CCH grad ready for another shot

Brennan van Nistelrooy is getting a rare second chance to impress. The six-foot, 200-pound Okanagan Sun defensive back will participate in the CFL combine Saturday and Sunday. Nistelrooy was among five players invited to the national session following a regional event Monday in Edmonton.

Despite performing well enough to secure the invitation, van Nistelrooy sees room for improvement. The Lethbridge native wasn’t happy with either his 40-yard dash (4.73 seconds) or 1-on-1 performance in Edmonton.

“It’s really nice to get a second chance to show scouts again I can perform well and do those to a higher standard,” said the former Catholic Central Cougar star.

It’s not that van Nistelrooy performed badly in Edmonton. He had a 35-inch vertical jump, 9.95-foot broad jump and three-cone time of 6.95 seconds (tops among 41-player field) to go with a shuttle effort of 4.21 seconds.

But van Nistelrooy admitted to being nervous and anxious at the regional event.

“It was a pretty nerve-wracking experience going to Edmonton and not knowing what to expect 100 per cent or the guys I was going up against,” he said. “I’d like to improve my 40 time and 1-on-1 work in Toronto and also interview well.

“Those would be my goals as well as to just to come out relaxed, let things happen and play to the best of my ability.”

And follow in the footsteps of former teammate Dexter Janke. Janke, a fellow Okanagan defensive back, was drafted in the fifth round, No. 44 overall, last year by the Calgary Stampeders after participating in both a regional combine and the national event.

Van Nistelrooy and Janke are training together this off-season and van Nistelrooy has spoken often to Janke about his experiences last year. Janke even went to Edmonton to support his workout partner.

“His going through this last year showed junior players can play at the CFL level,” van Nistelrooy said. “I’ve been able to draw upon his experience of what it’s like, what to expect.

“It’s awesome having him as a resource.”

After undergoing physicals Friday, van Nistelrooy and the other 50 participants will be measured and weighed Saturday before doing the vertical jump and bench press at the University of Toronto. The highlight Sunday is the 40-yard dash before players don shoulder pads and helmets for 1-on-1 competitions.

Four other players, including Oklahoma offensive lineman Josiah St. John, will attend the combine but won’t compete. St. John, a six-foot-six, 308pound Toronto native who’s the thirdranked prospect for this year’s CFL draft, participated in the Sooners’ pro day Wednesday.

For van Nistelrooy, it will spell a quick turnaround after testing Monday.

“I was lucky enough to be in the first regional combine,” he said. “It gave me time to come home and see my physiotherapist and chiropractor and get the body back to where it should be.”

The prospect of a pro football career is something van Nistelrooy has only allowed himself to ponder the last two years. He began playing the game in high school after spending a lot of time on the soccer field.

Soccer is definitely in van Nistelrooy’s blood considering he’s a distant relative of retired star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. The 39-year-old former Dutch International had 95 goals in 150 career games with Manchester United while adding 46 in 68 contests with Real Madrid and scored 35 times in 70 contests with the Netherlands’ national squad.

“I’m asked about him less now because he’s retired,” van Nistelrooy said. “But back when I was in high school and junior high I was always around soccer fields and people would pay attention to Manchester United so they all knew the name.

“The first question always was, ‘Oh my god, are you related?’ I’d say, ‘Yeah, we’re distantly related.’ I’ve never met him, though. That would be really cool.”

So, too, would be leaving the CFL combine having given league officials many positive attributes to consider.

“I’d like teams to see I’m a hard worker, an intelligent football player and am willing to play wherever on the field and do whatever it takes to make a team,” he said. “I love special teams and have played them my whole career.

“I know they’re very important for a Canadian player in the CFL. And I’d like teams to know I’m not going to give up on anything.”