Former Laval star Richard to compete for roster spot with Alouettes

He’s preparing for his second Montreal Alouettes training camp, but Hugo Richard will be more than just an interested spectator this time around.

The former Laval Rouge et Or star quarterback signed a twoyear deal with Montreal earlier this week. Richard attended the Alouettes’ camp as a guest quarterback last summer.

“Obviously it’s a totally different mindset,” Richard said. “Being there as an invited guest isn’t the same as belonging there.

“It’s going to be interesting to see the different dynamic from the start, to have a look at the playbook before camp.”

Laval capped a perfect ’18 campaign with a 34-20 Vanier Cup win against the Western Mustangs last November. In his final collegiate contest, the six-foottwo, 225-pound Richard was the game MVP after completing 23-of-31 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 60 yards and a TD in capturing his second Canadian university title.

The 24-year-old native of SaintBruno-de-Montarville, Que., completed 782-of-1,145 passes (68.3 per cent) for 10,271 yards with 70 TDs in 38 career games at Laval. He also ran 200 times for 1,228 yards (6.14-yard average) and 30 touchdowns, becoming the only player in Quebec conference history to throw 70 scoring strikes and score 30 majors.

But Richard will likely find himself at the bottom of Montreal’s quarterback depth chart once camp begins. Veterans Johnny Manziel, Antonio Pipkin, Vernon Adams Jr., Matthew Shiltz and Jeff Mathews are also on the Alouettes roster.

Richard won’t be the lone Canadian quarterback vying for a CFL roster spot.

Last month, the Toronto Argonauts signed Regina’s Noah Picton to a three-year deal. Picton attended the club’s training camp last year before returning to the Rams.

A Canadian-born quarterback in the CFL is a rare commodity. Brandon Bridge, of Mississauga, was the only one in the league last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the sixfoot-five, 235-pound Bridge is scheduled to become a free agent next month.

Richard understands the scrutiny he’ll face trying to crack Montreal’s roster as a Canadian quarterback.

“If I’m able to get the chance to do something and show that Canadian quarterbacks belong in the league, then obviously it’s going to open doors for other guys,” Richard said. “That would really be a good thing.”