Hutchins flew 'under the radar'
May 4, 2009 - Regina Leader-Post
By Murray McCormick
The Saskatchewan Roughriders couldn't have been happier with the way their two picks worked out in Saturday's CFL draft.
The Riders had their sights set on three non-imports heading into the 48-pick draft. They were interested in Saint Mary's wide receiver Darcy Brown as well as defensive back Tamon George and offensive lineman Nick Hutchins -- two Regina products -- of the University of Regina Rams.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats selected Brown, who the Riders were considering converting to a fullback, with the sixth overall pick. The Roughriders then hoped that George, who is a sound coverage cornerback, would be there when they used their ninth overall selection.
The draft got better as the Riders were able to select Hutchins, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds. The Riders picked Hutchins with the 17th overall selection in the draft.
"Hutchins and Brown were neck and neck,'' said Joe Womack, the Riders' director of player personnel. "We may be happier that we got Nick because he's more of a proven quantity at his position. He can play 10 years or better in this league.''
Hutchins can play centre or guard, which increased his value.
"He's a tough, nasty and consistently good player,'' said Womack. "If it takes him a year or two to develop, then he does have another year at the U of R. That would be beneficial to him and to us.''
The Roughriders have kept an eye on Hutchins, a graduate of Thom Collegiate, for nearly a year. He wasn't invited to the CFL's evaluation camp, which Womack felt increased their chances of drafting Hutchins.
"He may have flown under the radar a little bit because we never mentioned his name to anyone because we didn't want them to start looking at him at the last minute,'' said Womack. "We knew that we wanted him.''
The Riders also wanted George, who was the eighth-ranked player by CFL's Central Scouting Bureau heading into the draft. George, who played high school football with the LeBoldus Golden Suns, helped his cause with a strong performance at the evaluation camp and a high score on the Wonderlic test, an aptitude and intelligence test that is adminstered to all CFL and NFL prospects.
"We drafted George because of need,'' said Womack. "He's a cover guy with great speed. He was a boundary corner in the CIS and we would look at him as a field corner with us.''
Womack said that George will be looked at in a number of different positions in the secondary under the scheme that's to be instituted by defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry. George said he's ready for the challenge.
"I knew with the system that Coach Etcheverry was putting in they needed a Canadian corner,'' said George. "I want to get in there and show them that I can play. I know there are guys who have been in the league for a little while. I know that I have the skills to be a good player in the CFL.''
