Massive hits are available small packages with new B.C. Lions' working again hopeful

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The B.C. Lions’ Smoke Present has been sidelined with a knee harm.

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Now they’ll need to look elsewhere for solutions at tailback.

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“What we’re hoping for,” stated B.C. Lions head coach Rick Campbell, “is somewhat ball of hate.”

Enter Shaun Shivers, the 5-foot-7, 190 pound aforementioned bundle of malice. Signed by the Lions simply two weeks in the past, he has gotten an early name to lively obligation after Taquan (Smoke) Mizzell was dominated out of Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Montreal Alouettes with a knee harm.

He’s small, however runs with violence. His measurement, pace and shiftiness — however principally his measurement — meant gamers like Darren Sproles or Barry Sanders have been talked about as comparables. However the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native prefers Emmitt Smith and even his fellow Auburn alum, Bo Jackson.

“The ‘Largest Little Man in Soccer,’ ” stated Shivers. “That’s what they used to name me within the SEC.”

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At observe Friday in Surrey, Shivers took all of the first-team reps, and took a few scrimmage carries to the home — together with one sideline sprint that introduced the most important crew celebrations of the day.

Very like the explosive Mizzell, Shivers sees the wide-open CFL subject as tailored for his skills.

“That is one of the best benefit I might ever play in,” he stated. “Having a giant subject, this huge, with my pace? All I want is one block.

“However the one time I’ll go exterior is that if that’s the play. That’s how I’ve been taught — north and south. If the play is working exterior, I’m working exterior. If the play is inside, I’m working inside. I like arduous yardage.

“As soon as I get downhill and working downhill, I’d make a transfer … I get my shoulders sq.. If it’s me and also you’re proper right here and it’s like second-and-three, no matter it’s, I’m gonna drop my shoulder. I’m searching for contact.

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“They need me to begin shying away from that, utilizing my pace, make a transfer to make folks miss … I imply, I might do it, however I simply don’t know why, simply generally I wish to set the tone for the crew and get the entire crew hyped (by working somebody over).”

Shivers was added to the prolonged roster on the finish of June on the expense of Antonio Williams, who had been battling with Mizzell for the No. 1 spot for the reason that begin of coaching camp.

Shivers was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent however was launched after their rookie mini-camp. His small stature was, pardon the joke, too huge a problem for the Seahawks, who didn’t see him working within the NFL recreation. The ‘Hawks had additionally drafted two working backs simply weeks earlier than.

It was high-quality in his NCAA days at Auburn, the place he averaged over 5 yards a carry and racked up 1,020 yards and eight touchdowns in his time there.

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He suited-up in 43 video games at Auburn from 2018-21, racking up 1,020 yards and eight TDs on 201 whole carries and including 38 receptions for 211 yards and one main. In his senior yr after transferring to Indiana, he had one other 592 yards and 6 touchdowns.

The ebook on Shivers is he’s a dynamic runner, elusive and has a low centre of gravity, and makes defenders miss. His go safety was a problem within the NFL draft scouting report, however it was additionally seen the identical means with Mizzell, who has adjusted to that function within the CFL recreation simply high-quality.

“He’s (Shivers) a pointy man,” stated Campbell. “He hasn’t been up right here very lengthy, however he’s discovered the playbook. It’ll be enjoyable to see what he does.”

Shivers stated he discovered the playbook in three days, and did loads of movie work earlier than he even stepped on the sector. He talks as quick as he runs, and picks issues up even quicker.

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“It’s a quick turnaround,” he admitted. “I knew once I was developing right here, it was gonna be midseason. I knew I used to be gonna have to come back in right here and be on my recreation. Even earlier than I stepped on the sector, I made positive I watched these guys to ensure I used to be listening to the decision proper. Learning the query, asking questions — I like to ask a whole lot of questions.

“I’ll ask the identical query two instances as a result of I simply wish to guarantee that that is what I’m imagined to do, so once I’m occurring the sector, it’s precisely what you simply informed me to do.

“I’m not going to be a robotic, however I’m gonna do it the way in which you confirmed me, and let my expertise take me the place I wish to go.”

He’s already discovered the pitfalls of a lack of awareness due to CFL newcomer C.J. Sims of the Edmonton Elks. The kick-returner value Edmonton the sport by unknowingly conceding a single level within the remaining minute in a 12-11 loss to Saskatchewan.

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So you’ll be able to add “rouge” to the objects Shivers has now filed away.

“I used to be confused,” he stated. “I watched the highlights of that recreation. I noticed when the ball went again, and I don’t know what occurred … The opposite crew bought some extent? The way you get some extent? I do know now.”

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