For the second time this year, the Rouge et Or of Laval University have drawn into the ranks of the NCAA.
After hybrid linebacker Noah Gravel, it is the turn of offensive lineman Émile Beaulieu to turn his back on the NCAA and return to Quebec. A reserve this year, the native of Sherbrooke would have played an identical role in 2025.
“I had a different vision than my position coach,” he explained. I would have still been a red shirt next year and I wanted to play. I wasn’t in the plans and I opted for the team that wanted me.”
“The transfer portal could have been an option, but it's not easy when you don't have film to pursue the 6'4, 310 pound guy. I enjoyed my experience, but the NCAA is really a business. The priority is not helping the student-athlete, but how to make money.”
After three seasons with the Woodberry Forest Tigers, a prep school in Virginia, Beaulieu joined the Old Dominion Monarchs last season as a guest player, meaning he didn't have a scholarship and had to pay his tuition fees. “We could have found a solution for next year if I had been in the plans, but that was not the case.”
Laval an easy choice
Even though he is a native of Sherbrooke, Beaulieu did not hesitate when he decided to return to Quebec. “Laval was the obvious choice,” he said. With the Rouge et Or, I'm going to reunite with my boyfriend Simon Potvin with whom I played with the Sherbrooke Bulldogs. Laval has one of the best coaching staffs in Canada, if not the best, the Rouge et Or has passionate fans and the team wins a lot. I wanted to find myself in a winning mentality.”
Beaulieu assures that he can play all positions. “At Old Dominion, I found myself playing guard and center because the team was banking on blockers taller than me, including a 6’10” guy. With the Tigers, I mainly played as a left blocker.
The Red and Gold romances an Old Dominion alumnus for a second time. Receiver Frédérik Antoine also left the Monarchs in 2022 to join the Rouge et Or. After two seasons in Laval, he was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes in 2023, but he did not make the roster.
Beaulieu is the second offensive lineman the Rouge et Or are recruiting this year. On the sidelines last year due to an operation, Walid Couture, of the Faucons de Lévis, will continue his career in Laval.
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