Matt Dionne | Sports and Health Editor
Featured image courtesy of York Lions
The Toronto Argonauts landed a pair of York Lions – Jamal Campbell and Chris Kolankowski – in the CFL draft on May 10. Campbell was taken in the third round with the 22nd overall pick, and Kolankowski was taken in the sixth round with the 49th overall pick. Neither player had been informed of the decision, so both were surprised when their picture appeared on the screen.
“It was a surprise for sure. I was just grateful because everyone who believed in me got to feel a sense of accomplishment with me,” says Campbell, who grew up in Toronto and majored in sociology. Kolankowski is originally from Etobicoke and majored in law and society. Both played offensive line for York, and both were in their fourth year playing football at the CIS level.
Kolankowski is expected to play on the interior of the offensive line, either guard or center, and Campbell will play tackle.
At six feet seven inches tall and weighing 300 lbs, Campbell is the prototypical offensive tackle. Kolankowski is considered undersized for the offensive line, coming in at six feet two inches tall and 290 lbs. However, as Marcus Stroman, one of the most popular members of this year’s Toronto Blue Jays, often says, “height doesn’t measure heart.”
Campbell participated in the national combine this past March, while Kolankowski participated in the regional combine that took place the day before. The biggest difference between the two combines is there are no meetings with scouts at the regional combine. “It was a pretty relaxed atmosphere,” Kolankoswki said of the regional combine. “Most guys weren’t really competitive with each other, everyone was just there to do a job.”
The national combine is a little longer, with scheduled time for the prospects to meet with any scouts that might be interested. Because of his impressive numbers, Campbell met with representatives from each of the nine teams in the league.
The next step for Campbell and Kolankowski will be to pass physicals, which are scheduled for May 25 for rookies. CFL training camps are scheduled to begin on May 29.
When asked about playing at the professional level with his former Lions teammate, Campbell says, “It’s the most amazing feeling ever, because we’ve trained together to prepare for the combine. We’ve learned a lot together, playing beside each other, and now we get to take that to the Argos and that’s the greatest feeling ever.”
The first chance to see the former Lions duo in the Argos’ double blue will be June 11, when the Boatmen take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
