It’s just a matter of time before multiple players from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies will hear their name called at the CFL Draft.
Langenburg’s Noah Zerr is the top offensive lineman ranked in the latest CFL Scouting Bureau, while Saskatoon’s own Nathan Cherry and Riley Pickett on the defensive line should follow Zerr shortly after.
Huskies running back Adam Machart has chosen to step away from the game of football.
Zerr says the buildup leading into the draft has been special and he can’t wait to see what the future holds.
“Just kind of surreal,” Zerr said.
“It’s one of those things that as a kid, you just kind of dream about. I’m really grateful for all of the opportunities that I’ve been given over these last couple of months and all of the faith that some of these CFL coaches have shown in me.”
Zerr says that being able to learn from his head coach Scott Flory has been massive, given his playing experience on the offensive line with the Montreal Alouettes.
“(Flory’s) doing everything he can to kind of make sure guys like me and all of my teammates are prepared for that next level,” Zerr said.
“It’s been huge just having him as a mentor, having him as a guy through this process.”
Zerr says his off-season has been one of the busiest ones he can remember in anticipation of the CFL Draft.
“From the moment we finished up in early December after the Vanier Cup, it was all hands on deck,” Zerr said.
“We started training pretty much around the clock.”
The training led up to the CFL Combine where Zerr had a chance to show off his hard work on the national stage.
“It was a really fun opportunity, it was really fast-paced and you get to play some of the best talent in the entire country and that’s really all you can ask for as an athlete,” Zerr said.
With the CFL Combine comes several sit-down interviews with teams and plenty of interesting questions about anything and everything.
Zerr says the one question that stuck out most came from the Edmonton Elks organization.
“(They were) asking me who they’re going to cut if they bring me to camp. It was just kind of that wake-up call to professional football. If you’re winning a job, that means someone else is losing it.”
Saskatchewan holds the 7th overall pick in the 2022 CFL Draft. Zerr says it would be a dream come true if the local team were to take him with the pick, but he’s not putting all his eggs in one basket.
“You dream about it growing up in Sask, but that being said, I just really want to play professional football.
“Whatever team trusts me to do that, I’m willing to do it all for them.”
The CFL Draft is set for May 3rd in Toronto.