More than a month away from the national CFL combine, the grind doesn't stop for Vernon's Liam Reid.
Reid, a Calgary Dinos defensive end, is training diligently for the combine, which will see just under 100 of the top U Sports players from across the country test themselves in a battery of skills work.
Reid has experience in combines, having participated in a regional event previously that he found "challenging." However, the national competition has him amped up.
"I am super motivated to prove myself," Reid told The Morning Star. "Once I got the invite to the national event, it was a pretty nice pat on the back to me, and I am super excited about the opportunity."
Reid was one of just 68 athletes selected directly for the national combine. Others will be chosen at the Invitational combine, hosted a week before the national event. Three Dinos teammates will join Reid at the event: Ethan Ball, Nate Beauchemin and Daniel Flanagan.
Athletes will compete in various physical tests (such as the bench press, vertical jump and broad jump), along with interviews with the nine CFL teams across three days (March 21-23) in Regina, Saskatchewan.
"We are training three hours every day, with the goal of getting better numbers for the combine," Reid said. "A lot of work we are doing is mental, dealing with technique work."
In the 2024 U Sports season, Reid had, by his admission, his best season ever.
"I was coming off shoulder surgery in 2023, and I missed the East-West Bowl Game, and I didn't participate in spring camp, but I was fully ready to go in the fall," Reid said. "I had the best season, played every game and was an All-Canadian."
In the eight-game season, Reid accumulated 29 tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble on a stout defensive Dinos core. He was named a First Team All-Canadian and a Canada West All-Star. In what was his fourth season in U Sports, it was his first playing a different position. He moved from linebacker to defensive end, which was a position he played in his decorated high school career with the Vernon Secondary School Panthers.
"It worked really well for me," he said. "I am hoping to be able to do both the linebacker and defensive end drills if they let me at the combine."
As he prepares for the combine in March, Reid can't help but look back on how far he came and the impact the VSS Panther program had on him.
"Sean Smith (Panthers head coach) set up a really good program," he said. "I wouldn't be the player I am without him."
Reid also credits alumni and other high-school coaches for their positive impact on his life.
"I wasn't recruited that much in Grade 11, but going into Grade 12, I saw that jump, and it had to do with my strength coach, basketball coaches, and my father all helping me," said Reid. "It made me aware that there is an opportunity at the university level to spread my wings and go to a different city, with football paying my tuition."
As a dual-sport athlete in high-school, his VSS Panthers won the Boys Football B.C Provincial AA Championship in 2019-20 and his Panthers basketball team reached back-to-back AAA Provincial semi-finals in 2019 and 2020.
"I had great support from both programs," Reid said. "The whole VSS community was amazing."
For more information on the Combine and to track Reid's progress, visit cfl.ca/combine/2025-cfl-combine/
