Making the switch: Saskatchewan player leaves CIS team to pursue future as quarterback

Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren has played a variety of positions in his time as a football player, even changing positions each of his three years at the University of Saskatchewan. He was a running back in his first season, a quarterback in his second and a receiver in his third; an extremely gifted athlete he has been told that going the route of receiver of safety would be his best bet to make the CFL, but he plans on pursuing his goal of playing in the league as a quarterback.

“Everyone tells me that I’ll go to the league easier if I play receiver or safety,” Knorren stated. “But the easiest way is not what I’m looking for.”

“I’m looking for what makes me happy, and I don’t get the same feeling playing another position on the field.”

After playing a full season at quarterback for Saskatchewan, it was during spring training of his third season that he was notified of the decision that he would be taking reps at the receiver position; eventually those were the only reps he was taking.

“I’m not sure who made the decision; it was probably a consensus decision,” said Knorren. “I remember the words ‘Drew was going to give them the best chance this season at quarterback’.”

“I accepted that and just played my third and final season.”

With his mind set of playing quarterback in the future and in the CFL, Knorren decided that staying in the CIS was not for him as time was not on his side.

“I knew I would have to sit out from the CIS for a year with the transfer rules so it just made sense to go the junior route,” he said. “I haven’t played quarterback in over a year so sitting out another year to wait for that did not seem like the best choice.”

Next for the aspiring quarterback is a series of camps in June with Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) teams such as Edmonton Wildcats, the Langley Rams and Vancouver Island Raiders among others.

“Hopefully it shows that I go after what I want and that I’m not scared,” Knorren said of the coming camps.

As for his coming season in the junior league, Knorren is excited for the chance to play the position he has grown to love, and is focused on using the opportunity to become the best quarterback he can be.

“Next season I want to make strides on becoming a better leader, a better quarterback and also a better student of the game,” he said. ”In the next few years I hope to get drafted or signed and be playing on a CFL team.”