January 20, 2006
FANTUZ LOOKS TO IMPRESS IN LONE STAR STATE
SAN ANTONIO - Andy Fantuz came to the East-West Shrine Game with something to prove.
The Western Ontario standout was the most dangerous offensive weapon in Canadian college football over the past four years. He earned the Hec Crighton Award as Canada's top collegiate offensive player in 2005.
But few NFL scouts knew much about Fantuz before his arrival in San Antonio for this week's practices and Saturday's game at the Alamodome.
\"I'm very excited about being here,\" Fantuz said. \"I've never played against competition like this, so it's good training for me. I'm looking forward to the game and showing what I can do. It will be a lot of fun.\"
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound wide receiver has the size that causes scouts to take a close look. And his knack for making tough catches over the middle also has been impressive in his early work in the camp.
Fantuz is considered a lock to be the No. 1 pick in the Canadian Football League draft this spring. But he would like to take a shot at the NFL if given the chance.
\"It's been my dream all my life to play in the NFL and I'm going to do everything I can to get there,\" Fantuz said. \"This is an opportunity to help me get to that dream.\"
It's usually a hard sell for a Canadian player to be drafted. Only two Canadians "” Stanford free safety O.J. Atogwe and Toledo offensive lineman Nick Kaczur "” were picked in last year's NFL Draft.
And only 13 Canadians started the 2005 season on an active NFL roster, most notably Indianapolis kicker Mike Vanderjagt, Seattle deep snapper J.P. Darche, Philadelphia linebacker Mike Labinjo, St. Louis offensive lineman Tom Nutten and New Orleans punter Mitch Berger.
But Fantuz might have the size, speed and toughness that would enable him to break through at a position where top Canadian prospects normally aren't considered.
His lanky build and ability to catch in traffic make some scouts favorably compare him to NFL players like Joe Jurevicius and Ed McCaffrey.
The Shrine game practices are giving him a chance to compete against better athletes than he normally faced in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
\"The biggest change I've noticed is probably the speed of the game,\" Fantuz said. \"Everything is happening faster out here and the players are a little bit bigger. But I'm looking forward to my chance to show what I can do.\"
Shrine officials have invited two Canadian players each year with that opportunity in mind.
\"I'm a big believer in letting somebody go out and prove it on the field,\" Shrine Game executive director Jack Hart said. \"Guys like Fantuz are getting that chance. I think it's a good chance to show how they stack up against top players. Maybe they might get a shot somewhere by their play here.\"
Production has never been a problem for the native of Chatham, Ontario. He holds every career CIL receiving record, most notably the career mark of 189 catches. Fantuz broke the record in four seasons, surpassing Stefan Ptaszek's previous five-year record of 186 earlier this season.
Fantuz also is the CIS record-holder in receiving yards (4,123) and touchdown receptions (41) and set the single-season yardage mark of 1,300 yards set during his freshman season in 2002.
His big 2005 season came after he overcame a thigh injury suffered in a pickup basketball game before the start of the season. An opposing player rammed his knee into his thigh, causing an injury called compartment syndrome. Fantuz needed six surgical procedures over the course of a month that repaired the internal bleeding and clotting in his leg to be ready for the season.
But his rehabilitation has gone well, and he feels he is ready to have a strong performance in Saturday's game.
\"I'm in the best shape of my career,\" Fantuz said. \"I can't wait for Saturday. There will be a lot of people watching and I want to show them what I can do.\"
(Source: Tim Griffin, San Antonio Express-News staff writer)
The Western Ontario standout was the most dangerous offensive weapon in Canadian college football over the past four years. He earned the Hec Crighton Award as Canada's top collegiate offensive player in 2005.
But few NFL scouts knew much about Fantuz before his arrival in San Antonio for this week's practices and Saturday's game at the Alamodome.
\"I'm very excited about being here,\" Fantuz said. \"I've never played against competition like this, so it's good training for me. I'm looking forward to the game and showing what I can do. It will be a lot of fun.\"
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound wide receiver has the size that causes scouts to take a close look. And his knack for making tough catches over the middle also has been impressive in his early work in the camp.
Fantuz is considered a lock to be the No. 1 pick in the Canadian Football League draft this spring. But he would like to take a shot at the NFL if given the chance.
\"It's been my dream all my life to play in the NFL and I'm going to do everything I can to get there,\" Fantuz said. \"This is an opportunity to help me get to that dream.\"
It's usually a hard sell for a Canadian player to be drafted. Only two Canadians "” Stanford free safety O.J. Atogwe and Toledo offensive lineman Nick Kaczur "” were picked in last year's NFL Draft.
And only 13 Canadians started the 2005 season on an active NFL roster, most notably Indianapolis kicker Mike Vanderjagt, Seattle deep snapper J.P. Darche, Philadelphia linebacker Mike Labinjo, St. Louis offensive lineman Tom Nutten and New Orleans punter Mitch Berger.
But Fantuz might have the size, speed and toughness that would enable him to break through at a position where top Canadian prospects normally aren't considered.
His lanky build and ability to catch in traffic make some scouts favorably compare him to NFL players like Joe Jurevicius and Ed McCaffrey.
The Shrine game practices are giving him a chance to compete against better athletes than he normally faced in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
\"The biggest change I've noticed is probably the speed of the game,\" Fantuz said. \"Everything is happening faster out here and the players are a little bit bigger. But I'm looking forward to my chance to show what I can do.\"
Shrine officials have invited two Canadian players each year with that opportunity in mind.
\"I'm a big believer in letting somebody go out and prove it on the field,\" Shrine Game executive director Jack Hart said. \"Guys like Fantuz are getting that chance. I think it's a good chance to show how they stack up against top players. Maybe they might get a shot somewhere by their play here.\"
Production has never been a problem for the native of Chatham, Ontario. He holds every career CIL receiving record, most notably the career mark of 189 catches. Fantuz broke the record in four seasons, surpassing Stefan Ptaszek's previous five-year record of 186 earlier this season.
Fantuz also is the CIS record-holder in receiving yards (4,123) and touchdown receptions (41) and set the single-season yardage mark of 1,300 yards set during his freshman season in 2002.
His big 2005 season came after he overcame a thigh injury suffered in a pickup basketball game before the start of the season. An opposing player rammed his knee into his thigh, causing an injury called compartment syndrome. Fantuz needed six surgical procedures over the course of a month that repaired the internal bleeding and clotting in his leg to be ready for the season.
But his rehabilitation has gone well, and he feels he is ready to have a strong performance in Saturday's game.
\"I'm in the best shape of my career,\" Fantuz said. \"I can't wait for Saturday. There will be a lot of people watching and I want to show them what I can do.\"
(Source: Tim Griffin, San Antonio Express-News staff writer)
