By Michael Murillo,
CFL.ca
NCAA football fans don’t have to lose track of their favourite players when they leave their competitive teams and conferences. During the playoffs, College Connection looks at former college stars in each game who are making waves in the CFL. For the Grey Cup, College Connection looks at three conferences that have representatives on both sidelines for the game on Sunday
Grey Cup: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers, November 25, available on CBC.
ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference)
Saskatchewan: Jermese Jones, T, Virignia Cavaliers. Jones helped pave the way for conference leaders throughout his career (Thomas Jones, Antwoine Womack). He started every game of his final two years at the school, earning ACC All-Star honours in his senior season.
Winnipeg: Ike Charlton, DB, Virginia Tech Hokies. Charlton was known for his strong open-field tacking at Virginia Tech, where he earned first-team All-American honours for his play. As a senior, his Hokies finished the regular season 11-0 before losing to Florida State in the 2000 Sugar Bowl
MWC (Mountain West Conference)
Saskatchewan: Reggie Hunt, LB, Texas Christian University Horned Frogs. Hunt was named All-WAC as a safety and kick returner in his senior season, and his kick-return average of 34.1 yards that year is still a TCU record. He finished his career with 271 tackles, three interceptions and seven forced fumbles.
Winnipeg: Jerome Haywood, DT, San Diego State Aztecs. Haywood was a leader for the Aztecs, named a team captain twice (2000, 2001) and Most Inspirational Player three times (1998, 2000, 2001). The WAC also honoured him by naming him an All-WAC second-teamer in three straight seasons (1999-2001).
Conference USA
Saskatchewan: Sean Lucas, DB, Tulane Green Wave. Lucas started all 11 games for the Green Wave as a senior, and finished the year with 57 tackles, an interception and one tackle for a loss. In his four-year career with Tulane, he amassed 291 tackles with eight interceptions and a pair of quarterback sacks.
Winnipeg: Keith Stokes, KR/PR, East Carolina University Pirates. Stokes was a record-setter for the Pirates as a punt returner, gaining 168 return yards in one game (against Houston in 2000), and finishing his career with a school-best 15.5 yards per punt return. He also led C-USA in all-purpose yardage in 2000 with 1,427 yards.
If you’d like to see a specific school or player featured in College Connection, contact Michael Murillo at vivamurillo@hotmail.com.
(The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily of the Canadian Football League)
