Regina’s Ethan Vibert back in the Queen City for CFL combine

Being the only Canadian at South Dakota State University during his time there, Ethan Vibert’s nickname ended up being an appropriate one: Moose.

But it caught on due to an outlandish rumour that gained a bit too much traction among the student body.

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“It started the first week of summer when I first got there my freshman year. My roommate that summer started a rumour I had a pet moose I would ride to school, being the only Canadian on the team,” Vibert said.

“Too many people thought it was serious that I had a moose back here, so the nickname kind of stuck.”

It turned out to be an appropriate name, as the Regina offensive lineman helped lock down the left guard position this past season.

Now, the former Miller Marauder is back in his home city to participate in this year’s CFL combine.

“It’s pretty cool. Grew up watching the CFL and the Riders, and just getting to come out here and represent myself and my school in Regina is a cool experience,” Vibert said.

Ethan Vibert has been with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits since 2019. (CFL/Submitted)

“It’s great seeing my friends and family, and they get to watch me at the combine. It just makes it that much more special.”

The combine is one of the last chances CFL prospects have to show off their skills and intangibles to scouts, coaches and general manager ahead of the April 29 draft.

Vibert said his love of football started when he was just a kid, watching the Riders on TV.

“Parents were big Rider fans,” Vibert said. “Just started falling in love with the sport. Before I played O-line, I really wanted to play D-line. I was a big John Chick fan back when he was on the Riders.”

But as he started to play football, he was assigned to the offensive side of the ball.

“I showed up for Regina minor-league football wanting to play D-line but they were like, ‘Nope, you’re going to play O-line,’ so right from the start I was playing O-line and it kind of stuck,” Vibert said.

Since then, he said he’s fallen in love with the position.

“The O-line is usually the closest group on the team. That bonding you get playing together, and five guys playing as one, and you get to be physical,” Vibert said.

Back in 2018, he and the Miller team won the provincial football title in Saskatchewan.

“That was really cool and a lot of fun,” Vibert said.

“We had a great team and a lot of my friends on that team ended up playing for the Rams and stuff.”

His football journey saw him get some workouts in the U.S., eventually signing with South Dakota. But that meant he had to make the adjustment from the Canadian rules to the American version of the game.

“It was a lot of subtle differences – not having that yard off the ball and it’s a little more downhill in the run game and a lot more run heavy and less passing,” Vibert said.

But the work was just beginning for Vibert. With plenty of talent at the position, he was mostly a backup throughout his first five years with the Jackrabbits, though he did become a starter in his senior season.

“It was tough at times. We had some really good O-linemen. We have some guys playing in the NFL right now. I learned a lot from them and tried to take advantage of my opportunity when I got it,” Vibert said.

“I was having a blast the whole time. It was a lot of fun.”

Now, inching closer to the draft, Vibert said it would be a dream come true to get to play in the CFL.

“Just a little kid that didn’t even know what football was, I just knew I wanted to be in the CFL,” Vibert said.