If you’re wondering if your dreams are big enough, you should probably read a little more about Jordan Avissey and reconsider your path.
It’s been an exciting week for the Thetford product, who recently announced his commitment to Buffalo. It’s pretty common to see Canadian talent sign with the Bulls, but you’re entering very rare territory when that prospect hails from France.
NCAA EARLY SIGNING DAY TRACKER
Avissey grew up in Paris where he took up the American type of football later in life, which eventually led him across the Atlantic Ocean to Thetford Mines. It’s a small community with a population of about 25,000, but it was the perfect place for the young defensive linemen to hone his skills without dealing with a language barrier,
“I was a starter day one, and in the program they are used to French students so I was feeling at home. I had a lot of fun in Thetford, not the biggest city, but people care about each other there.”
That care already led to CFC60 Matthew Bergeron signing with Syracuse, and Avissey only added to the festivities in Thetford with his commitment to Buffalo. He says he’s only the third France national to ever sign with an FBS program, and had plenty of different option with Colorado, Idaho and Temple also offering a home.
In the end, the Bulls’ trio of CFC100s Julien Bourassa, Dev Lamour and Tomas Jack-Kurdyla made him feel comfortable on campus,
“I chose Buffalo after my official visit, I felt good with the coaching staff and the players – including three guys from Quebec. It was the better fit for me, I was feeling good speaking French with other players.”
With CFL 2.0 in full swing trying to reach out to the international community, Avissey is just more evidence of Canadian football developing top end talent – no matter where coaches get their hands on them. He says his phone has been blowing with messages from back home, and has even received some love from one of his idols on the U Sports circuit,
“Everybody is very proud of me, they prayed for me and it happened.” He explains.
MIND OF MCCABE: INFLUX OF INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS
“I received a lot of messages from all across France, Europe and Quebec. Even from Mathieu Betts, who was my model when I was in CEGEP, and former French NFL players. I couldn’t have done it without Brandon Collier and his network PPI who helps young international kids getting recruited. I want to shock the world and make it to the NFL, I want to beat the odds and make history.”
Buffalo are members of the Mid-American Conference, and had one of their best seasons in recent memory finishing 10-4 with an appearance in the conference finals. They also have offers on the board for CFC100s Theo Johnson and Christian Veilleux, plus they house CFC100s Dominic Johnson, Cole Burniston and Gabe Wallace, who hail from Ontario and British Columbia.
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