WINNIPEG 鈥� Casey Bauman and Joel Dublanko don鈥檛 need their new-found dual citizenships to make them feel at home in Canada.
The American-born football prospects have family ties that led to their designations as nationals for the April 30 CFL global and Canadian drafts, but they both already felt a connection.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 feel that weird to me because Canada was my backyard,鈥� said Bauman, a six-foot-seven, 225-pound quarterback who was born in Sumas, Wash. 鈥淢y house is like five minutes from the Canadian border.鈥�
Bauman鈥檚 mother was born in Abbotsford, B.C., and the family often crossed into Canada for visits to Vancouver. He鈥檇 also go skiing at Whistler with his three younger brothers.
鈥淚鈥檓 just really thankful that I have this opportunity and the CFL is allowing me to be here,鈥� he said.
Dublanko鈥檚 ties to Canada came through his quick-thinking grandmother.
鈥淢y grandma and grandpa were born and raised in Canada,鈥� the linebacker said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e pastors and they went down into the States.聽
"My grandma was pregnant with my dad at the time so she ran back up to Canada to have my dad (in Edmonton) and then brought him back down.鈥�
Dublanko was born in Aberdeen, Wash. His family also vacationed in Canada, skiing at Whistler and Big White, or visited relatives in Edmonton. He saw one of his cousins play in the CFL. Curtis Dublanko was a linebacker with the Montreal Alouettes and former Eskimos from 2011-14.聽
鈥淎ll my family is just super excited right now,鈥� Dublanko said. 鈥淎 lot of my Canadian relatives are messaging me and just cheering me on and really excited that I鈥檓 here. It鈥檚 a lot of fun.鈥�
He and Bauman are among 84 hopefuls at this week鈥檚 CFL national combine, which includes interviews with coaches and general managers, drills and practices through Sunday.聽
The duo is sharing a room and both are intriguing prospects.
Dublanko is projected to go high in the draft because of his pro experience.聽
The six-foot-three, 240-pound starred at the University of Cincinnati, went undrafted in the NFL, but spent some time with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks.
He played one game with the XFL鈥檚 San Antonio Brahmas and then signed with the USFL鈥檚 Philadelphia Stars last year. He recorded 17 tackles, 10 assists and 0.5 sacks in seven contests.聽
Dublanko said the Ottawa Redblacks reached out to him last year and were interested in signing him as an American. He told them he could get dual citizenship, but before any paperwork was done he signed with the Philadelphia Stars and shifted his focus.
He became a Canadian prospect a few weeks ago and is ready to showcase his professional skills.聽
鈥淛ust the way you practise and the way you handle your business and take care of your job, I think there鈥檚 definitely an advantage,鈥� Dublanko said.
Montreal Alouettes GM Danny Maciocia said even with Dublanko's pro experience, more due diligence is required. He added the next step is getting film on Dublanko and talking to people who worked with him and do 鈥渁 bit of a character check."
Teams have also been gathering info on Bauman, who overcame injuries in college.聽
He played two seasons at Augustana University in South Dakota, throwing for 2,878 yards with 29 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 games last year. He had transferred from Montana State University in 2022.
Bauman's towering height should provide him with good downfield vision and fewer knocked-down passes, said Calgary Stampeders head coach/GM Dave Dickenson.
鈥淯sually at six-seven, you鈥檙e maybe not as agile or quick, so you take advantage of the strengths you have,鈥� said Dickenson, a former NFL and CFL quarterback. "But (Bauman) has a really strong arm, can throw the rock.
"I鈥檒l be excited to see what he can do.鈥�
Bauman rushed 99 times for 322 yards with five TDs last season and wants to display his versatility. He describes his biggest strength as throwing the ball, but says he can also make plays with his feet.
鈥淢y skillset plays well into the CFL game plan,鈥� he said.
He鈥檚 watched three-down games online and followed B.C. Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. when he played at Eastern Washington.
鈥淪eeing his success translate to the CFL, that鈥檚 inspiring to me,鈥� Bauman said.
Obtaining dual citizenship isn鈥檛 the only way non-Canadians can become eligible for the CFL draft.
In 2019, the league introduced a process allowing American and global prospects to qualify as Canadians if they play three years at a single U Sports institution and graduate from that school. None are at this year鈥檚 combine.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 21, 2024.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
