Pair of CFL hopefuls from down south ready to impress

• Casey Bauman and Joel Dublanko don't need their new-found dual citizenships to make them feel at home in Canada.

The American-born football prospects have family ties that led to their designations as nationals for the April 30 CFL global and Canadian drafts, but they already felt a connection.

“It doesn't feel that weird to me because Canada was my backyard,” said Bauman, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound quarterback who was born in Sumas, Wash. “My house is like five minutes from the Canadian border.”

Bauman's mother was born in Abbotsford, B.C., and the family often crossed into Canada for visits to Vancouver. He'd also go skiing at Whistler with his three younger brothers.

“I'm just really thankful that I have this opportunity and the CFL is allowing me to be here,” he said.

Dublanko's ties to Canada came through his quick-thinking grandmother.

“My grandma and grandpa were born and raised in Canada,” the linebacker said. “They're pastors and they went down into the States. My grandma was pregnant with my dad at the time, so she ran back up to Canada to have my dad (in Edmonton) and then brought him back down.”

Dublanko was born in Aberdeen, Wash. His family also vacationed in Canada, skiing at Whistler and Big White in B.C., or visited relatives in Edmonton.

“All my family is just super excited right now,” Dublanko said. “A lot of my Canadian relatives are messaging me and just cheering me on and really excited that I'm here. It's a lot of fun.”

He and Bauman are among 84 hopefuls at this week's CFL national combine, which includes interviews with coaches and general managers, drills and practices through Sunday.

The duo is sharing a room and both are intriguing prospects.

Dublanko is projected to go high in the draft because of his pro experience.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound starred at the University of Cincinnati, went undrafted in the NFL, but spent some time with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks.

Teams have also been gathering info on Bauman, who overcame injuries in college.

He played two seasons at Augustana University in South Dakota, throwing for 2,878 yards with 29 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 games last year. He had transferred from Montana State University in 2022.

ANDREW MAHON / CFL CFL prospects Joel Dublanko, left, and Casey Bauman both hail from Washington state, but have ties to Canada and spent time during their youth in the country on family visits and skiing vacations.