For University of Regina Rams offensive lineman Ethan Graham, the road to the CFL Combine hasn’t exactly been conventional. It’s been earned.
“I’ve put in a lot of hard work over the years to be in this place,” Graham told Dave Thomas ahead of his trip to Edmonton. “To get that recognition from the CFL, it means a lot.”
A Regina product playing for his hometown team, Graham’s rise has been built on persistence more than pedigree. Not heavily recruited out of high school, he forced his way into the conversation and eventually into one of the toughest spots on the field: left tackle.
Thrown into the role early in his Rams career, Graham was tasked with protecting the quarterback’s blindside, a responsibility typically reserved for seasoned veterans.
But adversity, he says, has always been part of the journey.
“I wasn’t a highly scouted guy, so I had to work really hard to get where I am,” he said. “When I got that opportunity, I was ready for it.”
That chip on his shoulder hasn’t gone anywhere. Instead, it’s become fuel, pushing him from an overlooked prospect to a legitimate pro hopeful. And doing it in Regina has made it that much more meaningful.
“It’s awesome playing for the hometown team,” Graham said. “I couldn’t imagine myself playing anywhere else. The Rams have given me so much, and hopefully I can be one of the next guys to come out of this program.”
Now, the next step comes at the CFL Combine, a proving ground where prospects are evaluated not just on physical tools, but on preparation, adaptability and football IQ.
Graham has approached this offseason differently than any before it.
While his Rams teammates worked through their usual training program, he shifted focus entirely to combine-specific preparation from positional drills to strength work to nutrition.
“I want everything to feel like second nature when I get out there. I don’t want to be thinking, just reacting, and playing.”
That preparation hasn’t come without sacrifice.
Training away from the usual team environment sometimes brought a sense of isolation. However, fellow prospect Riley Schick, who participated in the CFL’s Invitational Combine in Waterloo, Ontario, helped ease the grind.
Still, the singular focus has sharpened Graham’s approach, particularly for one of the most scrutinized elements of the combine: one-on-one battles in the trenches.
“That’s where teams really judge you,” he said. “I want to show what I can do.”
Versatility could be the 23-year-old’s biggest asset. Graham has taken reps at both tackle and guard and on both sides of the line. He plans to showcase his ability to adapt, even as flipping techniques from left to right present their own challenges.
“Everything flips, your stance, your hands, your feet,” he said. “It’s mental as much as anything. But once you’ve repped it enough, it becomes second nature.”
Beyond the drills, Graham is particularly looking forward to sitting down with CFL teams, an opportunity he got a preview of at the College Gridiron Showcase in Texas, where he competed against NCAA talent. That experience, he believes, gave him an edge.
“Playing against American talent showed me the different styles. It definitely helped prepare me.”
And while his focus will be on the offensive line, Graham hasn’t forgotten his lone career reception, joking he wouldn’t mind running a route or two if given the chance. For now, though, the goal is simple: execution over everything.
Asked to define what success looks like at the combine, Graham didn’t hesitate.
“Just sticking to what I know how to do and doing it well.”
If he does, the hometown Rams offensive lineman may be one step closer to the next chapter and another opportunity he’s ready to earn.
