close as he could to a CFL program,” McKoy said Tuesday afternoon. “If we weren’t 15 minutes early, we were late.
“I have our whole itinerary here. We have meetings (Tuesday night). Breakfast is at 6:30 a.m. I’d imagine I will want to be there 15 minutes early.”
McKoy, Saskatchewan’s second-round pick (ninth overall) in the 2007 CFL draft, has signed a contract for two years (plus an option). The Roughriders are expected to announce his signing today, along with Wilfrid Laurier linebacker Yannick Carter, who was drafted 20th overall.
Kent Austin, who is making his on-field debut as the Roughriders’ head coach, has preached regularly about the expectations for his players. He calls it “a privilege” to play for a CFL team and demands they follow the rules.
Austin has even synchronized watches with the Roughriders’ support staff so the daily workouts run like clockwork.
According to the Roughriders, 34 rookies are scheduled to appear on Taylor Field at 9:30 a.m. today, Thursday and Friday. Workouts end at noon. Veterans are slated to report Saturday, joining the rookies for twice-daily training-camp workouts beginning Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.
“I’ll be glad when the whole rookie thing is over — the rookie camp and the rookie initiations,” said McKoy, a native of Cambridge, Ont., who flew eastward with Carter and Jesse Alexander, another Wilfrid Laurier linebacker who the Roughriders selected 37th overall in 2006.
“We talked about previous seasons, previous times we met from all-Canadian banquets. We all met before so it’s nice going somewhere with guys you know. But I can’t wait to get out there and see what it’s like. I’m expecting everything to be a lot faster. Coming from high school to college, everything got faster, so I’m expecting the same thing.”
After being drafted four weeks ago, McKoy was told to continue catching footballs and to stay in shape. However, he wasn’t given an offensive playbook; he was expecting to be briefed on things during Tuesday’s meetings.
“Once I get my playbook, I want to learn that thing inside out,” said McKoy. “Then hopefully my natural ability will take over and confirm what they see on film.
“Being drafted is great and all, but once you get here you’re all on the same playing field. You’ve still got to prove you deserve to be here and you have to live up to those expecatations.”
NOTES: Quarterback Drew Tate, whose negotiating rights were acquired from the Edmonton Eskimos for a third-round draft choice in 2008, had a short-lived tenure with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams. St. Louis released Tate, a free-agent signing, last week after signing quarterback Brock Berlin, a University of Miami product with experience in NFL Europe. Tate, 6-foot-0 and 192 pounds, was undrafted by NFL teams despite being a three-year starter at the University of Iowa. Tate is expected to join the Roughriders, possibly as early as today.
