There’s a calm, almost understated confidence about Carson Sombach these days, the kind that doesn’t need to announce itself.
With the CFL Combine in Edmonton fast approaching, the University of Regina Rams defensive back isn’t caught up in the noise or the moment. Instead, he’s grounded in preparation, routine, and a quiet belief that when the lights come on, his game will speak for itself.
“I think so,” Sombach said when asked if he’s ready. “I’ve been preparing since the beginning of December, just trying to dial in those drills as best I can.”
That preparation hasn’t looked like a typical offseason.
For Sombach, it’s meant shifting away from broad, reactive training and honing in on the specifics, the 40-yard dash, shuttle, and three-cone drill. All measurable moments that can define a player’s stock in a matter of seconds. But while the stopwatch will matter, it’s the football side of the evaluation where Sombach believes he can separate himself.
“The thing I’m most confident in would probably be the team drills. Things that are just football-related.”
That confidence isn’t unfounded.
Throughout his time with the Rams, Sombach has built a reputation as a playmaker, a defensive back who shows up in big moments, whether it’s a timely interception or a drive-stopping tackle. It’s a trait that can’t always be measured in drills, but one that evaluators notice when the game becomes instinctual. And that’s exactly where he thrives.
“I think just staying level-headed, staying calm,” Sombach explained. “When the intensity rises, I just try to be reactive and instinctual in those moments.”
There’s also a built-in advantage not every prospect has.
Sombach’s older brother, Jackson, has already gone through the CFL Combine process and now plays with the Calgary Stampeders. From daily schedules to interview expectations, that firsthand insight has helped remove some of the unknowns.
“It’s super helpful for me that a lot of people don’t necessarily have going into this combine,” Sombach said.
Even so, not everything can be fully prepared for.
The boardroom interviews, sitting across from general managers, head coaches, and coordinators, remain the most nerve-wracking part of the week. It’s a different kind of pressure, one that tests personality and poise as much as football IQ.
Still, Sombach has approached it the same way he’s approached everything else: by preparing, staying composed, and trusting himself.
“I feel like I’ll represent myself well.”
There will be some familiarity waiting for him in Edmonton, too.
Having competed at the East-West Bowl, Sombach will see plenty of recognizable faces — players who were once teammates for a week, now competitors again, all chasing the same opportunity. But rather than adding pressure, he sees it as a positive.
“It’ll be nice to have some familiar faces there. We all end up being friends.
And when it comes to defining success at the combine, Sombach isn’t measuring himself against anyone else in the field.
For him, it’s simpler than that.
“Just do the best that I can, not comparing myself to others, just trying to beat what I’ve done in the past,” he said.
It’s a mindset rooted in maturity and one that fits the tone he’s carried throughout this entire process.
No panic. No overthinking. Just preparation and belief.
And when the drills are done, and the helmets go on, don’t be surprised if that calm confidence turns into something a lot more noticeable.
