CIS football: Foucault to become eighth CIS grad to reach Super Bowl

OTTAWA (CIS) – Offensive tackle David Foucault will become the eighth CIS graduate to reach the Super Bowl when his Carolina Panthers face the Denver Broncos on Sunday in the National Football League championship game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Foucault, who starred for the University of Montreal Carabins from 2010 to 2013, has spent most of the current NFL season on the Panthers practice roster but will travel with the team to Super Bowl 50. He dressed for one game in 2015, on Oct. 4, but did not see the field in a 37-23 Week 4 win at Tampa Bay.

Selected fifth overall in the 2014 CFL draft by the Montreal Alouettes, the 6-foot-8, 320-pound lineman from LaSalle, Que., signed as a free agent with the Panthers a few days later and went on to become the first UofM player to make an NFL roster. In his rookie campaign, he played in five of 16 regular season contests, including one start on Oct. 30 against New Orleans.

The list of CIS grads who reached the Super Bowl before Foucault includes University of Regina punter Jon Ryan with Seattle in 2014 and 2015; Calgary offensive lineman Dan Federkeil with Indianapolis in 2007 and 2010; Sherbrooke receiver Samuel Giguère with Indianapolis in 2010; Manitoba defensive end Israel Idonije with Chicago in 2007; McGill long snapper Jean-Philippe Darche with Seattle in 2006; Western receiver Tyrone Williams with Dallas in 1993 and 1994; as well as Saint Mary's punter Ken Clark with the Los Angeles Rams in 1980.

Of the group, four were on the game-day roster for the NFL title game (Ryan, Idonije, Darche, Clark), while three earned championship rings (Ryan in 2014, Federkeil in 2007, Williams in 1994).

Ryan is the only CIS grad to win the Super Bowl as a participating player.

CIS PLAYERS IN SUPER BOWL

2016: David Foucault (Montreal), Carolina, OT, practice roster
2015: Jon Ryan (Regina), Seattle, P, active roster (dressed)
2014: Jon Ryan (Regina), Seattle, P, active roster (dressed)
2010: Dan Federkeil (Calgary), Indianapolis, OL, injured reserve (did not dress)
2010: Samuel Giguère (Sherbrooke), Indianapolis, REC, active roster (did not dress)
2007: Dan Federkeil (Calgary), Indianapolis, OL, active roster (did not dress)
2007: Israel Idonije (Manitoba), Chicago, DE, active roster (dressed)
2006: Jean-Philippe Darche (McGill), Seattle, LS, active roster (dressed)
1994: Tyrone Williams (Western), Dallas, REC, active roster (did not dress)
1993: Tyrone Williams (Western), Dallas, REC, practice roster (did not dress)
1980: Ken Clark (Saint Mary's), LA Rams, P, active roster (dressed)

CIS PLAYERS WITH SUPER BOWL RINGS

2014: Jon Ryan (Regina), Seattle, P (played)
2007: Dan Federkeil (Calgary), Indianapolis, OL (active roster - did not play)
1994: Tyrone Williams (Western), Dallas, REC (active roster - did not play)