By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature image by: gobisons.ca
It’s safe to say defensive end Derek Dufault is the complete package.
Along with being a top-level CFL prospect entering the 2018 season, he’s also an ace in the classroom, earning Academic All-Canadian status (minimum 3.5 GPA) every year since enrolling at the U of M in 2015.
“I’m always doing something, I’m never just loafing on my couch,” the computer science major says. “I’m either in class, at the weight room or I’m at home sitting at my little desk doing my assignments or getting ready for tests. I always try to organize my time fairly effectively.”
While Dufault’s work ethic on his own time is admirable, his work ethic on the field has been visible from early on.
In 2012, he was named an all-star at the U16 Red River Cup. The following summer, he was named a defensive captain for Team Manitoba at the U18 Canada Cup. That same fall as a junior, he led the Winnipeg High School Football League’s John Potter Division (AAA now called Division 1) in sacks, with 10.
His performance on the field attracted the attention of many U SPORTS schools, with upwards of 10 interested in his services before he even began his senior year. But on September 1st, at the age of 16, he made his intentions clear, verbally committing to his hometown school while becoming the youngest recruit in Bison football history.
“I just asked myself, do I really see myself wanting to take this whole university career, and going and trying to get a degree and be a university athlete, and making it harder on myself by going anywhere else besides home. So that was definitely a big part in making that quick decision,” he says.
“Also, the U of M was exactly what I wanted, with the facility and the coaches. All the stars just lined up, so that’s why I decided to commit so early.”
Entering his senior year, Dufault had plenty to be excited about. But a broken arm suffered at the 2014 Canada Cup threatened to put a damper on his final season of WHSFL action.
“In that time, I was working so hard trying to get my arm back into the shape it was before, despite only having one functional arm, and doing all the right things to be ready for my final year,” he says.
The product of Dakota Collegiate not only recovered, he came back better than ever. On September 20th of that year, he tied the single game sack record, registering six against the powerhouse St. Paul’s Crusaders. At the end of the season he was also rewarded as the Potter Division’s Defensive Player of the Year.
U SPORTS career
That fall, Dufault continued to up his stock, playing in all eight regular season games as a rookie, while adding 9.5 tackles. He’s been a mainstay at defensive end ever since, registering 51 tackles and 4.5 sacks over the next two years.
“It definitely didn’t come easily,” a humble Dufault says of his quick rise in the U SPORTS ranks.
“I remember my first spring camp, I had [current Cleveland Brown] Geoff Gray at one tackle and [2016 CFL draft pick] Alex McKay on the other. So two really good, huge offensive linemen at the time. It was an eye-opening weekend going against that kind of strength and speed. That’s also what made me go like, okay I have four months until main camp starts, I better do everything I possibly can to get to the level that these people are on right now.”
A captain for the first time last season, Dufault describes his play on the field as “level-headed.”
“I’m not going to get all riled up and crazy to the point where I’m out of my mind and can’t understand what I’m doing on the field,” he says.
“I just think about things objectively, which spills onto the field. No matter what play happens and if I mess up or do good, or if my teammates mess up or do good, I’m either going to try and help correct myself, or help correct my fellow teammates and just continue on with the game.”
Dufault continued his upward trajectory in the spring, registering 1.5 sacks during the Valero East West Bowl – the showcase game for the top U SPORTS prospects eligible for that year’s CFL draft.
“Everything was well organized, so I think it all flowed really well,” he says of his performance.
“The competition obviously is the best in Canada, so it was definitely interesting. Usually when I’m playing a game or at practice, there’s usually one or two really good players on the field at all times, but at East West, every single person is that good. It was cool to see that, because I basically had to go one hundred percent, mistake free and just do my best every single play. So it was definitely an interesting experience.”
Dufault and the Bisons enter 2018 with plenty of optimism, especially on the defensive line where, on paper, they may have the best unit in the country.
Included are returning Bisons Brock Gowanlock and Cole Adamson, along with impact transfers Kent Hicks (Westshore and former Bison), Jeremie Drouin (Westshore and Bishop’s University), Shaun Robinson (Westshore, Okanagan and Mount Allison University), Chris Larsen (Westshore and Guelph University) and Samson Abbott (Winnipeg and University of Alberta).
“It’s good,” Dufault says of the loaded front four.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. I was talking to [head] coach [Brian] Dobie about that a little while ago, and he said that exact same thing, that we really do have two starting lineups right now. It’s going to be a really tough competition in main camp. Everyone’s going to be pushing each other and feeding off of each other in order to do as well as we possibly can.”