Nine X-Men football athletes invited to upcoming CFL combines

Antigonish, NS— Eight members of the AUS champion StFX X-Men have been invited to the upcoming CFL regional combine in Montreal, while linebacker Daniel Tshiamala will attend the CFL national combine in Toronto.

Every year, executives, coaches and scouts from all eight CFL teams gather in Toronto to interview and evaluate the top Canadian Draft-eligible prospects. The athletes are interviewed by interested CFL teams, then are subjected to a variety of exercises and drills to test their physical abilities and football skills through measured drills.

X-Men head coach Gary Waterman comments, "Individual recognition usually closely follows team success and after winning the 2015 AUS championship, there are nine X-Men football players heading to the regional and CFL combines. We are thrilled to see our players receive the opportunity to compete at the highest level. Each of these young men have worked extremely hard, and their efforts and talents are being noticed. We wish them all well and are proud to see them representing the white and blue."    

Daniel Tshiamala is the lone X-Men athlete invited to the CFL national combine in Toronto, scheduled for March 11-13. A 2015 AUS defensive all-star, Tshiamala is a 6-foot-1, 235 pound linebacker from Kinshaha, Congo. He was third in the conference tackles (48.5) and tackles per game (6.1) with 29 solo and 39 assisted tackles in all eight regular season games played. He also had 1 sack, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced recovery, 2 break-ups and 2 interceptions which he returned for 55 yards. Tshiamala was impressive for the X-Men defensive throughout their playoff run and in the CIS Uteck Bowl.

The CFL will host three regional combines during the week leading to the national combine, with stops in Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal. Eight X-Men will attend the Montreal regional combine including running back Ashton Dickson, wide receiver Donald Tabor, defensive lineman John Tewelde, defensive backs Paolo Lach-Edwards and Hayden Peters, and offensive linemen James Comeau, Daniel Lemaire and Keith Messer.

A 2015 CIS second team All-Canadian and the most valuable player of the AUS conference, tailback Ashton Dickson, a 5-foot-10, 195-lb Ottawa, Ont. native led the conference in all-purpose yards with 1,320 and average yards per game with 165.0. Along with his 866 rushing yards, he posted 157 yards receiving and 297 return yards. Dickson also led the Atlantic conference in kick returns with 14 for 297 yards, averaging 21.2 yards per return.

The two-time AUS all-star currently sits second overall in the AUS all-time record books in career rushing attempts with 683 and is fourth overall in career rushing yards with 3,178. He now holds the StFX school records in both categories. Dickson also sits second in the StFX record book and 11th in AUS history in career rushing touchdowns with 20 over his five-year career.

Wide receiver Donald Tabor, a 6-foot-0, 229 pound product of Dartmouth, N.S. was fifth overall in AUS scoring in 2015, averaging 52.5 yards per game. His 27 receptions were good for 6th in the AUS as he averaged 4.5 receptions per game and 11.7 yards per reception. Tabor had one regular season touchdown and another in the CIS Uteck Bowl with 315 total receiving yards on the season.

John Tewelde is a 6-foot-2, 240 pound defensive lineman from Winnipeg, Man. who was a leader for the X-Men both on and off the gridiron. In eight games played he tallied 7.5 tackles (5 solo and 5 assisted), along with one sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1 breakup.

A pair of X-Men defensive backs were invited to the Montreal regional combine. 2014 CIS first team All-Canadian Paolo Edwards is a 5-foot-10, 180 pounder from Hamilton, Ont. In seven games played this season Edwards had 19 tackles (18 solo and 2 assisted), averaging 2.7 tackles per game. He also recorded 2 tackles for loss and 4 break-ups.

Six-foot-two, 208 pound defensive back Hayden Peters from Inverary, Ont. was honored as a 2015 AUS all-star. His three interceptions led the AUS conference as he ran for 50 yards on those picks. Peters was eighth overall in tackles with 33.5 including 23 solo and 21 assisted tackles, averaging 4.2 tackles per game. His stat line also included 1 sack, 3 tackles for loss and 1 break-up. He was also an AUS all-star in 2013 on special teams as a punter.

Three X-Men offensive linemen are headed to the regional combine. James Comeau, a 6-foot-2, 310 pound center from St. Albert, AB started all eight games at center for the blue and white this season, the third consecutive season the 2015 AUS offensive all-star hasn't missed a start.

Daniel Lemaire is a physical presence at 6-foot-8, 304 pounds in the right tackle position. The Rockland, Ont. native started all eight games for the X-Men this season, switching from right tackle last year. Keith Messer is a 6-foot-3, 318 pound product of Saint John, NB. Bringing consistency to the X-Men offensive line, he too started all eight games for StFX in the right tackle position.

To view the complete lists of athletes at the CFL national combine and regional combines visit:  http://www.cfl.ca/2016/02/26/rosters-set-cfl-reveals-list-combine-participants/  

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