CFL: Calgary Stampeders sign British OL and ELF All-Star Keanu Ebanks
The Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League have signed global offensive lineman Keanu Ebanks.
The British blocker has experience playing at Europe’s highest level and has been spending this off-season training at the AIA performance facility in Ohio. Ebanks was being nominated to the top-notch performance center by scouting firm All22. The CFL’s newest global talent kept things simple by announcing his new team via social media:
“Thankful for the opportunity, excited for a new adventure and new challenge.”
The 6’6″, 300-pound offensive tackle spent last season with the league runner-up Hamburg Sea Devils. As Hamburg’s left tackle, Ebanks’s quick feet and physical run blocking helped him secure a spot on the ELF All–Star team while the Sea Devils made it all the way to the ELF championship game.
The Leeds native spent 2020 with the Stockholm Mean Machines in the Swedish Superserien, helping them reach that country’s championship game. Prior to that e spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons playing in Germany as a member of the Hildesheim Invaders. With the Invaders, Ebanks transitioned from a physical defensive end to a nimble offensive tackle. His massive size and lateral quickness caught the eyes of North American scouts, earning Ebanks an invitation to the 2019 NFL International Player Pathway Combine in Cologne, before participating in the CFL Global Combines in 2020 and 2021.
Britain is well represented in this year's CFL Draft. Keanu Ebanks (@ebanks_keanu) made us all proud at his Virtual Combine 💥@CFL | @ins_football pic.twitter.com/sn0SPvbCwM
— BAFA (@BAFAOfficial) April 13, 2021
Ebanks first started playing football at the University of Hull as a versatile two-way lineman. While playing for the Sharks, the future ELF-All Star quickly fell in love with the game and became team captain and eventually president.
The European League of Football All–Star had signed to return to the league and join the Wroclaw Panthers for the 2022 season before the Canadian Football league came calling this week.
Selected by All22 in conjunction with @AIAFootball for a training period at the Athletes in Action facility, the British OL Keanu Ebanks (@ebanks_keanu) has just signed a contract with the Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders).
Congratulations, Keanu! pic.twitter.com/uwTOzVmRHU
— All 22 – The Global Scouting Network (@All22Global) March 10, 2022
With the transaction, Calgary has now signed its fifth global player as the Stampeders feel good about their international talent. Ebanks joins Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei (DL, New Zealand), Nico Leonard (RB, South Africa), Andres Salgado (WR, Mexico), and starting punter Cody Grace (Australia). Other global talents will have their day as the CFL will hold its Global Draft on May 3rd.
Read more about Keanu Ebanks football journey here.
Watch Ebanks highlights here:
