Two Golden Bears impress in CFL Combine athletic testing

On Friday, March 27, two Golden Bears football players made an appearance at the 2026 Canadian Football League (CFL) Combine. Carter Stuart and Carter Kettyle competed among National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and fellow U Sports athletes in an attempt to impress scouts and general managers ahead of the CFL Draft on April 28.

Players from across the globe gathered at Commonwealth Stadium, the home of the Edmonton Elks, to display their athleticism in front of the cameras. Some elite talent present at the event included former Penn State quarterback Christian Veilleux, former New England Patriots defensive lineman Wilfried Pene, and University of Hawai‘i wide receiver Nick Cenacle. Despite the prestige of these American program prospects, the Bears players were neck-and-neck throughout the day.

Carter Kettyle

Fans may know Carter Kettyle as the Golden Bears’ punter, or instead as the versatile slot receiver who finished with 87 yards per game and eight touchdowns. He is able to make catches across the field, being an elite-level threat in the slot, but also on the outside. As a ball carrier, he is one of the best in the conference at creating yards after the catch. Even further, he finished the year with 50 passing yards and one passing touchdown.

This versatility has shown up on day one of the combine.

His 40-yard dash time of 4.63 seconds landed him in seventh place among all players. A vertical reach of nine-foot-10 landed him near the top. He may not top the charts in any one test, but his well-roundedness he has proved in-game has shown up in testing.

“I think the numbers show that I can be a little bit of a well-rounded kind of athlete,” Kettyle said.

He also showed composure throughout the day, staying level-headed in a high-pressure environment.

“I didn’t feel overly nervous or overly anxious … I was able to remain pretty calm and just soak it all in,” he said.

Where Kettyle will likely shine is in the practice sessions on Saturday and Sunday. His understanding of the game and ability to read coverages could separate him from other receivers.

“Defensive recognition is a big thing … being able to recognize coverages and where the soft spots are,” he said.

Carter Stuart

An emerging story is the physical dominance of Carter Stuart. He is the 320 pound Bears right tackle, who is known for powerful run blocking. Further, he is the leader of the lineman room, something that shows in his down-to-Earth demeanour.

But don’t be fooled by his calm personality. This man can move.

Stuart posted an incredible 4.77-second shuttle drill, and a 7.84-second three-cone drill. This shuttle time tops all offensive linemen, while the three-cone is behind only Queen’s lineman Niklas Henning, a converted halfback. If scouts weren’t paying attention before, they sure are now.

“I find that’s a staple of my game … I’m going to meet you there before you can even think about it,” Stuart said.

Despite his dominance in run blocking, his anchor in pass protection sometimes falters. That is something that Stuart has expressed as an emphasis to display in practice sessions.

“I want to show I have a good anchor … just being solid, being consistent,” he said.

Stuart walked away a bit disappointed with his bench press numbers, tallying 16 reps, but remained confident in his impressive performance.

“All of my tests were less than what I expected, but if you train hard enough your 90 per cent is still good enough,” he said.

If 90 per cent means topping the charts at the CFL Combine, scouts may have just seen enough to believe his best football is still ahead of him

What’s next

With athletic testing now complete, both players shift their focus to the most important part of the week.

Saturday and Sunday will feature practice sessions at Foote Field, where players will compete in one-on-one drills and team settings. This is where both Bears expect to make their biggest impression.

“We’re here to play football … the tests are just tests,” Stuart said.

Kettyle echoed that sentiment.

“I’ve been playing football for a long time … I’m just ready to put the pads on and get ready to roll,” he said.

For Kettyle, the goal will be proving he can play at the same speed he tested at. For Stuart, it will be showing that his athleticism translates into real pass protection against top competition.

Both players have already impressed.

Now, they have a chance to prove they belong in the CFL.