Tackling the pros next step for Winnipeggers

Trae Tomlinson is optimistic that he’ll still have a future in football beyond this week.

The Winnipeg-born defensive back will play the final snaps of his college career on Wednesday as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette face the University of Delaware in the LendingTree Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala., and while those downs will spell the end of many student-athletes’ playing days, Tomlinson has reason to believe a new door will open to his next chapter on the field.

When the game concludes, Tomlinson will declare for the National Football League and Canadian Football League drafts, and his focus will shift to raising his stock as much as possible.

“It’s crazy how fast it goes,” said Tomlinson, who started for three seasons at the University of Richmond (Virginia) before transferring to the Bayou State to play for the Ragin’ Cajuns in his senior year.

“Kind of bittersweet. This journey has been — it’s what I’ve dreamed of. I always wanted to play Division 1 as a young kid, and now, at the last game, it’s kind of starting to really come into realization that it’s my last game.”

Tomlinson transferred from Richmond — which plays in the Patriot League of the Football Championship Subdivision — to the Ragin’ Cajuns program, knowing full well that he would have to jostle with more teammates for playing time and that he would be playing against better competition in the Sun Belt Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Tomlinson, however, invited that challenge with open arms. Since his days at St. Paul’s High School — and then at Clearwater Academy International in Florida — he’s been known as a hard-nosed player who isn’t afraid to stick his face in the fire to make a tackle.

“It’s physical football, I’ll say that. A little bit more physical and bigger opponents, but I love competition,” said Tomlinson, who registered 26 tackles and one sack for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

“Guys are faster, and I love the speed of the game, and I definitely fit right in, especially on our team. We got guys that are scrappy, aggressive, physical, and I kind of fit that culture, which I believe was a good fit for me and a good experience for me to play with such a high talent pool, especially in the state of Louisiana.”

Tomlinson received an invite to the CFL National Scouting Combine in March, when he should draw significant interest from the league’s talent evaluators. The CFL’s scouting bureau ranked the Manitoban as the fifth-best defensive back and 20th overall player in its fall rankings. He will also test at his college’s pro day, where evaluators from the NFL will be present.

At 5-10, 175 pounds, Tomlinson is undersized but still possesses some valuable traits that would make him intriguing to American scouts. His best path to the NFL could be to follow in the footsteps of former Ragin’ Cajun Keyon Martin, a fellow undersized cornerback who latched on with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent and has dressed for 12 games — starting one — this season.

While Tomlinson said he would happily accept an off-season workout or camp invite from an NFL team, he’d have a soft spot for an opportunity to play in the CFL.

“That’s how I first got introduced to football, going to the CFL games with my dad,” he said. “Getting an opportunity — it would be great to come back and play in Canada.”

Tomlinson isn’t the only Winnipegger with his sights on playing at the next level.

Former University of Manitoba Bisons offensive lineman Gio Vaccaro transferred to Purdue University (Indiana) earlier this year to play his final season with the Boilermakers and has already begun his preparation for the draft process.

The 6-3, 315-pounder put together three standout seasons with the Bisons, earning two U Sports All-Canadian team nods and being named the JP Metras Award Winner as the country’s top offensive lineman in 2024. He felt like he had nearly reached his potential at the Canadian university level and was intrigued by what the Big Ten — regarded as one of the best conferences in the NCAA — had to offer.

“I think just putting myself out there in front of the best players and the best opportunity possible just made it great for me,” Vaccaro said. “And then obviously the staff there, from strength coaches to my position coaches and offensive co-ordinator, it was just second to none. And then nutrition, I’ve been in the best shape of my life this past year, training down there.”

Vaccaro’s snaps were limited this season, as he played a backup role for the Boilermakers, serving in heavier personnel packages and on special teams. His longest run on the field came in the regular-season finale, as an injured teammate forced Vaccaro into action for most of the second half against Indiana, the country’s top-ranked program.

“It was good to see where I ranked up against them, and the big jump, but it was good,” he said. “I thought I held my own.”

Vaccaro was listed as the third-best offensive lineman, 11th player overall, in the CFL scouting bureau’s fall rankings, and he appears to be a shoo-in to hear his name called early on the day of the CFL draft. As far as the NFL goes, Vaccaro said he’s staying honest with himself.

His limited snaps on American turf don’t bode well for his chances at being drafted to the NFL, but he can still help his chances at earning an off-season workout or mini-camp invite with a team.

Vaccaro, like Tomlinson, has received an invite to the CFL’s National Scouting Combine. He’ll also play in the College Gridiron Showcase in Fort Worth, Texas, next month, which will be surveyed by scouts from both leagues.

“I’m just taking it by year,” he said. “I’m obviously grateful for any opportunity, and I think the CFL is very (attainable) for myself, and I think if I got a shot at the NFL, I’d be happy.”

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