The University of Ottawa was well-represented in the performances put in by Gee-Gees defenders Jackson Bennett and Khadim Mbaye at the Canadian Football League's National Combine in Winnipeg over the weekend.
The theme of the weekend was versatility for both of the Gee-Gees representatives. With Bennett and Mbaye possessing significant playing experience at different positions on the field, the pair was often asked to showcase their talents in a variety of scenarios.
Bennett left high school as a highly-touted running back, before making the conversion to defensive back, linebacker, and kick returner. Mbaye has shuffled between playing middle linebacker and defensive end for a number of years as well.
The weekend provided the pair an ability to showcase their versatility to professional scouts and help raise their stock in the upcoming draft in May.
Bennett, who posted an impressive 22 reps of 225 lbs. on the bench press, finished tied for third in the event. Both of the higher finishers were offensive linemen with a 90-plus pound weight advantage on the Ottawa native. Bennett showed out in the shuttle drill, posting the top time with a 4.09 second performance and finished second in the three-cone drill by just two-tenths of a second, with a time of 7.02 seconds.
Mbaye tied for the seventh highest mark at 18 reps, the third-highest among linebackers. For his size and position, the Montreal native also posted a solid 40-yard dash time of 4.89 seconds. Despite having to work to be an invitee from the Regional Combine, Mbaye showed a talent on-par with some of the top linebackers and defensive end prospects at the combine. Mbaye also posted strong times in the three-cone (7.44) and the shuttle (4.54).
"It was a great experience," said Mbaye. "I mean I had to do it the hard way by going through the Regional but I have absolutely no regrets. It's the path that God gave me and I did the best I could with it."
Testing numbers can only go so far, and it was in the 1-on-1 sessions on Sunday that the pair showed their highest potential. With Mbaye lining up both as a linebacker and a defensive lineman, and Bennett at both defensive back and linebacker, the two provided a multitude of looks for their prospective teams.
With a high success rate of being drafted from the combine, both Bennett and Mbaye have made their presence known and will hope to see their name selected on May 3 at the 2018 CFL Draft.
