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The search for an NFL contact continued Friday for Belle River’s Drew Desjarlais.
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The 24-year-old Desjarlais, who won two Gray Cup titles in two seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, reportedly visited four NFL clubs to train this week while he seeks a deal.
A product of the University of Windsor, the 6-foot-2, 314-pound Desjarlais was a first-round pick, fourth overall, by Winnipeg in 2019.
Midway through his rookie season, Desjarlais earned a starting spot as guard en route to a Gray Cup title and was a star in the West Division this season while helping the club to a second title.
Desjarlais reportedly began NFL workouts with the teams on Tuesday with a stop with the New England Patriots, before moving on to the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday and the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday.
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Desjarlais, who received invitations to NFL camps with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants before signing with the Blue Bombers in 2019, is a pending free agent for the CFL. He can sign with an NFL team at any time or wait until February 8 to test the CFL free agent market, unless the Blue Bombers can get him to agree to an extension before free agency.
Spearmen’s Ink Ribbon
LaSalle’s Kaelyn Batten chose to attend the University of Windsor in 2022-23 and compete for the Lancer women’s basketball team.
A 5-foot-7-inch base from Villanova High School, Lancer’s head coach, Chantal Vallée, believes Batten can have an immediate impact on the OUA level.
“I immediately noticed his ability to see the floor and pass,” Vallée said in a statement. “She is an excellent point guard who can also defend hard and has a great ability to score.
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“I am delighted that Kaelyn chose us from the many opportunities she had in front of her. She will improve our team’s game instantly. “
An honor roll student who also played hockey and badminton at Villanova, Batten also played for the St. Clair JUEL Prep basketball team.
“I couldn’t find a reason not to choose Windsor,” Batten said in a statement. “It feels like the perfect place for me.”
Matsos joins Nationals
Former Windsor Spitfires assistant coach David Matsos has been appointed head coach of the London Nationals, which play in the Western Division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Matsos, 48, spent three seasons with the Spitfires before joining the Sudbury Wolves and was eventually promoted to head coach. He won a league title with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2018 while spending three seasons with the team.
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Reference-windsorstar.com