This time of year isn’t just crucial for maple syrup producers and accountants. It’s also a pivotal moment for college football players hoping to catch the eye of professional teams.
Published 8:00 AM
The annual evaluation camp for top NFL prospects concluded three weeks ago. Tomorrow’s stars ran, jumped, and lifted, all vying to impress the 32 teams in the league on draft night. For those not invited to the NFL’s centralized camp, a “Pro Day” – a self-organized showcase in front of invited scouts – becomes the critical opportunity. And that’s exactly what Montreal’s Nicholas Cenacle faced last Friday.
Cenacle’s agency organized the event at Sacramento State University in Northern California, attracting scouts from both the NFL and the Canadian Football League (CFL). “I didn’t seek to stress about it,” the receiver said, acknowledging the pressure of a single, high-stakes performance.
According to the CFL’s scouting bureau rankings, Cenacle currently sits at 11th among the most promising prospects for the Canadian draft. He was ranked fourth in the previous evaluation. La Presse’s November ranking of top Quebec prospects also placed him fourth. The 25-year-vintage could also be selected by an NFL team, though likely in the later rounds of the draft.
“There’s still an element of stress, because you have one chance. But we thrive on high performance. We’re always under pressure. You always have to perform.”
Nicholas Cenacle
Results obtained by La Presse show Cenacle completed the 40-yard dash in 4.72 seconds, which would have ranked him 35th among receivers at the NFL’s evaluation camp. He also recorded 6.96 seconds in the three-cone drill (4th), 9 feet 10 inches in the broad jump (24th), and 31.5 inches in the vertical jump (29th).
Preparation is Key
Following his season at the University of Hawaii, Cenacle traveled to Chicago to visit his girlfriend before heading to Pittsburgh. There, he began training with Terry Grossetti, a specialist in athletic conditioning who prepares players for the NFL draft and training camps.
“I received an email from Grossetti Performance. I read the brochure and saw that there were NFL players involved, so I knew it was serious. I saw star players from the NCAA. I wanted to compete with them,” Cenacle explained.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SPORTS MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE
Nicholas Cenacle
Geno Stone (Buffalo Bills), Skyy Moore (Green Bay Packers), and James Harrison, a former star with the Pittsburgh Steelers, are among the NFL players who have trained with Grossetti.
“There were a lot of athletes, so it gives you a sense of competition. I really like that approach. It allows me to improve my times,” Cenacle said. The 6-foot-2 receiver spent a month and a half in the “Steel City.” “Every day, I wanted to become better, stronger, faster. It was just cardio and weight training.”
The program also included a nutritionist and a video analyst to review game footage and prepare for the drills performed at Pro Days. “And with Terry, after every workout, we had an hour, sometimes two hours, of recovery.”
What’s Next?
The NFL Draft will be held from April 23rd, and the CFL Draft will follow five days later. Cenacle will soon learn if years of dedication will pay off during this crucial week.
Before then, on April 3rd, Cenacle will participate in a fundraising event in Longueuil, Quebec, supporting a cause close to his heart: mental health awareness among young people and their families.
“It’s a topic that people don’t talk about enough in this industry, and we need to change things.”
Nicholas Cenacle
“People need to feel free to talk about their insecurities. With the deaths of NFL players, we need to bring this back to the forefront. It’s a topic that young people neglect. When you move to a new university, no one knows you, everything is new, no one knows your talent, you have to prove yourself. For Quebecers, language can be a barrier. There’s no comfort system. We need to talk about it.”
Cenacle himself experienced a tough period last season. Injured twice, he missed the majority of his team’s games during what was arguably the most important year of his young career. “It was the year for me to get noticed by the NFL. I went through some tough times, but I knew this sport was for me. I talked to different people, to my family, and they were there for me. I was able to get through it and persevere.” He reiterated, “It’s a cause we need to talk about.”
The NFL and CFL drafts represent the culmination of Cenacle’s journey, but his commitment extends beyond the field. His advocacy for mental health awareness underscores a growing recognition of the importance of well-being for athletes at all levels. For Cenacle, success isn’t solely defined by a draft pick. it’s about using his platform to make a positive impact.
The coming weeks will be filled with anticipation as Cenacle awaits the call that could change his life. Whether he ends up in the NFL or the CFL, his dedication, resilience, and commitment to a larger cause are qualities that will undoubtedly serve him well.
Keep an eye on Archysport for updates on the NFL and CFL drafts, and for further coverage of Nicholas Cenacle’s career. What are your thoughts on Cenacle’s prospects? Share your opinions in the comments below.
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