The Bengals have signed former University of Calgary wide receiver Rashaun Simonise after no players were selected in this year's Supplemental Draft, for which Simonise was eligible.
Simonise is attempting to make the rare jump from Canadian college football to the NFL and the Bengals will give him that shot.
According to multiple media reports, Simonise is signing with the Bengals after not being selected in the supplemental draft.
WR Rashaun Simonise to the #Bengals, I am told. #Vikings showed no interest. Didn't make to Pro Day after some early interest.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) July 14, 2016
Thanks Coach Lewis and the staff at the Bengals for making Rashaun Simonise a part of the family! #letsroar #blessed pic.twitter.com/tA2wJlp130
— Brian Brundage (@WCMConnect) July 14, 2016
Simonise opted to enter the supplemental draft this year after academic issues caused him to be ineligible to play college football this season, per the Calgary Sun. That came after Simonise racked up 1,079 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in eight games during his junior season.
While Canadian football leagues tend to be more offensive-driven than today's NFL, those are still good numbers for a Canadian college wideout, not to mention the fact he looks like someone with NFL ability via his highlights.
(Editor's note: Please note the music used in these videos -- which were not created by our team -- contains harsh and uncensored language. Please watch and listen at your own risk.)
Last week, Simonise did an interview with Alex Peterman of Locker Room Update, where it was revealed that the Bengals had been in contact with Simonise's agent. While the Bengals reportedly were planning to attend his Pro Day, no NFL team ended up there, but that won't keep him from getting his NFL shot.
"I'm a student of the game. I feel like I'm a good player, but there's a lot that I can learn as well," said Simonise. "I don't know everything. A lot of people, when they feel like they're good, they just leave it at that and they're content with that.
Must Reads
"For me, I'm never content. I'm always trying to get better, tweak my game, change different things about what I'm doing to make things easier on the football field."
A 6'5" and 190 pounds, Simonise reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds, while posting a 35-inch vertical, a 10-foot broad jump and eight reps in the 225-pound bench press.
As it stands, Simonise now joins what was already one of the more intriguing roster battles of this year at wide receiver. It already won't be a surprise to see an undrafted free agent like Jake Kumerow, Alex Erickson, Alonzo Russell or Michael Bennett make the 53-man roster, so Simonise may have a shot at doing the same.
If nothing else, Simonise would be a good candidate for the practice squad to sit and develop for a year or two. While you can only take so much from a highlight reel, it is evident there is potential with Simonise, so hopefully the Bengals find a way to harness it.
Prior to signing Simonise the Bengals had 89 men on the roster, so no one needed to be cut for this move to happen and now the Bengals have a full 90-man roster for training camp, which opens on Friday, July 29th.