Concordia Stinger all-Canadian defensive back Mikaël Charland will participate in the NFL’s regional combine in Baltimore on Feb. 27, 2016.
“I’m hoping to impress the scouts and get an invitation to the NFL’s Super Combine,” said the versatile athlete who can play safety, halfback or linebacker. “It will also help me prepare for the CFL combine in March.”
There are five NFL regional combines in 2016 beginning in February. They will be held in Arizona, Houston, Minnesota, Baltimore and New Orleans. Players apply to the NFL outlining their eligibility and skills. Charland received his approval for the camp about a week after he applied.
Participants are tested and scouted by the NFL teams at the camps. Results of the events are put in a database for the 32 NFL teams and posted online.The best players are then invited to the NFL's Super Regional Combine, a gathering of the top players from the league's five previous regional combines.
Charland, the Gatineau, Que. native who checks in at six foot four, 215 lbs., finished the 2015 season with 37 solo tackles and 19 assists for 46.5 tackles in eight games. He also had three interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
In four seasons, Charland has played in every regular season game with the Stingers. He has accumulated 166 solo tackles and 66 assists for a total of 199 tackles in his career. That is the third most tackles in Concordia history.
“His size, the way he moves and the way he can play the game, he fits the NFL’s style of play,” said Stingers head coach Mickey Donovan. “He has a great understanding of the passing game and he’s a good run support player. They are going to be quite impressed with him. His test results will show he’s a natural NFL prospect.”
To get ready for the upcoming combines, Charland will spend the winter months training in Miami, Fla. with Bommarito Performance Systems, a program and trainers who specialize in training NFL players, prospects and preparation for combines.
“It’s a lot of running, jumping and explosion work,” said Charland. “They will help me prepare for the combine tests and then for the 2016 season.”
Stinger teammate Roman Grozman, an offensive lineman originally from Tel-Aviv, Israel, will also participate in the Baltimore combine.
