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Freeman making most of second chance at Rider camp

Jun 12, 2015 | 8:04 AM

The last couple of weeks have been a long time coming for Riders linebacker Eltoro Freeman. 

The Alabama native hasn’t been on the field trying out for a team since the 2012 season when he was a member of the Baltimore Ravens. Before that, Freeman last played in the Chic Fil A Bowl as a member of the Auburn Tigers at the end of the 2011-12 NCAA season. 

Naturally, Freeman is pretty pumped to finally play in a game on Saturday evening in Fort McMurray.

“I can’t wait, I’m excited. Come game time, my reputation is on the line,” said Freeman. 

Freeman appeared to be on the path to having a pro-football career during his college days. During his second season, Auburn won the BCS National Championship in the NCAA. 

Despite being the Tigers starting outside linebacker for three seasons, Freeman was never drafted into the NFL. He signed with the Ravens ahead of the 2012 season but was released just five days into camp.

After that day, the call from other teams never came.

Freeman’s phone wouldn’t ring with another chance to play football until the Riders called this off season.

“He kind of reminds me of Tristan Jackson. They understand a second chance. Those are my type (of) guys,” said head coach Corey Chamblin.

With Freeman’s luck, this second chance at football almost didn’t happen. 

At the Riders mini-camp in April, Freeman pulled his hamstring and didn’t get to spend much time on the field.

There was a chance that this could have been it for Freeman, again. Instead, the Riders decided to keep Freeman under contract and bring him to training camp in Saskatoon. 

“Luckily, we have a great, understanding coach,” said Freeman. 

Since Freeman has been out of the game so long, he’s been trying to stay in shape by himself. Even though he’s done a pretty good job, Freeman feels there’s just no training regimen in the world that can get your muscles ready to suddenly spring into action at a camp after three years away. 

Since then, Freeman feels he’s been getting better every day. He’s not the only one who sees the progress either.

“He was screaming yesterday, ‘my knees feel good!’ I like really Eltoro, he brings all kinds of energy to this football team,” said Chamblin.

“The guys love him because he celebrates every single play because he knows that could be his last play. He’s enjoying it now. He’s getting back into the groove of football.”

With a game finally looming, we’ll learn soon enough just how much longer Freeman’s second chance may last.

News and Notes

The Riders released receiver Alex Anthony on Wednesday. According to Chamblin, the decision came down to giving some of the younger players a chance to climb up the depth chart. Anthony was released now, rather than hanging on to him for the remainder of camp, to give him a chance to sign with someone else. 

Chamblin continued to prepare his team for everything on Thursday. At the end of their walk through, the coach had his players moving all over the field. He was actually simulating them coming out of the tunnel to the field, getting to the sidelines for the national anthem and other pre-game stuff. 

The Riders will practice one last time ahead of Saturday’s pre-season game on Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. 

 

jgasson@rawlco.com

On Twitter: @JGasson-_21

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