Huskies’ Ryker Frank off to CFL invitational combine

Ryker Frank is hoping to inch a bit closer to playing in the CFL.

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies running back received an invite to the CFL invitational combine in Waterloo, Ont., on Friday.

The combine will feature 70 CFL prospects to show off their talents and skills to scouts for the opportunity to get invited to the national combine in Regina from March 21-23. Last season, the University of Regina’s Jackson Sombach attended the invitational and national combine, then was selected by the Calgary Stampeders in the seventh round of the 2024 draft.

“I’m just super excited. It’s an opportunity to hang out with some good athletes, get on the field and do what I love,” Frank said.

“It’s kind of crazy. Growing up I didn’t know I was good at football – or I didn’t know to the extent how good I was. That’s not me saying I’m the best player ever but just getting recruited to the U of S or recruited anywhere, I was just super excited. It’s almost the same feeling – being able to have the opportunity to go to the next level it’s like wow, I might get paid to do this.

“It’s just a weird and exciting feeling to know that these guys are going to take a look at me and maybe get the opportunity to play football.”

Frank, who is originally from Regina and won a provincial title with the LeBoldus Golden Suns, finished his fourth season with the Huskies. He recorded 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground through eight regular season games and two playoff contests.

The Huskies season came to an end in the Canada West finals in a 19-14 loss to the University of Regina Rams on Nov. 9.

With this being his CFL Draft year, Frank didn’t have much time to recover as his attention shifted to getting ready for the combine.

“Definitely a short turnaround after the season, especially as a running back. Your body is banged up,” Frank said. “I’m training at Ignite with a couple other combine guys so we’ve been going for a couple months now. Starting to feel ready.”

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Frank is training at Ignite Athletics in Saskatoon, focusing on the drills he will need to do at the combine.

“I’m just going to go in and do my best. I’ve been training hard so I’m not too worried about (getting drafted). I’m just going to go in there and try to be myself. It’s just another opportunity to get on the field. It’s more exciting than anything else,” he said.

Frank does have some people to lean on for advice at Ignite, with CFLers like Nathan Cherry, Nick Wiebe, Riley Pickett and Josh Hagerty also training there.

“(There are) guys that I have played with in the past couple of years and watched them go through the process. They are always around to give us little tips or tell us it’s not as scary as it seems. It’s great having them around just to guide us through the process. They are super awesome resources to have,” Frank said.

While many running backs in the league are American, there’s been plenty of Canadian talent recently showcasing their talents at the pro level.

Such as rushing leader and CFL Most Outstanding Player Brady Oliveira, who had over 1,300 rushing yards last season for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Jeshrun Antwi who had a quiet 2024 but did have 600 yards on the ground for the Montreal Alouettes in 2022. There’s also current Saskatchewan Roughriders running backs coach Andrew Harris, who was considered one of the best rushers in the league during his playing career.

Running back Ryker Frank has been training for the CFL combine after the Huskies season came to an end. (Electric Umbrella/Huskie Athletics)

“It’s a position that’s dominated by Americans but as a running back, part of it is just being an athlete,” Franks said. “You might not see a lot of Canadians at the starting running back position but there are still guys on the roster that are Canadian running backs making an impact whether that is special teams or returning or anything like that.

“I think that goes to show what type of position that is – those are the guys who will dominate on special teams because they are pure athletes. The guys like Brady Oliveira show it’s possible for Canadian running backs to get to that position so it’s an exciting opportunity for Canadians, especially at the running back position.”

While he would love to have his name called on draft day, Frank is just focusing on what he can and will let the results play out as they happen.

“It would be awesome to get drafted but the way I look at it, I am in a good spot. Either I get drafted and I get an opportunity in the CFL or I come back and play football with the guys I have been playing with for the past five years. Whichever way life takes me, it’s going to be a good opportunity and it’s going to be lots of fun,” he said.

If Frank does return for a fifth season with the Huskies, the football club will look to reach the Hardy Cup once again and perhaps make it to the Vanier Cup which will be hosted in Regina in 2025.

“Super excited – our team is going to be a lot different than it was last year. It’s like that every year. You have guys leaving, guys going to the CFL, guys graduating, guys just leaving the game. A lot of new faces on the Huskies team, lots of new talent and a lot of old talent too. (I’m) super excited to do that,” Frank said.