Brian Snelgrove
CFL.ca
Chayce Elliott is a 5-foot 10-inch, 185-pound defensive back from The University of Ottawa who, like his father, also has designs on playing in the CFL.
“I have never been in an audience like that before. I am my own worst critic and wish I had done better but don’t regret it at all.” -Chayce Elliott
From the time he started playing football at “seven or eight years old,” he has looked to his father for inspiration. ”My dad was my driving force to do better,” he says. “He was drafted in the sixth round and I want to get drafted higher.”
Elliott’s father Floyd Mingo played cornerback for the B.C Lions in 1986 and ’87. “We have spoken a lot about what he had to do to make it,” says Elliott. “He says I need to get to the track more to work on my speed and has given me little pointers about becoming a better defensive back.”
“I’ve told him that there is a lot of competition to get to the next level,” says Mingo. “You have to step up to the plate and rise to the occasion. He has been pretty well-conditioned to it; he has been playing football most of his life and it is one of his life-long dreams to get there.”
After high school, where he also excelled in basketball, baseball, soccer and track, the Burnaby, B.C. native sent out highlight tapes to a number of universities along the American west coast. In 2006 he was accepted to Western Washington University and played there for two years before switching to Ottawa in 2008. “As an international student it was getting pretty expensive,” he says, “so I decided it was time to come home.”
In only his second season with the Gee Gees, the fourth year Social Sciences Major was named a second team OUA all-star, and played in last year’s CIS East-West Bowl.
His next major opportunity in his quest to reach the CFL was this year’s CFL Evaluation Camp presented by Reebok. “It was a good experience,” he says. “I am really pleased I got the opportunity. I was pretty happy with my time in the 40 (4.65 seconds) and the bench press (10 reps). It was tough to stay mentally prepared with all the coaches and media. I have never been in an audience like that before. I am my own worst critic and wish I had done better but don’t regret it at all.”
“Overall I think I did all right”, he adds. “It was a realistic look at what is out there and opened my eyes. It made me want to work hard to get to the next level.”
“He needs to stay disciplined and keep focused,” adds Mingo who knows what it takes to make the CFL. “But he has great ability if he keeps working hard.”
