Ottawa Citizen

PLAYING THROUGH THE GRIEF

Redblacks’ Purifoy in camp despite loss

- TIM BAINES

A week before the start of Ottawa Redblacks’ training camp, Loucheiz Purifoy’s heart was broken — his grandfathe­r Leonard died suddenly at age 74.

The funeral was Saturday in Pensacola, Fla., delaying Purifoy’s arrival at camp. After missing Day 1, he was at work Monday at TD Place, practising with a heavy heart.

“He was like my daddy,” said Purifoy. “(When I was a kid) if my Momma was going somewhere, I was going to my granddaddy’s house. He’d take me to KFC.

“Once I got older, every time I was home, I’d take him to KFC ... we’d sit there and talk for hours.”

His grandfathe­r was always a shoulder to lean on.

“He wasn’t an athlete, he was a hard worker. He built houses, he did constructi­on,” said Purifoy. “He always told me, ‘Just go play that ball, make it happen.’ I’m going to keep it going for him.”

Purifoy, 25, is a skilled defensive back with the ability to step up and play SAM linebacker. With the B.C. Lions in 2017, he had 49 tackles on defence, and three intercepti­ons. The previous year, he had 43 tackles, with five sacks, four forced fumbles and an intercepti­on. He’s a playmaker, a guy who makes things happen — just what this team is looking for.

“I’m aggressive, I love it,” said Purifoy. “Any time you can get the ball to the offence, you’re good. That’s what you need — fast, physical players, smart players.”

And, with several defensive backs and linebacker­s in camp battling for jobs, Purifoy says he’s up for the challenge.

“If you haven’t got people ahead of you trying to make you better, if they aren’t trying to take your spot, they don’t need to be here, they’re here for the wrong reasons,” he said. “Come here and compete, make everybody better.”

DREAM COME TRUE FOR HOWELL: Carleton Ravens defensive back Justin Howell watched the CFL draft earlier this month in Bradford with family and friends. He was relieved when he was selected in the seventh round by the Redblacks.

“There were definitely anxious moments leading in. But as soon as I got the phone call and saw my name, there was such a relief and excitement,” he said. “I remember four years ago watching my first CFL game here, they just happened to score a touchdown as soon as I got into the stands — hearing the roar of the crowd and the energy in the stadium, this was somewhere I said I wanted to play. So to see the dream come true, to be somewhere I wanted to play — that makes this special. I’m so proud and so excited to be a Redblack. I just want to contribute to this team in any way possible.”

Showing up at the team’s rookie camp last week was an eye-opener.

“I don’t think I really took it in until we got into meetings,” he said. “Getting into the stadium, being in the locker-room, it’s a surreal feeling. It’s hit me more as reality now. Every time I come here I have to clock in and be focused and ready to contribute. It’s another level. Everybody’s a great football player. You have to be sharp. I’m studying guys like Antoine Pruneau — Grey Cup champions, guys have played at a high level. I’m just watching their techniques and how they prepare and how they do things so I can try to emulate and do the same things they do.”

With plenty of special teams experience under his belt while at Carleton, Howell is up for whatever the team asks him to do.

“My mindset is whatever this team needs to win football games and get to the Grey Cup, I’m willing to do,” he said. “If that’s special teams, I’m more than willing, I’m very excited to step up and contribute.”

HARRIS WEIGHS IN: Asked about receiver Brad Sinopoli who is coming off off-season shoulder surgery, Redblacks QB Trevor Harris said: “He doesn’t look like he had surgery. That’s a huge boost for us. To me, he’s the ultimate ratio breaker for the Canadian Football League. We’re very blessed to have him.” Asked about a deep group of defensive backs in camp, Harris said: “I’ve never seen a group of DBs with this much talent.”

SPECIAL TEAMS TIEBREAKER: With plenty of competitio­n in camp, there will be some very tough decisions ahead when it comes to who stays and who goes. Said Redblacks coach Rick Campbell: “It’s really tough. I remind guys not only are they offensive players and defensive players, but they’re also special teams players. There are going to be tough decisions at the end and the tiebreaker could come down to the guy who can play special teams well.”

THE ODDS SAY: In Bodog ’s most recent set of odds, the Redblacks are listed as having 11/1 odds to win the Grey Cup. So if you bet $1, you’d stand to win $11 if they won the Cup. Under Bodog ’s odds, only the Montreal Alouettes have worse odds — at 14/1. The Calgary Stampeders are the favourite at 11/5, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats the East’s top team at 11/2.

THE END AROUND: Kicker Sergio Castillo, who tore the ACL in his right knee last October while playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, had a minor setback Sunday and was on the sidelines Monday. Said Campbell: “He just tweaked something so we’re making sure we’re smart about it. We want to make sure he’s available. It’s going to be a long training camp, it’s just a minor thing.” ... The first QB Club of the season will be held June 13, from 6-8 p.m., at Casino Lac Leamy’s Bar 7 with special guests Campbell and GM Marcel Desjardins ... The Redblacks announced they have signed LB D.J. Sanders (Middle Tennessee State) and WR Kieren Duncan (Colorado State) ... DL Ettore Lattanzio was on the sidelines, but wasn’t practising ... Former Redblacks WR Jake Harty was injured (knee) in Saskatchew­an Roughrider­s camp and coach Chris Jones said it didn’t look good. Another former Redblack, DL Zack Evans, left Monday’s Riders practice early.

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 ?? OTTAWA REDBLACKS ?? Redblacks’ Loucheiz Purifoy, seen as practice Monday, was late getting to camp because of the death of whis grandfathe­r.
OTTAWA REDBLACKS Redblacks’ Loucheiz Purifoy, seen as practice Monday, was late getting to camp because of the death of whis grandfathe­r.
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