If you wanted to see one of these two UBC stars play for your favourite CFL team, you might have to wait.
Theo Benedet and Giovanni Manu participated in UBC’s pro day and put up big-time numbers in front of numerous scouts north and south of the border. A total of 16 NFL franchises had representatives at BC Place on Friday along with six from teams north of the border.
Benedet measured in at a staggering six-foot-seven and 295 pounds. The 22-year-old showed off the unbelievable athleticism that has scouts intrigued, putting up 23 reps on the bench press while running a 5.14-second forty-yard dash. He scampered to a 7.69-second three-cone, and a 4.60 shuttle, while jumping 34.5 inches on the vertical and leaping a nine-foot-five broad jump.
The North Vancouver, B.C. native’s shuttle, vertical, and broad were first among offensive linemen in the CFL draft, while his forty-yard dash and three-cone times were second.
Giovanni Manu was no slouch either. He measured in at a mesmerizing six-foot-seven and 352 pounds. The 23-year-old put up 23 reps on the bench press matching Benedet and ran a blazing 5.03-second forty-yard dash. Manu also put up an 8.29-second three-cone, a 4.81-second shuttle, and leaped 33.5 inches on the vertical and jumped eight-foot-eleven on the broad jump.
Manu’s forty-yard dash was the fastest by far amongst offensive linemen, while his vertical jump was second and broad jump was fourth.
The Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, and Dallas Cowboys all had personnel on scene.
While the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Elks, B.C. Lions, Ottawa Redblacks, and Montreal Alouettes all had representatives there.
Benedet and Manu are looking to become the first NFL draft selections since David Onyemata out of the University of Manitoba.
