Bradley Daye wants to make sure Canadian Football League scouts haven’t forgotten about him.
The Mount Allison Mounties football cornerback from Halifax is in London, Ont., this week to participate in Canadian Interuniversity Sport’s East-West Bowl, a weeklong event that serves as a proving ground for prospects eligible for the 2011 CFL draft.
Daye, who is entering his fifth season with the Mounties, had major knee surgery in January 2009 and has been working to reassert himself ever since.
“I kind of fell off the radar when I had surgery,” Daye said.
“This is a chance to get my name back out there.”
The 22-year-old ripped up his knee halfway through the 2008 campaign, tearing his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments.
He managed to make it back for opening day last season and finished with 34.5 tackles and one interception in eight games for the last-place Mounties.
But he wore a knee brace all season and his speed and quickness wasn’t up to snuff.
“The skills were there, but the speed (and quickness) weren’t quite there with the brace,” he said.
“Now I’ve lost the brace and I’m probably stronger than I ever was.”
The five-foot-nine 183-pounder was an all-star receiver in high school with the St. Patrick’s Irish and has been used as a receiver, running back and returner during his university career. But injuries forced the Mounties to use him on the defensive side in his freshman year and his background on offence has helped him flourish ever since.
“A lot of DBs get put in this position because they used to be receivers who couldn’t catch,” he said.
“But I was always a good receiver and my coverage is probably my strong point. What sets me apart from others is I’m really good at playing the ball.”
Daye is eager to get on the field and show scouts what he can do on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the eighth annual East-West Bowl at TD Waterhouse Stadium.
He said a career in the CFL has been in the back of his mind since he enrolled at Mount Allison.
“I love football and if I could do what I love and make money doing it, it would be my dream come true,” he said.
Leger leads running backs in test
Saint Mary’s Huskies tailback Craig Leger posted an average time of 1.705 seconds in the 10-yard dash yesterday in fitness testing as part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport’s East-West Bowl festivities in London, Ont. That time placed him fourth overall and first among running backs. Leger, an Atlantic University Sport all-star, was also 11th overall with an average time of 4.84 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Other testing results saw Mount Allison Mounties offensive lineman Ben Halpern of Halifax finish tied for fifth in the bench press with 25 reps of 225 pounds. Huskies linebacker Ryan King was one spot behind with 24 reps. Huskies safety Jeff Hecht will also compete in Saturday’s East-West Bowl.
