Regina, SK – It’s official! “The Grand Coulee Combine”, Ben Heenan, formerly of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, is an Indianapolis Colt after signing with the team today.
The 6’4, 310lb Heenan has spent his entire career in Saskatchewan, first as a member of the Sheldon Williams Spartans in the Regina Intercollegiate Football League. He then elected to play his college ball at the University of Saskatchewan for the Huskies where he spent four years as a starter.
In 2012, the Saskatchewan Roughriders used the first overall pick in the CFL draft to keep the gifted lineman at home. After two seasons under contract, Heenan was set to become a free agent on Feb. 10th, 2015.
Instead he becomes another example in a growing list of CFL players that are signing contracts in the NFL.
Just last week these same Colts netted highly touted CFLer, and son of NFL icon Cris Carter, Duron Carter. Carter, formerly of the Montreal Alouettes, is projected to be in the starting lineup out of Colts camp in 2015/16.
Last year the Colts inked LB Henoc Muamba, from the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The loss of Heenan, along with the earlier departure of Dominic Picard, leaves a hole on the Riders’ O-line. Early speculation is that Levi Adcock should step in nicely, as he did in 2014 when Heenan was sidelined with illness. That means ratio juggling, as Adcock is an international player.
Should Heenan’s dreams get cut short in Indy, he will be aggressively pursued en route back to the CFL by Riders GM Brendan Taman.
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