Scenes from the 2025 CFL Combine Regina, Sk on Mar 22 2025. Featured in this image: Ethan VIBERT (38) OL Photo Credit:
Ethan Vibert is turning his attention from the Combine to convocation.
Between now and the April 29 CFL Draft, the Regina-born South Dakota State Jackrabbits offensive lineman plans to apply the finishing touches to his master’s degree in exercise science.
“I’ve got two more classes in school and then I’m starting to train for actually playing football, instead of for a couple of drills,” Vibert said Sunday after the three-day CFL Combine wrapped up at Regina’s AffinityPlex.
“With most of my teachers working with me, I should be able to finish off my master’s before the Draft even happens.”
A perennial honour-roll student, the former Miller Marauders standout received the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award in 2023.
Although academics will continue to be a priority between now and Draft day, football will still receive its due attention.
“I’m sure there will be some more pre-Draft interviews and all that,” he noted.
Sunday’s post-Combine interview was followed by some mingling, considering Vibert’s ties to Regina.
“I’ve got a bunch of friends and family here and some old coaches have been coming out and watching,” the 6-foot-3½, 310-pounder said. “It has been great seeing them in the stands, cheering me on as I go.”
Vibert’s well-established versatility elicited plaudits. He started at guard last season after playing centre the year before. At the Combine, he completed the offensive line positional cycle.
“I wasn’t really planning on playing any tackle when I showed up here, but we were short some tackles so I just jumped right in,” he said.
He hopes that attitude, along with other attributes, was noted by the CFL talent evaluators who converged upon Regina for the Combine.
“I think they learned I’m a hard-working, coachable guy,” Vibert said. “I’m willing to get my hands dirty and jump in wherever I’m needed.”
A fellow Saskatchewanian, Seth Hundeby, jumped into the Combine in fine style.
He excelled in Friday’s testing before immersing himself in one-on-one and team drills for the next two days.
The 6-foot-2½, 251-pound University of Saskatchewan Huskies standout led all linebackers in the vertical jump (35 inches), 40-yard dash (4.7 seconds) and short shuttle (4.15 seconds).
He was third among linebackers in bench press (20 reps) and the three-cone drill (6.88 seconds).
“Opportunities like this, you’ve got to seize every one you can get,” Hundeby said. “Playing with players like this and getting to speak with coaches of this calibre is a huge opportunity.
“I felt like I really took advantage of it and it was a great experience.”
As a bonus, the Combine was held in his home province.
“It was huge not to have planes, trains and automobiles to get somewhere and not to feel exhausted,” the Saskatoon-born Hundeby said. “I just hopped in the truck, threw Daniel Wiebe in the back, and cruised on down.”
Wiebe, a Huskies receiver, also turned heads at the Combine — especially when he posted the second-best short-shuttle time (3.95 seconds) in event history.
With that kind of speed and acceleration, perhaps Wiebe could have travelled to Regina on foot and still arrived in plenty of time.
“I think he would have beat us, honestly,” Hundeby said with a laugh. “He’s a special guy.”
