Article content continued

The Redblacks had placed Decloux on their negotiation list after he was passed over in all eight rounds of the CFL college draft in May.

That was disappointing, but understandable, he said, given uncertainty associated with a long-term groin injury that spoiled his 2015 college season with the Maine Black Bears. Decloux eventually tried platelet-rich plasma therapy — small amounts of blood withdrawn from another part of the body and spun in a centrifuge to separate the plasma that was injected into the problem area in a bid to promote healing of tissue — as part of his treatment.

The Redblacks stayed in touch throughout the summer and fall, but Decloux couldn’t kick field goals reliably until late in the 2016 season. Even now he has limitations, but there’s a healthy amount of time left before spring mini-camp in April and training camp in late May.

“A lot of things have to go my way before I dress and play as a Redblack,” Decloux said. “The No. 1 thing right now is rehabbing this groin and getting it back to 100%. Once that happens, the next step is going to be kicking at 100%. I have kicked and the ball is coming off my foot pretty well, but I’m not at the point right now where I can kick every single day of a week.

“So, if camp were to start tomorrow, I wouldn’t be 100% ready for it, but, given the time period that I’m fortunate enough to have, I’m confident that I’m going to be healthy by then, I’m confident that I’m going to be able to compete for a spot and I’m confident that the ball will be coming off my foot like it was in my second and third years and the first half of my fourth year of university. I’m going to be able to kick and punt at the CFL level.”