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A finance major while at the University of Guelph, Jacob Scarfone had started studying for a Canadian securities course.

It had been more than two months since the receiver had been released by the Ottawa Redblacks. Maybe it was time to move on – he was “a day or two” away from applying for full-time jobs.

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But last Thursday, he got a call from Redblacks player personnel assistant Pier-Yves Lavergne – first to ask if he was still in shape, second shortly after to offer him a spot on Ottawa’s practice roster.

“Two months is a long time to be waiting around for a call so it was kind of out of the blue,” said Scarfone. “There are only seven weeks in the (regular) season so it was getting to that point (where I was ready to move on). I had planned to wait out the season, but I kept staying in shape – I remained committed. I wasn’t looking past this season, then I was going to figure it out from there.”

Scarfone, 24, was selected by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the sixth round of the 2017 CFL Draft. He played his college football for the Guelph Gryphons. In 2015, he set a U of G single-season record with 940 receiving yards – catching 77 passes and scoring 10 touchdowns.

The Redblacks added Scarfone in early July, but released him a week later. Now – with Canadian receiver Austen Hartley released on the weekend – Scarfone has another opportunity.

“Every day I’m here is a chance for me to show I can play in this league and give them a reason to keep me around,” he said.