Top receiving prospect Chambers anxiously awaiting to begin pro career

Shamawd Chambers can't wait until May 3.

That's when the CFL will hold its annual Canadian college draft and the day the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks' speedy receiver will learn where he'll start his pro career in Canada. And after an off-season of working out and testing for CFL officials, Chambers is anxious to get back on the football field.

"I just want to get back to work," Chambers said during a CFL conference call Tuesday. "For me, this has been such a long off-season ... I just want to play football.

"Once you are a professional, that's all you do. I feel like I can develop so much more when my full-time job is to play this game. The thought of that is incredible, that somebody is going to pay us to play this game. I'm just excited and want to get to work."

Chambers shouldn't have to wait long to hear his name called. The six-foot-three, 218-pound native of Markham, Ont., is not only the top-rated receiver heading into the draft but was third overall in the CFL Scouting Bureau's final ranking of the top-15 eligible prospects.

Chambers, 23, who posted the fastest 40-yard dash time at the CFL evaluation camp (4.42 seconds), grew up a Toronto Argonauts fan and would readily welcome a chance to play for the team. But unless general manager Jim Barker pulls off a major trade, seeing Chambers in Double Blue would appear unlikely given the team doesn't have a first-round selection.

Chambers, who had 36 catches last season for 562 yards and five TDs, is expected to be off the board when Toronto makes its first pick in the second round, ninth overall.

"I don't have a preference, to be honest, as to where I play," Chambers said. "If I stay in the Greater Toronto Area, it would be nice because my family is here but in no way, shape or form would I say that is my complete preference.

"I'll play anywhere. I don't have any kids or real ties to Toronto so it's no problem for me to play anywhere else. I'll go play anywhere.''

Chambers could be starting his pro career south of the border. There's persistent talk some NFL clubs have Chambers on their radar screen as a potential undrafted free agent. Yet even if he signs in the U.S., Chambers should remain a bona fide future prospect for CFL clubs.

Saskatchewan Huskies offensive lineman Ben Heenan spent most of the year atop the CFL Scouting Bureau rankings before dropping behind Boise State defensive end Tyrone Crawford on he final list. But the six-foot-four, 310-pound Heenan remains the solid choice to go first overall in the Canadian college draft.

That's because the six-foot-four, 275-pound Crawford, a native of Windsor, Ont., is drawing plenty of interest in the U.S. leading up to this week's NFL draft. Crawford registered a team-high 27 tackles for a loss the past two seasons and has visited with both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts and worked out for the Detroit Lions.

And while most CFL teams covet Canadian-born defensive ends who can dominate, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have the first pick of the CFL draft and would be hard pressed to bypass a highly rated local player like Heenan.

Then again, that's assuming Saskatchewan doesn't trade the pick and Heenan doesn't sign an NFL contract before May 3. The native of Grand Coulee, Sask., said Tuesday he has received interest from "a handful" of NFL squads leading up the league's draft, which begins Thursday night and will conclude Saturday.

And like Chambers, Heenan should remain a solid future CFL prospect even if he signs an NFL deal. Heenan was a first team CIS All-Canadian selection in 2010 and took part in this year's East-West Shrine game.

"Up until this time they (NFL teams) are still showing interest so we're just going to kind of see how it all works out this weekend," Heenan said. "Fortunately we'll know well ahead of the CFL draft if or when anything happens with a team down south."

In fact, there's still a scenario that could see Heenan going first overall to another team other than Saskatchewan. The Edmonton Eskimos — who have two first-round picks (second and sixth overall) — reportedly are trying hard to trade up to No. 1 to take Heenan with the Riders moving down to No. 2.

Another top prospect drawing interest is Laval's Frederic Plesius, the draft's top-ranked linebacker. The six-foot-one, 245-pound Plesius began his college career at Baylor before transferring to Laval after redshirting his freshman season in 2008.

The 24-year-old native of Laval, Que., was a first-team CIS all-star in 2010 and finalist for the Presidents' Trophy as Canadian university football's top defensive player. After a solid performance at the CFL evaluation camp, Plesius moved up one spot to fifth overall in the league's final draft ranking.

"It's an honour to be ranked as a top prospect but it really doesn't matter to me,'' he said. "I just want to be with the right team, in the right fit and when I get into the league just do what I can do.''

CFL teams will undoubtedly look to utilize Plesius's speed and tenacity on special teams but also line him up more as a rush end on defence than at linebacker. And that's just fine with him.

"I just want to play in the CFL, be part of a team and contribute and hopefully do well," he said. "God has a perfect plan for me and wherever I end up is where I'm supposed to be.''