Arden Zwelling
CFL.ca
LONDON, Ont. — It’s exam season at the University of Western Ontario and writing four finals in two weeks is enough to make anyone’s head spin. But for Western Mustangs defensive lineman Christopher Greaves, the looming CFL entry draft on May 2nd in Toronto has amped up the mental pressure a few notches.
“He’s got good size, he moves really well for a big man and he’s got a great personality. He’s absolutely one of the top kids we’ve ever had here.”
-Head Coach Greg Marshall
“It’s always in the back of your mind. You’re always wondering where you’re going to go and what kind of chance you stand,” Greaves said during a rare break from studying and team work outs. “Especially this year because it’s such a deep draft — you just don’t know where you’re going to be picked.”
The six-foot-five, 290-pound lineman was an unsung hero for the Mustangs defence this season, which tied for the Ontario University Athletics lead in sacks with 22.
Greaves was relied on heavily to bolster Western’s defensive line which was crippled by season-ending injuries to Mike Van Praet and Scott Fournier. He responded by racking up 23.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks in eight regular season games and helping Western’s defence hold opposition rushers to just 115 yards per game.
“There was a lot of pressure on Chris to play a lot of snaps last year,” Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall said. “Chris handled it very well. He did a very good job stopping the run for us. It really didn’t surprise me that we could count on Chris to play so well for us. He’ll do whatever it takes.”
Marshall, who has seen both sides of the coin as a former head coach of the Hamilton Tiger Cats, said Greaves will have no problem making the step up to the CFL.
“I think Chris has all the attributes to be a really good CFL player,” Marshall said. “He’s got good size, he moves really well for a big man and he’s got a great personality. He’s absolutely one of the top kids we’ve ever had here.”
Greaves impressed scouts and coaches with his explosiveness at the CFL’s Evaluation Camp presented by Reebok in Toronto, leaping 35 inches in the vertical jump and nine feet, one inch in the broad jump — numbers that put the lineman ahead of some receivers and defensive backs at the combine.
Not bad for a guy who is most often noted for his size.
“I think the biggest thing is I bring size and skill at the same time. A lot of guys are big but they aren’t coordinated and can’t really move. I think that gives me an edge. I see myself as a big body who can actually play,” Greaves said.
The graduate of St. Francis Xavier Secondary School in Mississauga, Ont. has racked up 68 tackles and eight sacks in 24 OUA regular season games during his Western career.
Greaves battled shoulder injuries in his first and second years with the Mustangs, which limited his off-season strength training. However, Greaves has since had shoulder surgery and spent this off-season focusing on power lifting to improve his strength.
The numbers don’t lie. Greaves was listed at 275 lbs. by the Mustangs at the beginning of the 2009 season, but he tipped the scales at 290 lbs. at the CFL’s evaluation camp in March.
“He’s had a great work ethic since [the shoulder surgery] and he’s gotten a whole lot stronger. His test scores at the combine were really indicative of the kind of work that he has been doing,” Marshall said.
Maybe the only thing bigger than Greaves himself is his outgoing personality. The fourth-year history major was undoubtedly a leader in the Western locker room this past season and spent his off-time showing Mustangs recruits and their parents around campus.
“One of the things that teams look for is a great personality and Chris absolutely has that,” Marshall said. “He shows great leadership for our young players, on and off the field. He was always someone we could rely on.”
While surely playing close to home would be a plus for the family-oriented Greaves, the Mississauga native said it doesn’t matter who calls his name on draft day — he just wants a shot at playing in the CFL.
“No matter where I go, I’m going to try really hard to stick with a team. Just having the opportunity to play anywhere would be amazing,” Greaves said.
Of course, coach Marshall wouldn’t mind having his standout defensive lineman back for another season.
“We’d love to have Chris back, but I’ve always said, if you really care about your players you want what’s best for them,” Marshall said of Greaves who has one year of university eligibility remaining. “Depending on where he’s drafted, I think there’s a very good chance Chris will make a CFL team and play.”
