Canada
Players To Watch
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Kirby Fabien
Offensive Tackle
Despite considerable interest in NCAA college recruiters interested in taking him south of the border, Fabien committed to the University of Calgary where he will play under head coach Blake Nill, who is also Canada's linebackers coach. An imposing defensive lineman at Bishop McNally High School in Calgary, Fabien will switch to the offensive side of the ball both in college and in Canton and his 6-6, 287 pounds frame brings impressive size and strength up front. Fabien is a blue-chip offensive line prospect who was ranked by several scouting agencies as the number one recruit in Western Canada. In 2007 he was named the Outstanding Senior High School Varsity Football Player in Division 2 Calgary high school football.
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Chris Rossetti
Quarterback
Went 36-0 as a starter at St. Michael's College School (Ontario) and was a two-time Metro Bowl Champion, Metro Bowl MVP and a Toronto Star All-Star. Playing for the OVFL (Ontario Varsity Football League) Mississauga Warriors, Rossetti posted another flawless 10-0 record as a varsity starter and was an OVFL All-Star, Championship Offensive MVP and won the championship game. He stands 5-11 and weighs in at 190 pounds.
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Taylor Nill
Wide Receiver
Has committed to the University of Calgary having been named the top receiver for the South Senior Bowl team and represented Alberta at the 2008 Canada Cup, where he was named championship game Offensive MVP. He was the rookie of the year at Nova Scotia high school football in 2006 where he won the Calgary and Alberta Tier I championships with St. Francis in 2007. Taylor is no stranger to international competition having traveled with Team Canada to the NFL Global Junior Championship in Miami, FL in 2007. His father Blake Nill is the Canada linebackers coach.
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Byron Perez-Archambault
Linebacker
With the Vanier College Cheetahs, Byron recorded 65 tackles, 3 sacks, and one pass break-up in 2008 as he was named the Vanier College Defensive MVP for the 2008-2009 season. He stands 6-0 tall and weighs in at 215 pounds.
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Steven Lumbala
Running Back
The 5-11, 190-pound tailback played for the St. Francis Browns, where he was named team MVP two years in a row and his Grade 11 MVP honor made him the first ever to receive the award at that age as he led the team to the 2007 tier 1 championship and a 10-0 record.
Lumbala is also the recipient of the Gary Deman award given to the top student-athlete from St. Francis High School who will carry on their education and athletic career at the University of Calgary. He was ranked the number one running back in Alberta 2007-2008 and in 2008 averaged 170 yards per game at an average of 8.7 yards per carry.
The last name Lumbala could be translated to 'football star' as each of the Lumbala brothers is exactly that. Jacques and Rolly, both older than Steven, are experienced and talented tailbacks with their own claim to glory. Jacques was part of the University of Calgary team before going to St. Mary's University where he was a 1,000 yard rusher his final year. Rolly earned a scholarship to play in the NCAA for the University of Idaho Vandals and is now in the CFL as a tailback for the B.C. Lions. Steven is now following in the footsteps of his brothers. He recently signed a letter of intent to play tailback for the University of Calgary Dinos for the upcoming 2009 season.