University of Sherbrooke receiver Samuel Gigučre said all he wanted was a shot at the NFL. Now, he's got it.
Gigučre, who ranked second in Canadian college football with 45 receptions for 871 yards in his final season at Sherbrooke, signed a free-agent contract Sunday night with the Indianapolis Colts.
"I'm feeling incredible," Gigučre said. "I'm so happy, just to get a shot in the NFL is amazing. It being with the team that has [quarterback] Peyton Manning is bonus. It couldn't be better."
Gigučre, who played in the East-West Shrine Bowl all-star game in January, is considered a raw prospect with excellent physical skills. He was timed at 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the recent CFL evaluation camp, and with a 42-inch vertical leap.
Arkansas running back Darren McFadden went to the Raiders with the No. 4 pick on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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"I've got to make the most of every opportunity they throw at me to show what I can do," he said. "Whether it's on special teams or the offensive side of the ball."
Gigučre's challenge, beginning this weekend at Indy's three-day rookie mini-camp, will be to learn and improve as a receiver in order to stick with a team that has never been short of good ones.
"He's got some things to learn, but you can't teach speed and that's good enough to start with," Indianapolis scout Cal Murphy said. "He's not a polished receiver by any means. He knows it and that's not a secret. But with his quickness and speed and strength I think he's got a really good chance. He's very intelligent as well."
Though many Canadian Interuniversity Sport players who sign NFL contracts never stick, the Colts already have a Canadian product on their roster — former Calgary Dinos lineman Dan Federkeil.
Gigučre's signing with the Colts might affect his standing in Wednesday's CFL college draft. CFL teams are often shy about spending a pick on a player they think might have a future in the NFL.
At least two other Canadian college players had an NFL deal by last night.
Edmonton native Keith Shologan, a defensive lineman with the University of Central Florida, signed a deal with the San Diego Chargers. "I've got to come in, make some plays, play my heart out like I've been doing for four years," Shologan said.
Also agreeing to a free-agent contract was North Dakota cornerback Donovan Alexander of Winnipeg, who came to terms with the Seattle Seahawks.
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