Varsity Blues senior defensive end Mark Evans signed a one-year contract plus an option with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on June 1. He was on the field, participating in rookie camp just hours later.

Upon returning home after a workout on Tuesday, the 6-foot-7 native of Cambridge, Ont., got a phone call from the Argos front office, asking him how long it would take him to get to Mississauga. Two hours later, Evans was on the field at his first CFL camp at Huron Park.

“It was really hectic,” said Evans when asked about his thoughts while driving to the field. “I got the call and got there as quickly as I could. Everything happened so fast.”

Evans will be fighting for a spot on the Argos playing roster as a defensive tackle. Fan favourite Adriano Belli, Laval’s all-Canadian and 2008 J. P Metras award winner Étienne Légaré as well as Concordia’s Adrian Davis are three returning veterans that he’ll have to compete with for playing time.

“The coaches have been great and everything’s been awesome so far, except for the weather,” continued the civil engineering grad. “Aside from the obvious differences in size and speed, the system is much more complicated and the players’ level of knowledge is that much higher.”

In 2009, Evans dressed in six games for the Blues, starting five and recording 22 solo tackles and a team-high four sacks. He had a season-high five solo tackles against the York Lions on October 3 and again versus the Waterloo Warriors on October 17. 

The final day of Rookie Camp is today at 3:00 p.m. Veterans report on Saturday and the team’s first full practice is Sunday, June 6. Complete training camp schedule. 

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