Gamecocks are well-represented in CFL

Professional football fans in the United States – at least those who prefer the game played outdoors instead of indoors – got their fix last Thursday. The Canadian Football League kicked off its 2015 regular season that night, marking the first live action of a major league since the Super Bowl was played in February.

On this year’s ESPN telecasts newcomers to the game get mini-seminars on the differences between the NFL and CFL. In-game commercials explain to viewers that the Canadian version of football features longer and wider fields, 12 players to a side, three downs to make a first down and a team’s ability to score single point on a punt, kickoff or missed field goal.

Of course fans in the Lower 48 most likely watch the CFL to find out who they might recognize on the field and not because of the league’s unique rules.

And when it comes to the three Football Bowl Subdivision schools in the Independent Mail coverage area, South Carolina fans have more favorite sons to follow.

Based on each of the eight franchise’s opening weekend rosters, seven former Gamecocks are employed by CFL teams while three former Bulldogs play north of the border.

As of now, not a single Clemson player is listed on an active or inactive CFL roster.

The Toronto Argonauts feature the most “local” players – three from USC and one from Georgia. In Toronto’s 26-11 victory over Edmonton, former Gamecock wideout Tori Gurley had three catches for 32 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown reception.

He put up big numbers during the preseason and is being touted as a possible breakout performer.

Brandon Isaac, who played linebacker at South Carolina, finished the game with two tackles.

Defensive end Eric Norwood is the most decorated of the league’s Gamecock fraternity.

During his collegiate career, he set school career records in tackles for loss (54.5) and quarterback sacks (29).

In two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Norwood has 93 tackles and 17 sacks, and his 13 sacks in 2014 tied for second most in the CFL.

However, Norwood was placed on the six-game injured list earlier this month when he suffered from what the team is calling “a household accident.”

And while playing in the NFL is the ultimate goal of most United States-born players, getting into the CFL is not as easy as showing up to training camp and making the team on merit.

Each of the eight CFL teams can have a maximum of only 42 active players, including three quarterbacks. Of the 39 other players, only 19 may be “imports” while the other 20 must be “Nationals.”

Nationals are defined in the CFL bylaws as a person who was a Canadian citizen when he signed his first contract or lived in Canada for five years before turning 18.

In addition, CFL clubs can have no more than 16 International starters (one can be the quarterback) and must have a minimum of seven Nationals spread among the offensive and defensive teams.