Neumann’s Notes: Centre of attention in the CFL – University of Calgary Athletics

Football
8/8/2024 2:47:00 PM

Jack Neumann

CALGARY – There are nine football teams in the Canadian Football League. Three of them up until this last weekend were University of Calgary graduates starting at the vital centre position along the offensive line.

“The centre position on the offensive line is a key spot along the line. He calls out the fronts and protections, so all five guys are on the same page and any adjustments they may need,” explained former Dinos offensive line coach Paul Carson. 

Sean McEwen (Calgary Stampeders), Peter Nicastro (Toronto Argonauts) and Tyler Packer (British Columbia Lions) are all products of the Dinos program. 

Let us start with the senior member of the trio McEwen. McEwen has established himself as one of the elite interior offensive linemen in the CFL. The 31-year-old spent four seasons with the Dinos before being selected third overall by the Toronto Argonauts in 2016. 

He did not let the Argos down starting each game at centre and was his team’s rookie of the year in 2016.

Sean spent four years with the Argos before signing as a free agent with the Stampeders in February 2020. He has had an incredible CFL career after his illustrious career at the University of Calgary, which has seen him earn numerous recognitions. The Notre Dame High School graduate has been a three-time CFL All-Star (2017, 2021 and 2022) and has been a starter his entire professional career at centre. 

“I never coached Sean, but he is one of the most cerebral players around. He makes no mental mistakes,” stated Carson. “He has been one of the best centres in the league for many years and is still playing at a high level.”

Nicastro and Packer did not play centre with the Dinos. Nicastro was primarily a guard but did play some centre while Packer was at right tackle. 

Nicastro followed McEwen to Toronto. He was selected seventh overall in the 2021 CFL Draft after he helped anchor the Dinos offensive line that saw the team capture the 2019 National Championship. Like McEwen, Nicastro did not disappoint. He secured a starting spot immediately at guard and earned East Division All-Star recognition. After missing the entire 2022 season due to injury Peter returned to the starting lineup last year and has been starting at centre in 2024. He is emerging as one of the premier interior offensive linemen in the CFL. 

A graduate of St. Francis High School in Calgary, the 25-year-old Nicastro joined the Dinos in 2016 but “red-shirted” due to injury. He became a three-year starter playing both guard and centre, earning all-star honors in 2019. 

The now 25-year-old Packer became the third former Dino starting at centre earlier this CFL season with the Lions when starter Micheal Couture was injured in the second league game.  A sixth-round 2021 selection in the CFL Draft, Tyler saw limited professional action until this year but persevered. 

A graduate of Notre Dame High School in Calgary, he was a college teammate of Nicastro and is one of three offensive linemen from the 2019 Vanier Cup Championship team to play in the CFL, the other being Logan Bandy. Bandy started some CFL games at centre for the Saskatchewan Riders before retiring. 

Tyler played with the Dinos from 2017 through 2021 earning Canada West Rookie of the Year honours and was a conference all-star the following year spending all his college career at right tackle. 

“It is a real tribute to the job Paul Carson has done and the hard work and determination of these players,” said current offensive line coach Pat Sheahan. “The centre spot on the offensive line is the quarterback of their group, and I am hopeful this year’s centre Brady Szeman can continue in that role this year.”

“The centre is a key position along the offensive as they are the one who starts the offence with the snap of the ball to the quarterback,” stated Sheahan, who is assisted by Aldo Laratta with the Dinos.

Laratta coached Nicastro and Bandy at St. Francis High School. 

Sean McEwen, Peter Nicastro and Tyler Parker are key members of their CFL team’s offensive lines and proud graduates of the Dinos football program. 

-UC-