U of R Rams’ Jackson Sombach ready for CFL combine

Reporter Britton Gray highlights remarkable Saskatchewan athletes in this regular feature.

Jackson Sombach saw his draft stock rise at the CFL’s invitational combine.

Now, he’ll try to stay on that upward trajectory at the CFL combine in Winnipeg. It runs from Tuesday to Sunday.

“It will be an unbelievable test,” said Sombach, a defensive back with the University of Regina Rams. “You look at the names and the schools they come from — a lot of (NCAA) Division 1 schools (and) a lot of those big U Sports schools. It will be a great challenge; I’m excited for it.

“(These are) the best athletes in the country who you don’t necessarily go up against week to week. It’s the best player from every team so I’m excited to see where I stack up and hopefully play well.”

Sombach had to earn an invite to be at the main combine with some of the top-ranked CFL draft prospects. He was one of just eight players to receive an invite to the national one after a great showing at the first combine in Waterloo, Ont.

The 5-foot-8, 195-pound Regina product had the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.58 seconds) and also held the top spot in the vertical jump (36 inches) and the three-cone drill (6.97 seconds).

“It was super fun,” Sombach said. “It was a new experience for me. You fly out to a different province … and it’s a big pressure moment.

“It’s surreal, being an aspiring CFL player since I was a kid and being pretty close to that dream and having the opportunity to achieve it. You go out there and there’s all the big-time coaches – (the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’) Mike O’Shea, (Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager Jeremy) O’Day, (the Edmonton Elks’) Chris Jones – all of those guys and you’re a foot away and they are kind of eyeing you up. It’s a cool experience.

“It’s a little bit of pressure. You try to not let it get to you; try to stay focused and relaxed and make a good impression.”

While Sombach performed well at the combine, he knows he will have to do even better to show he has what it takes at the next level.

“I was pretty pumped,” he said. “I had that underdog mentality going in – I’m a short dude at 5-8. You have a chip on your shoulder going in there and try to prove people wrong and that’s kind of the mindset I have going to the national. It doesn’t matter how short you are or what your stature is. If you can ball, you can ball.”

Sombach is to be joined at the combine by Rams receiver D’Sean Mimbs. Two Saskatchewan Huskies — defensive lineman George Idoko and offensive lineman John Kourtis — also are to participate.

Sombach and Mimbs are looking to become the latest U of R players to make the jump to the pros. Last year, defensive lineman Anthony Bennett (Winnipeg), safety Jaxon Ford (Saskatchewan), linebacker Josh White (Ottawa Redblacks) and offensive lineman Tanner Schmekel (Winnipeg) were all picked.

University of Regina Rams defensive back Jackson Sombach is hopeful a team will call his name come draft night. (Piper Sports Photography)

Sombach said he’s been in touch with those players about what the process is like.

“All those guys are really rooting for me and giving me confidence and stuff like that,” he said. “(I’m) very appreciative of them giving me advice and kind of what to expect and things like that and them having paved the way for Rams football players to make it to the next level and then they can share their knowledge. It’s pretty huge.

“They are just like, ‘You’re a great player, just believe it. Just go in there like you’re going to dominate.’ They give what questions you could get in interviews and give me tests and stuff like that and just how to approach the whole combine.”

He’s also getting a lot of support from his family and some of his current teammates – his brothers Connor, Jackson, and Rylar.

“I come from a football family,” Sombach said. “I have four brothers and we all play for the Rams. We have been tackling each other on the front lawn since we were like five years old.

“Football is a big part of my life. My dad played for the Rams as well and he has been pushing us in that direction. You want to play football for as long as you can so if you can, you try to push the dream as far as you can and play for as long as you can because you can’t do it forever. That’s kind of my goal – work your butt off and see how far you can take it.”

While he has fond memories of going to Riders games, Sombach will be excited if any team gives him a chance at achieving his CFL dream.

“I always went with friends and I just remember the crowd being wild and everyone being so invested just to see the green — and Rider pride runs deep,” he said. “It’s a great environment to go to and I am envious of Jaxon Ford that he gets to play in that every week and he takes advantage of the opportunity and it’s great to see him do that.

“I just want a shot anywhere. I would be extremely grateful to get a camp invite or drafted anywhere in the CFL and just get the opportunity. Playing with the Riders, I would know hundreds of people in the stands in the game and that would be pretty special.”

The CFL draft is on April 30.