Grothe, Murphy Catch CFL’s Attention

Posted Jan 4, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Jan 4, 2010 at 03:11 PM

Montreal Alouettes assistant general manager Marcel Desjardins was one of several Canadian Football League officials in attendance at Saturday’s International Bowl.

Desjardins had his eye on several players, particularly USF defensive back Jerome Murphy, who isn’t considered a prime NFL prospect but a player who has the talent to play professionally.

“What we’re looking for are guys who are not going to be your prototypical NFL guys, guys who are undersized and smaller,’’ said Desjardins, whose team is the defending Grey Cup champion. “The speed of the athlete is what draws us to players. [Murphy] is a great athlete. I’m willing to bet right now that at least a couple of these guys will end up in CFL training camps.’’

At least six of the CFL’s eight teams had player personnel officials at the International Bowl. Desjardins paid close attention to USF because of the Bulls’ speed and quickness, which translates well to the wider and longer CFL playing field.

Senior LB Chris Robinson has already said he plans to give the CFL a shot if no NFL teams draft him the way they are expected to USF defensive ends George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul (if he decides to leave school early), and linebacker Kion Wilson and defensive back Nate Allen.

Perhaps the most prominent USF player Desjardins says is equipped for the CFL? Injured Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe.

Desjardins said a CFL team other than Montreal has Grothe’s rights – the CFL doesn’t draft American players, but teams can protect players’ rights and sign them as free agents – and expects Grothe to get an opportunity once he returns from a season-ending knee injury.

“He would be a good CFL quarterback,’’ Desjardins said.

Desjardins knows a thing or two about college quarterbacks from the Sunshine State. The Alouettes currently have former FSU quarterback Adrian McPherson and Florida’s Chris Leak on the roster behind veteran starter Anthony Calvitto.

“McPherson and Leak are the heir apparents,’’ Desjardins said.

McPherson and Leak are on the right team.

Montreal head coach Marc Trestman was Bernie Kosar’s position coach at the University of Miami and later spent many years in the NFL tutoring top quarterbacks such as Kosar, Steve Young and Rich Gannon.