Avid angler Wakefield snags spot as starter
Redblacks’ Wakefield will likely be starter in opener against Saskatchewan Roughriders
As much as Michael Wakefield is looking to make an impact on the football field this year, he’s also hoping to catch some fish.
Yep, the 24-year-old, 270-lb. Ottawa Redblacks defensive lineman, who looks like he’s going to be one of the team’s starters in Thursday’s Canadian Football League season-opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, is a longtime fisherman. He’s hoping for some advice on fishing hot spots in the Ottawa area.
Wakefield figures he got started fishing, mostly catching bass, when he was four or five back home in Valdosta, Ga.
“My mom used to get mad because my dad would take me out fishing,” he said. “I really enjoy it. It’s a way to get a lot of stuff off your mind.”
On the football field, given a chance to make a big contribution in 2018, Wakefield, who had four tackles last season, is hoping for big things. At Florida International University, he had 17.5 sacks, 35.5 tackles for loss and he forced eight fumbles.
“It’s my second year, and I’m starting to get comfortable with the CFL. I’m feeling good,” he said. “Last year, I was still feeling my way around. The yard off the ball, I’m still getting used to that. But I’m more relaxed when I’m out there. I do whatever it takes to get the job done. I can get after the quarterback, but I can play the run as well.”
Redblacks coach Rick Campbell likes what he sees from the big lineman.
“He’s getting better,” said Campbell. “We like him, he’s an active guy, he uses his hands well, he can be disruptive. That’s really what you want with defensive linemen is for them to be disruptive. What I mean by that is guys who play on the other side of the line of scrimmage a lot whether it’s a run or pass play.”
In the off-season, Wakefield helped out with his dad, James’ commercial cleaning business. He was also able to base his training specifically around playing the defensive tackle position.
“Last year, I didn’t know if I would be a defensive end or defensive tackle,” he said. “This year, I added some weight and got stronger.”
Wakefield is feeling at home in the city, too.
“I love Ottawa. It’s the biggest small city I’ve ever been in,” he said.
LINING UP: It’s looking more and more like rookie Mark Korte will line up at left guard as part of the team’s offensive line Thursday. Sir Vincent Rogers has remained at left tackle during first-team reps while Alex Mateas has been at centre, Jon Gott at right guard and Evan Johnson right tackle. Said coach Rick Campbell of MacMillan’s status for this week’s game: “I’ve said in the past that someone is playing and they didn’t and vice versa. So Nolan is definitely not ruled out. Obviously he would have to practise (Tuesday) to get going.”
STILL GOTT IT: Jon Gott, who has played centre most of his time with the Redblacks with some time at left guard last year thrown in, said it’s not a big deal to switch positions on the O -line. “Earlier in my career, they had me rotating around. It’s only the past few years of my career, I’ve just been at one position. It keeps me on my toes.” Going into his 10th CFL season, Gott said the offensive linemen have been able to adapt. “We’ve been around each other for the past two years so to be put somewhere else, if I’m playing beside Evan or if I go to left guard and play beside SV (Rogers), it’s not a big deal.” Trying to stop the tough Roughriders defence will be a challenge. In his Saskatchewan debut in a 27-19 win over Toronto, Charles- ton Hughes, the former Calgary Stampeders star, had three sacks. Said Gott: “They’ve got some great players, they’ve got Willie Jefferson, they’ve got Zack Evans, they’ve got Charleston Hughes. They just fly around and make plays. Watching that Toronto game, they terrorized (Argos quarterback) Ricky Ray so we have to give (quarterback) Trevor (Harris) time to throw.” THE GM SPEAKS: Asked how he felt about the 2018 version of the Redblacks compared to last season, GM Marcel Desjardins said: “We should be able to start from a better place than last year just because of the continuity we have. The O -line is a bit of a question mark, but I feel good about that. I feel good about Trevor (Harris) having one year as the starter under his belt. Defensively, we made a lot of changes for a reason. I think that will bode not only for what they do defensively, but the tone it sets for the team as a whole and hopefully it creates a lot more turnovers.” Talking about Harris, who is a full participant in practice after injuring his knee/ ankle nearly 2½weeks ago in a pre-season game against Montreal, Desjardins said: “It looked scary at first, but it’s obviously comforting (that he is back so quickly).
THE END AROUND: It looks like Noel Thomas Jr. will start at receiver on Thursday, giving the Redblacks four Americans lined up there. Said Campbell: “He’s a good player. He shows a lot of promise, obviously that has to translate to regular-season games. The thing I liked about him all the way back to minicamp is he’s a guy who makes tough catches. A lot of guys can make the routine catch, the catches they’re supposed to make. Thursday’s home-opener kicks off at 7:30 p.m.