By Jonathan Tremblay and Patrick Boyle
Sometimes in life, we’re given certain gifts. Certain people have a gift for numbers and others have the height and agility to play basketball. Riders Offensive Lineman Corey Watman was given some gifts he didn’t plan for.
Watman did not always see himself in the professional sports world. You might say Corey had a passion for outdoor activities and a gift for sports. Growing up on the hundred-acre family homestead an hour north of Toronto, he spent his youth on snowmobiles and dirt bikes. He played football as a hobby and actually raced dirt bikes competitively. As it turns out, he switched those two around, and would have a real professional talent with the pigskin.
Corey is the youngest of three brothers; his family was in the auto lube business and did very well for themselves. They had no plans for one of theirs to achieve such a high profile. Corey only started competitive football in grade 11 and certainly did not see a stable future career in pro sports. That being said, he saw sports as a way to access a top-quality university education, something he accomplished at the University of Eastern Michigan.
Corey pursued a degree in finance, something that may come in useful later on, he says: “for now, I just want to play, to have fun and to win.” Playing guard and centre for four years with the university’s Eagles, Corey impressed many with his shear power and determination on the field. It’s no wonder that when his name hit the draft board, it went quickly.
The Riders snatched up Corey Watman with their first pick in the 2013 CFL draft, making the young offensive lineman the fourth overall pick. It was his first time in the Land of the Living Skies and he had no idea what to expect. However as with many other Rider imports, we won Corey over: “I had no idea Rider Nation was this intense. Even in the rain and the cold, people come out to watch us practise.”
His rookie year has been an exciting one at that, with the Riders racking up the wins and playing some of the closest and most exciting games in recent memory. Despite being far away in Eastern Canada, his parents are still his greatest supporters and have been right there with him this season, flying out to see many games. Corey continues to grow as a young player as we reach the post-season.
See the Riders take on the Edmonton Eskimos right here in Mosaic Stadium this Saturday, November 2.
