Manitoba Bisons were represented well at the Canadian Football League’s National Combine by receiver Gavin Cobb and defensive lineman Cole Adamson.
Cobb earned his spot from his performance at the Regional Combine in Edmonton the week before, while Adamson was the only member of the Herd who was invited directly to the National.
A fourth-year wide-out, Cobb put on a show in the spotlight out west and carried the same energy to Toronto, where league coaches and general managers had their last chance to see the prospects before the May 3 draft.
“I think I did pretty well on the vertical, 40.5 inches. Last week at the regional I jumped 41.5 inches, so I’m happy with it,” said Cobb, at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, where the first two days of the combine were held. “(On) bench press I improved too so, I mean, I’m happy with my performance.
“I know three (reps) is not a crazy number but I’m still impressing myself.”
The Victoria, B.C. native had the highest vertical jump of any player at any of the four CFL Combines and is sixth all-time in the event.
Cobb’s showing didn’t stop there as he was in the top five of every category. He had the longest broad jump at 10-feet-9 7/8 inches, was tied for second in the 10-yard shuttle at 4.24 seconds, plus was third in the three-cone, and 40-yard dash, with times of 6.97, and 4.53, respectively.
His draft stock jumped enormously after the weekend, especially since he was not initially invited to the combine.
The last Manitoba receiver who moved on from the regionals to outperform expectations on the big stage was local talent Shai Ross, drafted by the Edmonton Elks (2019) and enjoying early success in his career.
Adamson, meanwhile, was the only Winnipeg-born player at the main combine this year and had quite the outing himself.
The Oak Park High School alumnus finished in the top-10 for his position in every category, including a respectable 18 reps on bench press.
“(I’ve) just been trying to work hard throughout my whole career and it’s showing that it’s been paying off,” said Adamson. “To come here and to the CFL national combine is just a huge accomplishment and I’m really proud of what I’ve done so far.”
The fourth-year defensive lineman has experienced success on and off the field, being named an Academic All-Canadian in every year of his USPORTS career.
Adamson is studying engineering at the University of Manitoba and takes pride in his roots.
“Winnipeg boys can play football,” he said. “In the past, we’ve always had Winnipeg boys coming to show out at the Combine, so another one, another year.”