The hard work and dedication of Brackendale-born Joe Eppele is paying off in spades.
A product of the 麻豆社国产branch of the Gordon Sturtridge League (GSL), the football prodigy has grown into a six-foot, 7-inch, 309-pound offensive lineman who was picked second overall in the Canadian Football League (CFL) draft on Sunday (May 2). He's now packing his bags and heading into Toronto Argonaut territory.
"It's an amazing opportunity and overall great feeling that all my hard work and everything I've sacrificed over the years have led to this. It is great to be selected so high and to be able to come into such a great organization," Eppele said to CFL.ca.
"This is the guy we wanted," said Argos head coach Jim Barker. "He has great size, athletic ability and intelligence and has played at the highest level of college football in the U.S. His skills suit either guard or tackle, which makes him versatile. I'm excited to watch Joe's development in the years to come."
After the CFL's March evaluation camp in Toronto, Eppele said he'd be happy to get pick up by the CFL, regardless of whether or not that was first pick overall.
The offensive lineman said he'd like to stay close to home and play near his family friends, but added he'd be willing to play for any team interested in him.
"Anybody who's crazy enough to pay me to play the sport that I love, I'd be more than happy to strap on a badge for them any day."
Now, Eppele said he's focusing on convocation day at Washington State University this weekend (May 8 to 9).
The National Football Foundation named the young psychology major a 2010 Hampshire Honor Society member in the College Hall of Fame on Tuesday (May 4). Eppele is being recognized for keeping his cumulative grade-point average above 3.2 while starting in five of the 33 games he played for Washington State.
After convocation he's heading straight to Toronto to start training with the Argos.
"My goal is to make an immediate impact and I plan to continue to work morning, noon and night to prepare for training camp," said the 22-year-old. ??
Eppele's mother Carol Ann, who still lives in Brackendale, celebrated her son's achievement.
"We're just thrilled," she said. "It's extremely exciting to see your child achieve a dream and he's worked very hard to get there. I mean a lot of people say 'He's so lucky.'
"Well yes, he had a talent, but he developed it. It has been a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice to get where he is and it's thrilling to see him achieve it."
Carol Ann said she's not surprised the Argo's drafted him because the team has been showing significant interest in Eppele for a while.
She figured the Argos were going to draft her son when Eppele told her the team was flying him out to Toronto for draft day.
"It was pretty much 'Well I guess that's where you're going,'" she said. "I know that he's been feeling very comfortable and very good about having the Argos look at him."
Although Carol Ann said she would've liked to see her son play close to home with the BC Lions, it's important he play for a team that would advance his career.
"I mean really my first choice is where ever is going to be best for him."
And, she said, the situation is made easier since her son already has plenty of support and a loyal fans in Toronto - his grandmother, two sets of aunts, uncles and cousins live there.
"It will make it a lot easier for me to visit [him] whenever I can."
Eppele was one of 13 offensive linemen from 47 players up for the 2010 CFL draft.
Shomari Williams was drafted first overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The BC Lions walked away from the 2010 CFL draft with Danny Watkins, Shawn Gore, Joash Gesse, Hamid Mahmoudi, Nate Binder, Akeem Foster, Cauchy Muamba, Adam Baboulas and Matthew Chapdelaine.
