Unfortunately for the pride Of the Aubier and Élans de Garneau football program, the much-hoped-for phone call never came. The athlete from Charny still believed in his chances of reaching the Goodell circuit as a free agent.
“I thought my chances were good before the day, but it’s definitely not the end of my career what happened today. There are several teams that have called my agent Joey Atkins like the Niners and Texans, but there has been nothing concrete. The fact remains that contact with these teams is still very present,” explains the man who was trying to become the first player drafted in the NFL in the history of the Quebec region.
Geoffrey Cantin-Arku remains hopeful of playing in the NFL (Jocelyn Riendeau/Le Soleil)
More motivated than ever
After a day of waiting where the linebacker was not in control of his destiny, Cantin-Arku believes he did everything necessary to place himself in a desirable position.
“I have no regrets and I don’t believe that not participating in the NFL Combine explains today’s outcome. There are plenty of players who weren’t there and they were drafted. Of course I would have liked to have had this chance, but I still had an excellent pro day in Memphis.”
One thing was however very clear to the 25-year-old athlete even after this day where he found himself empty-handed, no one will make him change his mind that he does not deserve at least a chance to carve out a place in a NFL team in September.
“I know all the linebackers that have been drafted and I know I’m better than a lot of them. I’m a competitor and it’s normal to think that way. I’ve said from the beginning that all I want is a chance and I still believe I’m going to get it. It’s not a disappointment not to have been drafted because I still expected this possibility, but I will manage to use what happened today as a Source of motivation.
A draft day means a lot of waiting and checking your cell phone. (Jocelyn Riendeau/Le Soleil)
Follow the plan
Cantin-Arku will now have to come to an agreement with an NFL team in the next 48 hours to have a chance at realizing his ultimate dream. Otherwise, he will probably have to continue his career in the Canadian Football League (CFL) where he should see his name come out in the top ten in Tuesday night’s draft according to the latest projections.
“We’re not there yet and if we have to go through the CFL, that’s what I’m going to do. Technically, I have until Tuesday night to find an NFL team and I want to make it to the end of this option before changing my goals. The fact remains that I am privileged because I am going to play professional football next year.
Geoffrey Cantin-Arku was accompanied by his mother Nancy (Jocelyn Riendeau/Le Soleil)
A contagious mentality
If Cantin-Arku didn’t want to use the word disappointment to explain his day, it seems the football player’s family and friends received the same memo. His mother Nancy summed it up well.
“I still think it was a beautiful day. Geoffrey was surrounded by the people he loves and everyone is aware of the lengths he went to just to put himself in this position. I understood today that there is also a bit of politics behind all of this. I know my guy though and he won’t give up.”
