Seahawks Willson, Ryan provide Canadian and CIS connection to Super Bowl

Fans of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football watching today's Super Bowl may see a couple of familiar last names on the Seattle Seahawks sidelines.

Seahawks tight end Luke Willson and punter Jon Ryan are both Canadian-born and have connections to Canadian collegiate football. Ryan played in the CIS for the Regina Rams while Willson's two older twin brothers Greg and Eric played CIS ball in Southwestern Ontario.

Eric was a running back for the Western Mustangs before transferring home to play for the Windsor Lancers to complete his CIS career, while Greg was the centre for the Mustangs and an anchor for one of the nation's top offences in 2011.

Luke, a former Canadian national junior baseball player and graduate from Rice, has been a major contributor for the Seahawks in 2013. He was drafted by the CFL's Toronto Argonauts in 2012. The three brothers go their start at Windsor's Villanova High School. Their father Mike played collegiate football for the Lancers.

Ryan becomes the fourth CIS graduate to compete for the Super Bowl, being played today at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., after playing for the Rams from 2000 to 2003.

He joins Israel Idonije (Manitoba Bisons), Jean-Philippe Darche (McGill Redmen) and Ken Clark (Saint Mary’s Huskies) as former CIS players to compete on football’s biggest honour.

For those keeping score at home, no CIS graduate has been on the active roster to win the Super Bowl so Ryan could make history today.

Idonije, a defensive end who is now a member of the Detroit Lions, played for Chicago when the Bears lost 29-17 to Indianapolis in 2007. Darche was Seattle’s long snapper when the Seahawks dropped a 21-10 decision to Pittsburgh in 2006. Clark was the Los Angeles Rams punter when they were defeated 31-19 by Pittsburgh in 1980.

Three other CIS standouts have reached the Super Bowl over the years but were not in the lineup come game time. The list includes offensive lineman Dan Federkeil (Calgary Dinos) with Indianapolis in 2007 (active roster) and 2010 (injured reserve), receiver Samuel Giguère (Sherbrooke Vert & Or), also with the Colts in 2010 (active roster), as well as receiver Tyrone Williams (Western Mustangs) with Dallas in 1993 (practice roster) and 1994 (active roster).

Federkeil (2007) and Williams (1994) are the only former CIS stars to own a Super Bowl ring.

A two-time CIS All-Canadian and three-time Canada West all-star, Ryan was selected by Winnipeg in the third round (24th overall) of the 2004 CFL draft and played two seasons with the Blue Bombers – including an all-star nod in 2005 - before starting his NFL career with Green Bay in 2006. Following two campaigns with the Packers, he signed with Seattle as a free agent on Sept. 9, 2008 and is now in his sixth year with the Seahawks.

The 32-year-old native of Regina has a career average of 44.8 yards per punt in 127 NFL regular season games. He averaged 45.5 yards on two punts in Seattle’s NFC championship win over San Francisco on Jan. 19.

CIS PLAYERS IN SUPER BOWL
2014: Jon Ryan (Regina), Seattle, active roster
2010: Dan Federkeil (Calgary), Indianapolis, injured reserve (did not dress)
2010: Samuel Giguère (Sherbrooke), Indianapolis, active roster (did not dress)
2007: Dan Federkeil (Calgary), Indianapolis, active roster (did not dress)
2007: Israel Idonije (Manitoba), Chicago, active roster (dressed)
2006: Jean-Philippe Darche (McGill), Seattle, active roster (dressed)
1994: Tyrone Williams (Western), Dallas, active roster (did not dress)
1993: Tyrone Williams (Western), Dallas, practice roster (did not dress)
1980: Ken Clark (Saint Mary’s), LA Rams, active roster (dressed)

CIS PLAYERS CURRENTLY IN NFL
Stefan Charles (Regina): Buffalo defensive tackle
Cory Greenwood (Concordia): Detroit linebacker (spent 2013 season on injured reserve)
Akiem Hicks (Regina): New Orleans defensive end
Israel Idonije (Manitoba): Detroit defensive end
Vaughn Martin (Western): Free agent (released by Miami on Nov. 8 – injury settlement)
Jon Ryan (Regina): Seattle punter