CALGARY – Osasere Odemwingie was mentored earlier this summer when he was at Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp. Now he is doing the mentoring to a trio of pure freshman linebackers with the 2026 Dinos football team.

Selected in the 4th round (38th overall) in last year's Canadian Football League Draft, Odemwingie spent five weeks with the Riders before returning to UCalgary to complete his degree in Communications.

"I was mentored by the late Jayden Dalke, Junior Thurman, and Nick Wiebe. They gave insights as things to be done before games, what to look for in film and to take no plays off," stated the soon-to-be 22-year-old Odemwingie.

"Five years has gone so quick," stated Odemwingie, who recalls former Dino starters on the 2019 Vanier Cup Championship team Josh Hyer and Jacob Biggs mentoring him as a 17-year-old freshman. "Jacob showed me the mental preparation you need every day once you enter the door and Josh communicated how to go about things on and off the field," he stated.

Three pure freshman 18-year-old linebackers are benefiting from the knowledge given to them by senior leaders Odemwingie and Everett Schmuland.

Linebackers Cole MacInnis, Charles Beach and Colton Jackson-McConnell were recruited by numerous U SPORTS schools but elected to remain in Calgary after outstanding youth and high school careers. Beach and MacInnis have dressed and played in the first three conference games, while Jackson-McConnell played in the first two games before missing the Manitoba game due to injury.

"The speed and tenacity at the U SPORTS level is very different," stated Jackson-McConnell, who joined the program from Bert Church High School in Airdrie, AB, just outside Calgary.

"Osasare and Everett have been positive mentors encouraging me to not give up and keep going hard," stated Colton, who played his youth football for the Airdrie Storm.

Beach, who attended St. Francis High School, agrees with Jackson-McConnell's assessment of U SPORTS football.

"The speed is faster and players as a group have more of an edge," said the six-foot-two Beach, who appreciates the leadership qualities of the senior linebackers. "They have leadership qualities of hard work and helped me digest offences faster," stated Beach, who participated in the Montana Shrine East-West game in June 2026 and, like MacInnis, is a product of the Calgary Cowboys minor football system.

The six-foot-one MacInnis is also appreciative of what he has learned from veteran players.

"They (Everett and Osasare) showed me how to learn the defense and how to play with patience," stated MacInnis, who attended Ernest Manning High School. "Everyone here (Canada West) is super strong, technically sound, and understands the game," said the first-year Haskayne School of Business student, who also participated in this year's Montana Shrine game.

Defensive Coordinator Ben D'Andrea is impressed with the trio thus far.

"We (coaching staff) knew Charles, Cole and Colton were great players coming out of high school, but it is tough to make the jump to U SPORTS football right away. They are progressing in their development quickly and it is fun to watch," states D'Andrea.

Charles Beach, Colton Jackson-McConnell, and Cole MacInnis have accepted the challenge to compete in Canada West. They are excelling as pure freshmen in a tough U SPORTS conference while learning from key veteran leaders.

-UC-