5-man battle at B.C. Lions coaching camp to be the following James Butler

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Shaq Cooper was alleged to be the reply.

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He was touted as the answer to the B.C. Lions’ gaping gap at working again because the workforce got here into coaching camp in 2021, trying to substitute the departed John White — the primary 1,000-yard rusher in B.C. for the reason that days of Andrew Harris.

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The free agent signing’s superlative descriptions painted him as a tailored match for offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic’s system: “Explosive.” “Playmaker.” “Thrilling.”

And you may add: “Lower.”

He lasted eight uninspiring video games earlier than being launched by the Lions.

James Butler III was an afterthought within the running-back dialogue heading into camp, with Cooper getting the highlight. Former Illinois star Reggie Corbin was subsequent on the checklist, whereas Canadians Kayden Johnson — the nationwide workforce bobsledder — Andrew Pocrnic and Surrey’s Jamel Lyles acquired the feel-good vibe tales.

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Nobody envisioned Butler morphing right into a participant able to placing up a team-record 4 TDs in a half, or ending second within the CFL speeding race by 28 yards to Calgary’s Ka’Deem Carey (1,088) (And doing so whereas sitting out the ultimate three quarters of the regular-season finale.)

Butler turned out to be the actual reply at tailback. Now the Lions are again in search of one other resolution after the Hamilton Tiger-Cats dropped a wad of money ($125,800 per) in entrance of Butler in free company, luring him away from B.C.

There are 5 candidates who’re battling it out for the beginning position in Kamloops, because the Lions’ coaching camp kicked off with the rookies reporting for obligation on Wednesday: Antonio Williams, Raymond Calais, Gregory (Buddy) Howell, Vance McShane and Taquan Mizzell.

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“We actually just like the potential of (the group). We predict there’s guys which have actual an actual potential,” mentioned head coach and co-GM Rick Campbell. “We’re going to overlook James; he did an amazing job for us. However James was that man two years in the past. James Butler was the unknown man coming in making an attempt to make a reputation for himself. And so we’re hoping that this competitors creates some guys which might be hungry to earn themselves a job.”

Ryan Rigmaiden, B.C.’s director of participant personnel, is the person heading up the division tasked with unearthing the New James Butler, together with Rob Ralph (nationwide scouting director), Jim Jauch (U.S. scouting director) and Rob Rang (Western regional scout).

Rigmaiden has made the pilgrimage from North Carolina to Kamloops for camp, and whereas he’s seen lots of the gamers first hand in school combines or NFL camps, some he’s solely ever seen on tape.

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“I at all times say it’s the equal of Christmas morning,” mentioned the Spokane native. “You assume you’ve a fairly good thought of what’s within the field, however you don’t actually know till you open it up. And a few of these guys are nice surprises. They is perhaps a little bit bit decrease in your board than you assume they usually are available, they’re in form they usually’re centered and their thoughts’s proper, they’re taking the method critically, they usually soar anyone that you just thought was gonna be The Man.

“You by no means actually know till you get them up right here. When you do, that’s when you’ve that nice second.”

That’s why Rigmaiden received’t guess as to who the starter may find yourself being. That field below the Christmas Tree you may assume is a Transformer may wind up being a yr’s provide of underwear from Grandma. However there may be one talent he values above most: cross safety.

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“It’s essentially the most essential factor after I take a look at a working again,” he mentioned. “While you get to this degree, everyone can run. Now, there’s going to be totally different levels on how nicely they will run, however cross blocking, cross professional, goes to be the deciding issue whether or not you’re taking part in or not, in the event you’re beginning, in the event you’re not. You may be capable of get away with being a DI (designated import), however in the event you’re gonna begin on this league, you’d higher know your assignments, you’d higher be capable of scan bottom, you’d higher know what everyone up entrance is doing. When you don’t, you’re gonna get your quarterback killed.

“However they’re all actually good they usually all have one thing that’s very, very distinctive.”

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THE PROSPECTS

Right here’s a breakdown of the 5 working backs in camp, who have been all signed as free brokers this yr, except for Taquan Mizzell, who was on B.C.’s suspended checklist final yr 

ANTONIO WILLIAMS

The 5-11, 215-pound import was a member of the New York Giants apply roster final yr, however has NFL sport expertise from his time with the Buffalo Bulls in 2020. The 25-year-old performed in a Week 17 win over the Miami Dolphins, speeding for a team-high 63 yards and a landing, in addition to making the energetic roster in a playoff victory over Baltimore.

He performed his school ball first at Ohio State, however completed his NCAA profession in Rigmaiden’s yard as a member of the UNC Tarheels, the place he had 826 yards and eight touchdowns in 22 video games.

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Rig’s Report: “He’s acquired the dimensions to be a real every-down man. He’s a really bodily runner, he runs behind his pads, and finishes his runs. 

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TAQUAN MIZZELL

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Virginia native spent final season on the Lions’ suspended checklist after being signed to begin 2022. The 29-year-old had spent the earlier 5 years within the NFL on the apply squads of New York, New Orleans, Baltimore and Chicago, scoring a landing in his debut for the Bears in opposition to the Lions after being elevated to energetic standing.

In his 4 years on the College of Virginia, he had 2,068 speeding yards and 12 touchdowns, together with 1,560 receiving yards and 7 TDS, making him the one participant in ACC historical past with greater than 1,500 yards in each receiving and speeding.

Rig’s Report: “He has a Nic Demski sort talent set. He’s gonna try this working again/vast receiver hybrid stuff. He’s a returner, and by way of cease, begin quicks and simply burst and juice, he’s the very best of the bunch. He’s acquired actually good imaginative and prescient. He’s performed vast receiver and working again within the NFL. The one factor — and I’m not saying he can’t begin as a result of he actually can — however he doesn’t have the dimensions … that the among the different guys do.”

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VANCE MCSHANE

One among three uber-athletic brothers from Freeport, Unwell., who excelled at monitor and sports activities — his trouble Steve is taking part in professional soccer in Germany, whereas Deion was simply invited to camp with the New York Giants — spent the ultimate two years of his school profession on the College of Northern Iowa. The 24-year-old had 1,042 yards and eight touchdowns on 189 whole carries together with 11 catches for 99 yards and a significant in 20 video games.

Rig’s Report: “Vance is actually intriguing. Actually intriguing. He’s 5-foot-6, 180, 188 kilos and he’s fast as hell. I imply, completely he simply bursts fast via the opening; he will get via higher than anyone else. His knock goes to be measurement, however his potential to make guys miss in area, (kick) return, catch passes out of the backfield, he’s glorious. He was draft eligible this yr. Clearly, along with his measurement we had a fairly good thought he wasn’t going to be an NFL man. However once more, you simply activate the tape and this man simply jumps off it.”

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GREGORY (BUDDY) HOWELL JR.

They name him Buddy, however he’s no pal to his opposition.

The 6-foot-1, 218-pounder is an NFL vet, and even boasts a Tremendous Bowl ring as a member of the L.A. Rams.

The punishing ball service additionally spent three seasons with the Houston Texans, and was an influence participant on their particular groups unit, as nicely.

Rig’s Report: “My comp for Buddy is definitely James Butler. He’s acquired fast ft within the gap, he’s very bodily, he’s glorious in cross safety. He’s a three-tool man — he can run, he can catch, he can block — and he was glorious on particular groups when he was with the Texans. The identical stuff that JB did particularly early on in his profession right here.”

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RAYMOND CALAIS

Howell isn’t the one one rocking Tremendous Bowl bling — Calais additionally snagged one as a member of the Rams apply squad in 2021. A former draftee in 2020 by Tampa Bay (245th), he misplaced the battle to Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy in camp with the Bucs and was shortly grabbed by the Rams. Primarily a kick returner in L.A., he performed in 4 common season video games, recording 152 yards on seven returns. 

“Raymond is the pace man. He’s a legit 4.39 man. Lengthy pace, he can take any run to the home. For his measurement, he provides glorious effort in cross safety. I’ve acquired clip after clip of him in Tampa Bay blocking 250-pound D-ends — and doing nicely. Not simply being a pace bump.

“He’s gonna be a wonderful display man, he’s acquired wiggle. He ought to be capable of assistance on kick return. That lengthy pace that he has is is really particular. No person else has that pure lengthy pace.”

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