Huskie Outsider

More than any other position, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies are known for their ability to recruit and develop top offensive linemen. Indeed, some of the best offensive linemen in the Canadian Football League over the past 20 years, including eight-time CFL All-Star and 2008 and 2009 Most Outstanding Lineman Scott Flory and five-time CFL All-Star and 2004 and 2005 Most Outstanding Lineman Gene Makowsky, have come from the Huskies.

Little did anyone know that the big kid the Huskies were recruiting out of Regina’s Sheldon Williams Collegiate in 2008 may be the best offensive linemen they’ve ever had on their hands.

Ben Heenan (photo by Derek Mortensen for Liam Richards Photography)

The word is now out on Ben Heenan. Since he came to the Huskies and started as a rookie straight from high school, he has been named a Canada West all-star twice while also being named a first-team all-Canadian at guard in 2010 and a second-team all-Canadian at tackle in 2011. His excellent play, hard work and leadership in the locker room has led to him being named as the top prospect for the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft by the CFL Scouting Bureau.

This weekend, Heenan will get a chance to show his skills and strength in front of an audience of NFL and CFL scouts and coaches in the 2012 East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Florida (the game will be broadcast at 3:00 p.m. on NFL Network). He will be sixth Huskie to be invited to take part in the game.

Heenan has been preparing for this game, where he will get time at guard, since he found out he’d be playing in it last November. “I am very excited for the Shrine Game,” he said prior to his first practice in St. Petersburg. “It is an incredible opportunity to showcase my talent. It’s something that I have been working towards for a few years now and I hope that I can just relax and enjoy it.”

In anticipation of the Shrine game and the CFL Evaluation Camp, Heenan has been training in Los Angeles, California. He feels this specialized training will lead to good results. “There are guys here that are training for pro days, combines or e-camps,” he said. “They also have positional coaches for us so that we can work on our technique and better prepare us for the pros.

“I think the most beneficial part of the training for me is the environment. You’re around guys who want to play pro football, so everyone pushes each other.”

Huskies Head Coach Brian Towriss is down in St. Petersburg for the game and to watch Heenan practice during the week. For Towriss, there is little doubt why Heenan is considered the top Canadian prospect. “He’s big, he’s athletic, he’s intelligent and he has a great work ethic. So you add it all up and he’s one of the best offensive linemen we ever had.”

Heenan against the Rams in week two (photo by Derek Mortensen for Liam Richards Photography)

Towriss, who will be joined in Florida for the game by offensive line coaches Bart Arnold and Travis Serke, has seen many players graduate his program for the next level, but he feels Heenan stands out from that group. “We’ve had a few linemen who have gone on to the next level, but I think Ben is probably a little stronger than most of the others. From a technique perspective, I think we’ve had guys who were where he was at, but nobody who moves around 315 pounds as quick as he does.”

The development of Heenan is another feather in the cap of an already accomplished coach and program. Towriss has made the trip to watch one of his players in the Shrine Game a regular occurrence and he is quick to spread the credit for their development. “I think it’s a credit to Bart and Travis and the great work they do with these kids,” said Towriss of his dedicated assistants. “Ben’s going to go out and I’m sure he’s going to do a great job on Saturday. It’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase his talents and maybe get a look from scouts from south of the border.”

Heenan, too, is quick to give credit to the coaches and program that brought him to this point. “The coaching that I received from the Huskies staff really has moulded me into the player that I am today. When I first came in, I really didn’t know much about technique or the game. Between Bart and Travis, they really helped me along.

“Any future successes I have in football will be because of the platform and knowledge that I received from my Huskie coaches. College football truly is an experience of a lifetime, and when you’re with the Huskies, it is that much better!”

Filed under: Huskies, Off Season Tagged: | Bart Arnold, ben heenan, CFL, Huskies, nfl, shrine game, Travis Serke