Sunday 7 October 2012

Canadians featured at running back in the CFL

Unlike any other time in the CFL have we seen the quantity and quality of Canadian running back as we have in the last few seasons.  Sure, there have been many good Canadian running backs in CFL seasons gone by, such as Normie Kwong, Orville Lee, Sean Millington and others but for the most part, the role of the Canadian running back was that of a fullback, or blocking back, making holes for the import running back.  That's just the way its always been...until now.
We are witnessing a golden generation of Canadian running backs; not just good enough to get playing time, but dominating at the position.
Last year we saw Jerome Messam have a dominant season for the Edmonton Eskimos winning Top Canadian honours and getting a shot in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins where he was a late cut.  Messam is back with the Eskimos and has fellow Canadian Calvin McCarty in the backfield with him.
But the two biggest stories this year are New Westminster, BC's Jon Cornish of the Calgary Stampeders who currently leads the league in rushing, and BC Lions star and Winnipeg native Andrew Harris who has a chance to have 1000 rushing yards and 1000 receiving yards by the end of the season.
These two are leading their teams and dominating CFL defenses this season.  While both have a lot in common as far as CFL success goes, their path to pro-football couldn't have been any different.
Jon Cornish starred in the NCAA for The University of Kansas, while Harris played BC junior football.

You can follow Sporting Vancouver on Twitter @vansport

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments...