Mission’s Jesse Walker didn’t quite make the cut at the CFL draft, but the dream to play in the pros isn’t quite done yet for the former star wide receiver for the University of Manitoba Bisons and Mission Roadrunners.
Walker failed to get selected in the eight-round, 73-player draft, but told The Mission Record that he will be attending an open camp hosted by the B.C. Lions on Saturday.
“I’m going to go and try to turn some heads,” he said.
It’s the last open recruiting camp for the Lions before main camp starts in the coming weeks.
If he impresses the Lions this weekend, he could receive an invite to that camp and fight for a spot on the roster.
“I just have to stay hungry and get after it until they give me an opportunity,” he said.
Walker was pegged to be drafted on many mock CFL drafts posted online, but he said the 2019 event seemed to feature more of a focus on defensive players and linemen.
“There wasn’t as much priority on offence,” he said.
“But it’s all about timing. There were also a lot of linemen picked so it makes it tougher for some of the skill guys.”
The 2014 AA B.C. high school football player of the year certainly has the physical tools, and he proved it earlier this year at the 2019 CFL Western Regional Combine in March, where he posted the fastest time in the 40-yard dash, blazing through the course in 4.63 seconds.
He also posted the second best time in the shuttle, which tests lateral quickness and agility.
Walker also had strong results in the jumping events.
For the complete results from the 2019 CFL draft, visit cfl.ca/draft-tracker/2019.