A Vernon Secondary School (VSS) Panthers alumni is showcasing his football skills at the annual CFL Combine.
Hosted in Winnipeg, the week-long event began on Tuesday, March 19. The program seeks to showcase the top football athletes from Canadian Universities and Canadians in the NCAA. They are scouted by general managers and coaches of the nine CFL teams.
Brad Hladik recently finished up his university career with the University of British Columbia. The dual threat linebacker/tight end played 31 university games throughout four seasons, after graduating from VSS in 2018.
“When Brad played for the Panthers, he played a lot of different positions and he could play in the trenches because he was big and strong enough,” said VSS head coach Sean Smith.
“He could also play on the edge because he was athletic and fast enough. I think he brought that same versatility to U Sports and has played on both sides of the ball for UBC. More importantly, Brad has shown that he can contribute on special teams and that might be what gets him attention at the next level.”
A total of 84 prospects will be competing at the combine in a plethora of skills, from exercises such as bench press, 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jumps, beginning on Thursday.
“I’m so happy that Brad is able to showcase his skills and talent at the pro level because he has definitely put in the work to get there,” added Smith.
Day three of the Combine saw Hladik receive honourable mention for Coaches’ Picks for offence.
The CFL Draft takes place on April 30, where Hladik may hear his name called.
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