Canadian Will Riley is well represented at NBA draft
Canadian Will Riley has close to 40 family and friends at the NBA draft in Brooklyn to hear his name called.
The native of Kitchener is the only Canadian expected to be drafted tonight.
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Vancouver Sun
an hour ago
- Vancouver Sun
Redblacks' Daniel Adeboboye hopes to "make Canada proud" when facing former team
Missing their No. 1 passer for the third straight week, the Ottawa Redblacks could once again lean on their running attack Sunday against the Toronto Argos. And with veteran William Stanback's snap count limited by the Canadian Football League's ratio rule, that sets up the potential for a multifaceted storyline centred around Daniel Adeboboye. The 26-year-old from Mississauga will be facing his hometown and former team for the first time in the Redblacks' annual 'Canada Day' game at TD Place. Adeboboye is not only the first Canadian starting tailback for the Redblacks since Kienan LaFrance helped them to the 2016 Grey Cup, but he's on a short list of ball carriers born north of the border to suit up for any Ottawa CFL team — a group that includes former Rough Riders Orville Lee, Darren Joseph and the legendary Ronnie Stewart. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Adeboboye made a loud statement last week in Calgary when he was the Redblacks' leading rusher, authored the day's biggest offensive play, and scored the game's only touchdown in Ottawa's first win of the season. He would like nothing better than to help set off fireworks for a 158th birthday party in the nation's capital with contributions to another victory. 'This country is what I call home,' said Adeboboye. 'I grew up in Canada, and I love Canada. I'm Canadian through and through. Getting the opportunity to play on a day that celebrates our country is a blessing. 'I love the opportunity to celebrate Canada Day playing the game I love. So I'm going to give my best and hopefully make Canada proud on that day.' Adeboboye did a good job of that last Saturday with 10 carries for 96 yards, just six shy of matching the production the Argos have received from their top rusher — former Ohio State Buckeyes star Miyan Williams — on 19 carries over three games. It hasn't taken long for the 5-foot-8, 218-pound product of the comparatively tiny Bryant University in Rhode Island to prove that Redblacks GM Shawn Burke pulled off a coup when he obtained Adeboboye from Toronto for a conditional fifth-round pick and the negotiation rights to American defensive lineman Andre Carter. 'Even from the time he was in college, I remember watching his draft film and thinking he was a heck of a back,' said Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce, who confirmed that Dustin Crum will make his second consecutive start at quarterback in place of injured starter Dru Brown (hip), and that standout cornerback Adrian Frye (knee) is likely to be replaced by Alijah McGhee for the Argos game. 'He got into this league and excelled on special teams, and now you look at him having an opportunity to almost share the backfield with William, and he's just gotten better and better the more comfortable he gets in the offence, through the protections and how much (offensive coordinator Tommy Condell) moves the backs around. He's really immersed himself in it. 'I was watching practice (Thursday) and after just a simple play inside zone, I went to (running backs) Coach (Nate) Taylor, and I said: 'Man, Daniel is really a great back'. He's seeing everything that he needs to see, and it's a joy to watch.' Drafted 15th overall by the Argos in 2022, Adeboboye is a religious man who rarely misses an opportunity to thank God for his blessings. Among them, he says, are the opportunities he had to work in Toronto with former all-stars A.J. Ouellette, Ka'Deem Carey and Andrew Harris, the most productive Canadian running back to play in the CFL, and now in Ottawa with Stanback, who surpassed the 5,000 yards rushing mark last week. 'Through my faith, I've been able to have patience, and patience is something that I've needed through my entire career, because of the great running backs ahead of me,' said the perpetually smiling Adeboboye. 'Playing with all those stars, there's only so many times you can touch the ball in a game, right? But I kept my patience, and I kept on working hard every day, understanding that someday my time would come. And if it doesn't, then so be it, I have no regrets. 'But at the end of the day, I thought, if I get the opportunity, or when I get the opportunity, I'm just going to take advantage of it and bring glory to God in all that I do.' Those chances, to this point, have been limited. As a rookie, Adeboboye had 15 carries for 72 yards, while making 17 special teams tackles to earn the Argos' nomination for the CFL's most outstanding special teams player. In 2023, he ran the ball 41 times for 287 yards, including his first triple-figures game with nine carries for 109 yards on Oct. 21 against Saskatchewan. Last season, he shared the Argos backfield with Carey and Deonta McMahon and had 63 carries for 244 yards. Over the three years, Adeboboye has continued making major special teams contributions while proving to be durable by only missing two games. When informed he was traded, Adeboboye took the news in stride. 'It's business,' he shrugged. 'I got drafted by the Argos, and it was a great opportunity to go back home after a couple of years away at school. When I heard that I got traded to Ottawa, I had reassurance that I was going to a good organization. Playing against them for the last couple of years,I saw the kind of team that they were building. If I got traded to a team that wasn't so good, then I'd be a little shaky. But I knew that I was being put in good hands, and it was great that I also got to stay in Ontario, not too far from home, where my parents (Marian and Tai) and family can still come in and see me play. And Ottawa is a great city. I love Ottawa. It's nice, it's quiet, it's chill, it's relaxing. And the fans give such great energy.' And now he has fewer ticket requests. 'It was easy for my parents to get people to come to games (in Toronto),' Adeboboye said with a chuckle. 'My church is there as well, so we'd have 30, 40, 50 people coming, but they don't want to travel as much nowadays, so it's a little smaller group.' Adeboboye didn't know he was approaching the 100-yard mark against the Stamps when he was on the wet and frigid field and sidelines. 'It was too cold to be thinking about stats,' he said, laughing. 'I was thinking about how to stay warm and the hot shower at the end of the day. When I saw that I was four yards short, one more carry would have been nice. But I'm grateful for 96. It's a testament to our offensive line. Stanback had a great game and (as a team) we rushed for more than 200 yards. Our offensive line has been showing out. In the two previous games, we just didn't get the opportunity to run the ball as much, but it shows that when we want to run the football, we can run the football. 'And I love to run the football, so let's run the football.'
Ottawa Citizen
an hour ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Redblacks' Daniel Adeboboye hopes to "make Canada proud" when facing former team
Article content Missing their No. 1 passer for the third straight week, the Ottawa Redblacks could once again lean on their running attack Sunday against the Toronto Argos. Article content And with veteran William Stanback's snap count limited by the Canadian Football League's ratio rule, that sets up the potential for a multifaceted storyline centred around Daniel Adeboboye. Article content Article content The 26-year-old from Mississauga will be facing his hometown and former team for the first time in the Redblacks' annual 'Canada Day' game at TD Place. Article content Article content Adeboboye is not only the first Canadian starting tailback for the Redblacks since Kienan LaFrance helped them to the 2016 Grey Cup, but he's on a short list of ball carriers born north of the border to suit up for any Ottawa CFL team — a group that includes former Rough Riders Orville Lee, Darren Joseph and the legendary Ronnie Stewart. Article content Article content Adeboboye made a loud statement last week in Calgary when he was the Redblacks' leading rusher, authored the day's biggest offensive play, and scored the game's only touchdown in Ottawa's first win of the season. Article content He would like nothing better than to help set off fireworks for a 158th birthday party in the nation's capital with contributions to another victory. Article content 'This country is what I call home,' said Adeboboye. 'I grew up in Canada, and I love Canada. I'm Canadian through and through. Getting the opportunity to play on a day that celebrates our country is a blessing. Article content Article content 'I love the opportunity to celebrate Canada Day playing the game I love. So I'm going to give my best and hopefully make Canada proud on that day.' Article content Adeboboye did a good job of that last Saturday with 10 carries for 96 yards, just six shy of matching the production the Argos have received from their top rusher — former Ohio State Buckeyes star Miyan Williams — on 19 carries over three games. Article content It hasn't taken long for the 5-foot-8, 218-pound product of the comparatively tiny Bryant University in Rhode Island to prove that Redblacks GM Shawn Burke pulled off a coup when he obtained Adeboboye from Toronto for a conditional fifth-round pick and the negotiation rights to American defensive lineman Andre Carter. Article content 'Even from the time he was in college, I remember watching his draft film and thinking he was a heck of a back,' said Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce, who confirmed that Dustin Crum will make his second consecutive start at quarterback in place of injured starter Dru Brown (hip), and that standout cornerback Adrian Frye (knee) is likely to be replaced by Alijah McGhee for the Argos game. 'He got into this league and excelled on special teams, and now you look at him having an opportunity to almost share the backfield with William, and he's just gotten better and better the more comfortable he gets in the offence, through the protections and how much (offensive coordinator Tommy Condell) moves the backs around. He's really immersed himself in it.
Calgary Herald
an hour ago
- Calgary Herald
Redblacks' Daniel Adeboboye hopes to "make Canada proud" when facing former team
Article content Missing their No. 1 passer for the third straight week, the Ottawa Redblacks could once again lean on their running attack Sunday against the Toronto Argos. Article content And with veteran William Stanback's snap count limited by the Canadian Football League's ratio rule, that sets up the potential for a multifaceted storyline centred around Daniel Adeboboye. Article content Article content The 26-year-old from Mississauga will be facing his hometown and former team for the first time in the Redblacks' annual 'Canada Day' game at TD Place. Article content Article content Adeboboye is not only the first Canadian starting tailback for the Redblacks since Kienan LaFrance helped them to the 2016 Grey Cup, but he's on a short list of ball carriers born north of the border to suit up for any Ottawa CFL team — a group that includes former Rough Riders Orville Lee, Darren Joseph and the legendary Ronnie Stewart. Article content Article content Adeboboye made a loud statement last week in Calgary when he was the Redblacks' leading rusher, authored the day's biggest offensive play, and scored the game's only touchdown in Ottawa's first win of the season. Article content He would like nothing better than to help set off fireworks for a 158th birthday party in the nation's capital with contributions to another victory. Article content 'This country is what I call home,' said Adeboboye. 'I grew up in Canada, and I love Canada. I'm Canadian through and through. Getting the opportunity to play on a day that celebrates our country is a blessing. Article content 'I love the opportunity to celebrate Canada Day playing the game I love. So I'm going to give my best and hopefully make Canada proud on that day.' Article content Adeboboye did a good job of that last Saturday with 10 carries for 96 yards, just six shy of matching the production the Argos have received from their top rusher — former Ohio State Buckeyes star Miyan Williams — on 19 carries over three games. Article content It hasn't taken long for the 5-foot-8, 218-pound product of the comparatively tiny Bryant University in Rhode Island to prove that Redblacks GM Shawn Burke pulled off a coup when he obtained Adeboboye from Toronto for a conditional fifth-round pick and the negotiation rights to American defensive lineman Andre Carter. Article content 'Even from the time he was in college, I remember watching his draft film and thinking he was a heck of a back,' said Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce, who confirmed that Dustin Crum will make his second consecutive start at quarterback in place of injured starter Dru Brown (hip), and that standout cornerback Adrian Frye (knee) is likely to be replaced by Alijah McGhee for the Argos game. 'He got into this league and excelled on special teams, and now you look at him having an opportunity to almost share the backfield with William, and he's just gotten better and better the more comfortable he gets in the offence, through the protections and how much (offensive coordinator Tommy Condell) moves the backs around. He's really immersed himself in it.
