McGough: “I was speechless”
Hat product now a Tiger-Cat after being picked fourth in Sunday’s CFL draft
Connor McGough feels like he’s living a dream.
Those around him will tell you he’s earned it.
The 21-year-old from Medicine Hat was picked fourth in Sunday’s CFL draft, the highest anyone from the Hat area has ever gone. On Thursday he flies out to New York to take part in an NFL rookie camp with the Giants.
Believe it or not, he even got a good night’s sleep Sunday.
“It was nice to put my head down last night on the pillow and have a great sleep,” said McGough. “Knowing where you’re going, seeing the hard work pay off and see that speculation on where you’re supposed to go, it’s nice to give the brain a break.”
About 20 people including parents Cindy Kramer and Tim McGough and younger sister Meghan crowded the family home for a draft party, and it was absolute bedlam the moment the Hamilton TigerCats chose the defensive lineman fourth overall.
“All we heard was ‘Con-’ and we didn’t even wait for him to finish, we started cheering,” he said. “I knew they had interest, I wasn’t too sure how it would play out.
“When I saw they were on the clock I was thinking it could be me, but it was a complete shock, that’s for sure, when I heard my name called. I was speechless, didn’t know how to react.”
McGough was only ranked 20th by the CFL’s scouting bureau. It turns out Hamilton didn’t want to leave him until the second round and potentially miss out on a hard-working up-and-comer with versatility to burn.
“He was the best guy on the board for our entire staff,” Hamilton vice-president of football operations Kent Austin told the Hamilton Spectator. “He’s a complete football player, he’s committed and he’s going to be a great fit in the locker-room.”
The Spectator story suggested Austin wanted to pick McMaster receiver Danny Vandervoort, but B.C. picked him third instead.
McGough’s stock had been rising steadily, but it shot upwards after a strong showing at the CFL combine March 23-25 in Regina. The Crescent Heights Vikings alumnus posted an impressive 4.7-second 40 yard dash, was among the most agile in shuttle run and cone drills and still did 24 bench press repetitions — all near the top of the charts in a combine that included top Canadian players at all positions.
Having transitioned from a running back to the line following his rookie season at the University of Calgary, that wide array of physical talent makes McGough a soughtafter commodity at the pro level.
“I knew he could’ve been a late first-rounder,” said Rod Metz, one of McGough’s former high school coaches. “What he did at the combine was insane.
“He’s a character kid, a good example of a kid that’s made himself an athlete.”
It’s been a lot of work behind the scenes to get McGough to where he’s at. He knows all it’s achieved is a chance at the next level.
“At CFL camp you’ve got to prove yourself, that’s how my mindset is,” he said. “I’m not thinking of myself as the first pick for them, I’m a nobody and have to prove myself. I’m looking forward to it.”
That’s definitely the case in New York this weekend, a situation that came about because of his combine performance and a Canadian on the Giants staff who regularly brings up northerners to get a look and maybe turn up a hidden gem. Camp runs Friday through Sunday.
“It’s a good opportunity to showcase my talent there. Obvously hope for the best but if not I’ll go home with a lot of knowledge to apply to the Canadian game.”