NFL's New York Giants have unique pipeline into CIS football

Following the NFL draft, there's always a steady trickle of news about undrafted players signing free-agent deals or agreeing to attend mini-camps with the aim of signing a contract. It's a long road, of course, from here to winning a job in the NFL, but fans attuned to their Twitter feeds might have noticed a pattern with the players the New York Giants see as having untapped potential.

The Giants assistant general manager, Kevin Abrams, is a Western Mustangs alumnus, so it would make sense that the storied franchise would be eager to among the growing number of NFL teams who are recognizing that there is burgeoning football talent north of the border. All told, the Giants, who already signed Calgary Stampeders star offensive lineman Brett Jones, are also looking at seven Canadians at their mini-camp, including five from Canadian Interuniversity Sport schools.

That includes Montreal Carabins linebacker Byron Archambault, who was the fulcrum of a Vanier Cup-winning defence last fall before setting a record of 41 bench presses at the CFL combine. The Carabins already have one alumnus in the NFL; David Foucault started on the Carolina Panthers' offensive line last season.

The Giants are also inviting Regina Rams cornerback Tevaughn Campbell, Western defensive lineman Darryl Waud (whom many say has NFL potential on each side of the ball) and Calgary O-linemen Sukh Chungh and Sean McEwen.

The Canadian connection also includes London, Ont., O-lineman Jacob Ruby, who played for the Richmond Spiders in the Football Championship Subdivision, and Simon Fraser University wide receiver Lemar Durant, who first played collegiately at Nevada during the Colin Kaepernick era before transferring to Canada's only NCAA program. Time will tell how it works out for each player. It wouldn't come as a shock if Archambault, who might have played in a BCS conference if not for some clerical issues with his academic records, sticks around the big league for a time.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.