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Impressing At Lions Camp

By Ryan Watters (@ryan2tswatters), 06/07/16, 9:30AM PDT

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Promising comments from the Lions Coaching Staff

Michele Vecchio, Matt McConnell and Layne Hull are back after attending the BC Lions Rookie Camp two weeks ago.

For McConnell and Hull it was the first CFL Rookie Camp of their football careers.  While Vecchio attended his second straight Lions camp.  All three players were invited after showing tremendous skill at the Lions Evaluation Camp back in April, coming off their 2015 season which saw them excel.

The threesome all received praise from the Lions coaching staff before being sent back to the junior ranks.

Hull was praised by Wally Buono himself, telling the Willowbrook Saskatchewan native that he really liked him on Special Teams.  The Lions linebacker coach Chris Tormey telling Hull that he liked what he bought to the table and that he improved every day.  “It’s pretty exciting to hear that from a CFL coach,” said Hull.

He now returns to the Sun knowing what the Lions want him to focus on.

“I felt more relaxed knowing what to expect this year,” says offensive lineman Vecchio.  “It’s still a whole new world up there,” he continued.

This was Vecchio’s second trip to Lions Rookie Camp, after an impressive showing last year.  That said he was struck with the injury bug heading into Lions Main Camp which didn’t allow him to carry on.  Fast forward to this year and the Kelowna native was as strong as ever.  He again impressed the coaches and has been sent back to the Sun with this advice.  “They said it doesn’t matter where you are from; the NFL, CFL or CIS, you have to work for a spot and you’re going to want to compete and take someone’s job from them.”

Like Hull and Vecchio, McConnell was sent back to the Sun for his final year of junior eligibility. He returns with a wealth of knowledge of the next level and how to achieve his goal of playing professional football.

These three current Sun players weren’t the only familiar faces in Kamloops.  Lions draft pick Brennan Van Nistelroooy was also competing for a spot.  He suffered a lower body injury early on, but has since come back strong and by all accounts is fitting in.  He attended the Lions “Fan Fest” this past weekend, finally getting cheered at Hillside Stadium, after giving the Kamloops Broncos offence nightmares.  He is hopeful he’ll get the nod this Saturday when the Lions play an exhibition game in Saskatchewan against the Riders.  Oddly enough, it’s the same Province in which Van Nistelrooy ended his junior career.

As Van Nistelrooy competes for a roster spot at Lions Main Camp, the other three players are preparing for the Sun Main Camp which kicks off on July 9th at the Apple Bowl.  The 2016 season opens July 23rd in Chilliwack against the Huskers.