WATERLOO, Ont. - Five Golden Hawks will be looking to improve their stock ahead of the 2024 CFL draft.
Seniors Ayo Ajayi and Tanner Nelmes will join players from across Canada at the University of Waterloo's Hamdullahpur Field House at the CFL Invitational Combine on March 8, all vying for a spot in the CFL Combine presented by New Era, which will take place in Winnipeg March 19-24.
Ajayi was Laurier's primary boundary cornerback before suffering an injury midway through the season that kept him off the field the rest of the way.
Nelmes, meanwhile, was once again a key part of the Golden Hawks' offence, averaging 27.3 yards per game on the ground and another 16.1 through the air, and recording three total touchdowns.
They hope to join Luke Brubacher, Brandon Omonuwa, and Cooper Hamilton, who've already secured their tickets to Winnipeg.
Brubacher, Omonuwa, and Hamilton were among Laurier's conference-leading 11 OUA all-stars this season. Brubacher, a defensive end, placed third in the conference with six sacks, while Omonuwa had two from the defensive tackle position.
Hamilton was anchor on the Golden Hawks' offensive line, playing either outside tackle position and taking on the toughest assignments.
"All football players when they enter a U SPORTS program aspire to be an East-West Bowl game all-star and then to take part in the CFL Combine. These five hard-working individuals have just accomplished both," said Manager of football operations and head coach Michael Faulds.
"They have done so by being very coachable, working extremely hard, leading by example, and being great teammates. We are super excited to see them all perform very well with the combine testing and on field drills."
Brubacher, Omonuwa, Hamilton, Ajayi, and Nelmes hope to add to the 13 Golden Hawks on CFL rosters last season, as well as 2023 teammates Ife Onyemenam and Nico McCarthy, who recently signed with the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, respectively.
