(Toronto) Luc Brodeur-Jourdain can understand what Anthony Vandal is going through.
Vandal, a six-foot-three, 290-pound offensive lineman from the University of Sherbrooke, was the last player selected in Tuesday’s CFL Draft by the Toronto Argonauts.
That might suggest Vandal has a lower chance of cracking the defending Gray Cup roster, but Brodeur-Jourdain is proof that where you’re picked doesn’t determine how prepared an athlete is.
In 2008, Brodeur-Jourdain was also last chosen by the Montreal Alouettes. After a final season with the Rouge et Or, Brodeur-Jourdain carved out a place for himself with the Montreal club in 2009. He played 11 seasons in the CFL, winning two Gray Cups.
Last year, the San Francisco 49ers drafted Brock Purdy last. After Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo were injured, the former Iowa State quarterback went 7-0 before suffering the injury in the club’s 31-7 loss in the NFC Championship Game, against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Chad Kelly, the Argos’ projected starting quarterback, was also last drafted, in 2017 by the Broncos.
40 years old and a native of Saint-Hyacinthe, Brodeur-Jourdain has also carved out a coaching career. He retired in 2019 and became assistant offensive line coach for the Alouettes, before being promoted to offensive line coach in 2020.
“The only thing you control is how you prepare for your first camp,” Brodeur-Jourdain said.
“It’s not so much about focusing on not making mistakes. Show that you understand the concepts and not repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Whether you get picked first or last, that’s how it is in football.
“It’s the learning curve, your physical abilities, your will and your desire to be part of the team that forces the hand of the organization to keep you. »
Brodeur-Jourdain was the last of 14 offensive linemen selected in 2008.
Montreal also picked Andrew Woodruff (Boise State, second round) and Gurminder Thind (South Carolina, fourth), ahead of Brodeur-Jourdain.
Vandal, 25, was the 11th offensive lineman taken Tuesday and the second by Toronto, after Édouard Paradis (Houston Christian, fifth round)
“It’s special for me because getting drafted was my goal since I started playing football. It’s a great honour, especially the Toronto Argonauts, the defending champions,” said Vandal, who is from Sorel. The wait was longer than expected, but it was worth it.
“I have my ticket to training camp. I will prove that Toronto made the right decision and also prove to everyone that I am a good football player. I control my own destiny. »
Vandal was the RSEQ’s top rookie in 2018 and a three-time star player in the section.
Recruits must understand that they will sometimes have pitfalls and that they will make mistakes. Brodeur-Jourdain reminds us that it is imperative that young players learn from these mistakes, but also that they not be distracted by their successes.
“I always tell guys, if you’re passionate about something, it’s not supposed to be easy,” Brodeur-Jourdain said. The amount of effort required to improve just a little is enormous. It’s about figuring out what you did wrong and changing your approach for next time.
“All the players have talent. But football is about preparing so that when you have an opportunity, you are able to take advantage of it in the best way you can. »
