TORONTO – Michael O’Connor is hoping CFL teams will look beyond his birth certificate and the stigma it may bring and give him a shot at playing quarterback.Nicknamed Wacky, O’Con…
TORONTO – Michael O’Connor is hoping CFL teams will look beyond his birth certificate and the stigma it may bring and give him a shot at playing quarterback.
In 2018 with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, he completed 222-of-316 pass attempts for 2,701 yards and 14 touchdowns, with just four interceptions. In 2015, he led the team to a national championship and was named the Vanier Cup MVP. While the nine CFL teams will closely be watching again Sunday at the Combine, O’Connor will also have a Pro Day April 4, with a couple of NFL teams confirming they’ll be there.
“That was a whirlwind,” said O’Connor. “Three different states, three different years. I never really had a chance to sit back and enjoy everything. I’m more comfortable being myself, being in my own skin. I know who I am, I think it’s really important to know yourself. That’s big at the next level, knowing who you are and what makes you tick.
“It was a tough decision,” said O’Connor. “What really attracted me to UBC first was Coach Nill just getting hired there. I thought I could step in and help rebuild the program. They have one of the top business schools in the country, that was important to me – to make sure I got a good degree. Plus, there was being able to play right away. If I went somewhere down south, I would have to sit out a year – at that point you don’t know what could happen in a two-year span.
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