McGill University Athletics

- pronounced: loh-RON  DOOVER-nay-TAR-dif

- nickname: Larry

- BORN: Feb. 11, 1991

- Twitter handle: @LaurentDTardif

The two-time All-Canadian tackle from St. Hilaire, Que., was only the second player from McGill University to be selected in the National Football League Draft when he was picked in the sixth round (200th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs on May 10, 2014.

SPORTSNET VIDEO FROM 2020 SUPER BOWL IN MIAMI

TSN VIDEO PROFILE FROM 2020 SUPER BOWL IN MIAMI

VIDEO OF HIS REACTION AFTER BEING DRAFTED

VIDEO OF KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SCOUT PAT SPERDUTO EVALUATING DUVERNAY-TARDIF

He was the second offensive lineman in McGill history to win the Forbes Trophy, which has been awarded annually since 1948 to the McGill male athlete of the year.

A co-captain with the McGill Redmen, he also captured the prestigious Metras trophy as the most outstanding lineman in CIS football in 2013 and followed that by being one of two CIS players picked to play in the 2014 East-West Shrine Game, a showcase primarily for graduating NCAA seniors.

He was rated as the top-ranked selection for the 2014 CFL Draft by the CFL Scouting Bureau in all three of their rankings released over the past year (Sept. 11/13, Jan. 14/14, Apr. 22/14) but declined an invitation to the CFL combines camp, opting to hold his own 'pro day", which was attended by scouts from nine NFL teams and four more from the CFL.

He is believed to be the first CIS player ever featured in Sports Illustrated (Mar. 24/14). A fourth-year student in his third year of medical school after a year of pre-med, he also posted some stellar numbers in the classroom, earning Academic All-American status, in addition to making the Principal's Student-athlete Honour Roll and meriting CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian honours from Governor-General David Johnston in 2013.

At least 16 NFL teams either expressed interest or requested info on him during the 2013-14 school year, including the NY Jets, Houston, Tennessee, Green Bay, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, Jacksonville, Arizona, Buffalo, Kansas City, Oakland, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Seattle. After his pro day, he travelled to the USA for personal interviews with the Chiefs, Packers, Dolphins, Eagles, Cardinals, Seahawks, Bills and the 49ers.

One of only two players selected to represent the CIS at the 89th East-West Shrine Game (Jan. 18; St. Petersburg, Fla.)... Started three of his six games at DL in freshman year at McGill... Since being converted from DL to OL in sophomore year, he started in 26 consecutive regular season games for McGill.

LINK TO JOHN KRYK STORY IN QNI AGENCY: Canadian med-school student drafted by Chiefs helped bring twins into world in emergency C-section

LINK TO ASSOCIATED PRESS STORY: Chiefs hoping Canadian med school student Duvernay-Tardif can supply offensive line depth

LINK TO ZURKOWSKY STORY IN THE GAZETTE: McGill's Duvernay-Tardif will learn a lot from Chiefs

LINK TO CBC NEWS REPORT ON "THE NATIONAL": Football Force: Duvernay-Tardif

LINK TO CP ARTICLE ON TSN.CA: Duvernay-Tardif among four Canadians taken at NFL draft

LINK TO ARTICLE ON KC CHIEFS WEBSITE

LINK TO FRENCH ARTICLE IN LA PRESSE: Le Québécois Laurent Duvernay-Tardif repêché par les Chiefs

LINK TO ARTICLE & VIDEO ON FRENCH CBC: Duvernay-Tardif repêché par les Chiefs

LINK TO CANADIAN PRESS ARTICLE: Towering McGill lineman looking forward to NFL draft

LINK TO ARTICLE: Canada's top NFL prospect juggles pre-draft visits with ER internship

LINK TO SPORTS ILLUSTRATED ARTICLE

VIDEO OF DUVERNAY-TARDIF WORKING OUT

SEE CTV REPORT BY Andre Corbeil

SEE RDS REPORT BY Didier Orméjuste

SEE CBC REPORT BY Douglas Gelevan

SEE TSN REPORT BY Duane Forde

SEE MONTREAL GAZETTE FEATURE &VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS By Herb Zurkowsky & John Mahoney

SEE ALJAZEERA AMERICA REPORT

SEE SCOUTING PROFILE ON NFL.COM

- FRESHMAN YEAR (2010): reported to training camp at 253 lbs. and played on defensive line (#92)... dressed for six of nine games with three starts.

- SOPHOMORE YEAR (2011): reported to training camp at 280 lbs. and was moved over to offensive line (#66)... dressed for all nine games with nine starts at OT... often played two-ways.

- JUNIOR YEAR (2012): reported to training camp at 305 lbs... dressed for all nine games with nine starts at OT... often played two-ways.

- SENIOR YEAR (2013): reported to training camp at 315 lbs... dressed for all eight games with eight starts at OT. After training for the East-West Shrine Game, he weighed in at 321 in January, then dropped down to 298 for his Pro Day in March.

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NATIONAL AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS:

- selected by Kansas City in the sixth round (200th overall) of the NFL Draft on May 10, 2014.
- 2014: one of only two players selected to represent the CIS at the East-West Shrine Game (Jan. 18; St. Petersburg, Fla.)
- 2013: CFL Scouting Bureau’s top-rated prospect for 2014 CFL Draft (Fall, 2013,  Winter, 2014, Sprin, 2014)
- 2013: CIS Most Outstanding Lineman (J.P. Metras Trophy)
- 2013: College Football America CIS Preseason All-Canada
- 2013: CIS East-West Bowl (May 11; London, Ont.)
- 2012 & 2013: (two-time) CIS All-Canadian

CONFERENCE AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS:

- 2013: RSEQ Football Most Outstanding Lineman
- 2013: RSEQ Football Citizenship & Scholarship Award (nominee for CIS Russ Jackson Trophy )
- 2012 & 2013: (two-time) RSEQ Football all-star
- 2013: Montreal Alouettes Athletics Excellence Bursary

McGILL AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS:

- 2013-14: Recipient of a Gretta Chambers Student Leadership Award (May, 2014)
- 2013-14: McGill male athlete of the year (Stuart Forbes trophy)
- 2011 & 2013: (two-time) most outstanding lineman (Touchdown Club trophy)
- 2012: most outstanding offensive player (Dan Pronyk trophy)
- 2012: most valuable player (Students’ Society trophy)
- 2013-14: McGill male athlete of the week (Jan. 20, 2014)

ACADEMIC AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS:

- 2013: CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-America honours (College Division)
- 2013: CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District honours (College Division)
- 2013: CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian
- 2011-14: (4-time) CIS Academic All-Canadian
- 2011-14: (4-time) Principal’s Student-Athlete Honour Roll
- 2013: recipient of a Montreal Alouettes Academic Excellence Bursary
- 2013: recipient of a Montreal Alouettes Athletic Excellence Bursary


LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY SERVICE:

-    served as football team’s co-captain (2012 & 2013)
-    received McGill University’s 1938 Champions Award for combining leadership with athletic prowess and academic excellence
-    named to McGill chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society for academic recognition, leadership development and community service
-    conducted mini-football camps for Willingdon elementary school in Montreal’s NDG borough
-    helped incoming freshmen moved into their dorm rooms on the McGill campus
-    was a football team rep at a visit to the Montreal Shriners Hospital for Children (2013)
-    was a football team rep at annual McGill Holiday Food Drive in support of the Sun Youth Community Centre (2012, 2013)
-    worked in 2012 with the “Défi Canderel” (Canderel Challenge), an annual corporate charity event in Montreal that raises funds for cancer research
-    volunteered in 2012 with a Montreal police department program known as “Unité sans violence, exprimez-vous!”  (United Without Violence: Express yourself!), designed to keep troubled youths off the street and encourage them to play sports
-    worked with heroin addicts at a methadone clinic (as part of his academic curriculum)
-    made numerous visits to local high schools where he has lectured on the dangers of drug abuse and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
-    served countless hours in family medicine at various hospitals, including the Montreal Jewish General and Brome Missiquoi-Perkins Hospital in Cowansville, and served a surgical rotation at St. Mary’s Hospital in Montreal (as part of his curriculum)
-    served as a tutor for McGill students

COMMENT FROM POSITION COACH (2011):

“I matched Laurent up against the opposition’s best defensive end every game and he did not give up a sack all year. He played on both sides – left and right tackle – and dominated. He always locked up with his defender until the whistle blew. He was incredible at blocking at the second level – the best and always got to the linebacker.” — Paul Lambert, offensive line coach, McGill Redmen


COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH  & POSITION COACH (2013):
"Laurent has a tremendous work ethic and a quiet confidence that makes him a natural leader. Size and strength is a big factor in success on the o-line but when you find someone that possesses the combination of brains, brawn and nastiness that Laurent has on the field, then you've got a real keeper and he has all those tools. He's the kind of guy other players hate. He's mean out there. He looks to break their spirit and touch their soul. I believe that he will have a good pro career, whether it be in the CFL or NFL."
 — Clint Uttley, head coach & OL coach, McGill Redmen
 

WHAT EXPERTS ARE SAYING

Here's what NFL talent evaluators are saying about former McGill University offensive tackle Laurent Duvernay-Tardif:

"He's obviously got a lot of talent … I go back to the days of Mike Schad coming out of the Canadian ranks and he went in the first round. You're looking probably at a third- or fourth-round pick here … But you've got to develop him. You're not going to get much (out of him) as a rookie."

-- Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN

"A very interesting prospect. He's got some size -- very intriguing … Rare combo (of size and speed). So we want to do our due diligence and make sure, as close as he is to us, that we get this guy right."

-- Buffalo Bills GM Doug Whaley

"You can teach a player to play the game of football -- whether it's technique or angles or that sort of thing. You can't teach them to be bigger, stronger or faster. And when you have the type of tools that he has, he's a guy that people get excited about. (His intelligence) is the other thing that you have to like. You have to like the guy's work ethic, and then the commitment that he has shown to the medical profession. I think he's certainly going to be on several teams' radars."

-- Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim

"He's a big, big guy who's played a lot of tackle, and I think he looks better moving inside as a guard. I know he's been working out with a former NFL offensive lineman named Bruce Wilkerson who's tried to help him with quickness, trying to get better in movement."

-- Charles Davis, NFL Network

“Physically he is very impressive and had a very good showing at CIS East-West Game. He looks like a CFL offensive linemen right now. He plays tackle in the CIS, I don’t know if he can in the CFL, but he at least has a background playing the tackle position. He is a big tackle, good feet, athletic, got better as the week progressed. He stood out amongst all of the offensive linemen. He definitely has all the intangibles. He’d definitely have to play inside in the CFL, but you could see him when he was working through the drills that he has the ability to do that. We’ll see how he develops during the year. He’s going to be in the conversation for the number one overall selection, I think he’s a first round pick for sure. He resembles a high offensive line pick.He’s really polished and technically he’s very sound. He has very good knee bend and is an athletic kid. He has good posture in his stance and when he’s actually playing. He’s got that straight back to him. Sits really well in his stance, punches and recovers well if he gets off balance. He has very, very good balance. He’s physical and finishes guys. I think he’s a guard in the CFL.”
– Justin Dunk, CFL.COM (May, 2013)
 

COMMENT FROM MONTREAL ALOUETTES GM JIM POPP (March 28, 2014):

"We’ve seen players over the past five years or so go from this level [in Canada] to the NFL," Popp told Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports Shutdown Corner, "but none have been at this level coming out of school. One of my scouts said that he is the best prospect he has seen in 10 years from a CIS school, or a guy that has been [eligible for the CFL draft], This is a guy who can go to an even higher level. He’s extremely bright.He has the frame where he can get up to 330, no problem. He doesn’t have an ounce of fat on him.”

Duvernay-Tardif was invited to the East-West Shrine Game in Tampa, Fla., going up against some draftable prospects and held his own, despite being switched over to play right tackle for much of the drills.

"He looked very comfortable there," Popp said. "He looked like he could play both. He’s definitely a tackle at the next level. He has great feet."

So where does he fit in with this draft class? Popp says the level of competition certainly hurts Duvernay-Tardif from a reputation and development standpoint, but not as much as you might think.

"He’s going to be drafted," Popp said. "If he was playing at an SEC school, or the Big Ten, you’re talking a very high draft pick. At McGill University, a CIS school in Canada, it’s going to change that. He’s still developing; he has a lot of room for growth. I am sure his draft status will drop. But whoever gets him will be getting a good football player.

"Nine [NFL] teams showing up to watch one guy work out in another country tells you that this guy has got something. I think talent-wise — and not because he has stood up to a high level of competition yet — and with his measureables, I think he probably is a fourth-round guy. But if he was at a bigger school, he’d be at least a second-round guy."

And how sure is Popp that Duvernay-Tardif deserves such high praise? After all, there have been some solid Canadian talents in recent years — the Lions' Vaughn Martin and the Saints' Akeim Hicks — who all have fared well starting in the NFL trenches, although none have reached a Pro Bowl level.

"This kid shows more dominance at his position than those two players did at their position," Popp said.

COMMENTS FROM NFL SCOUTS TO HERB ZURKOWSKY OF THE MONTREAL GAZETTE (March 27, 2014):

“The fact about 10 teams came up here to take a look at him says a lot about what he’s capable of,” said Lee Gissendaner, a college scout for the Green Bay Packers. “I think he definitely has a shot to go further.

“I thought he did pretty good. He seems like a guy who likes to compete. He responds to what we ask. He’s a smart kid. The way he moved around for a big guy was the most impressive thing. He shows the versatility that you like ... the flexibility.”

Added another NFL scout who requested anonymity: “I wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t good enough to play. He has the athletic ability. He’s smart. He’s tough. There are a lot worse that have started in the NFL.

“He has little things to clean up, but you could go to Alabama, Penn State, Ohio State ... guys need to clean up stuff.”

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
McGill University
514-398-7012
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca