MONTREAL – Just like Anthony Coady, his former teammate with the Carabins, wide receiver Mikhaïl Davidson remembers being disappointed when he learned that he would have to take part in the regional camp in order to qualify for the national evaluation camp for the Canadian Football League (CFL) in spring of 2015.

But his fellow players reminded him that several athletes in the past, who participated in only one regional camp, had still managed to continue their career in the CFL.

Reassured, Davidson then participated in Montreal’s regional evaluation camp on March 25th last year, and left such a good impression that he won an invitation to the national three-day event, in Toronto the following weekend.

“It was an advantage and a disadvantage (to participate to two evaluation camps in the same week),” said Davidson. “The first one was a good workout for the second. Unlike others, I came out confident at the national camp, because I had already been through the regional camp. However, participating in both, in the same week, was very exhausting. At the end of the week, I was drained.”

Unsatisfied with his results of the main tests of the evaluation camp, the wide receiver of the Université de Montréal consoled himself by thinking back to what he had accomplished during his exercises proper to his position during the one on one plays.

“I was very surprised to be chosen so soon. In fact, I would say that I didn’t even have time to be nervous.”

Nevertheless, he was convinced he had managed to impress the general managers, coaches and recruiters of the CFL, to be drafted by one of the nine teams of the circuit.

Some teams, including the Alouettes, had also expressed interest in him.

“Four or five teams had called me the day before the draft to obtain some small details regarding my health,” said Davidson. “However, the Alouettes had left me to imply that when the time would come, if I was still available, they would draft me. So I suspected that if no other club did give me a chance, the Alouettes would offer me one. ”

Surrounded by his teammates and his family at the CEPSUM of the Université de Montréal, Davidson did receive a call from the Montrealers during the 2015 CFL draft, although the element of surprise was still kept secret from the former Collège André-Grasset student.

“I expected to be drafted much later,” admitted the one who was selected in the fifth round (40th overall) at the draft last year. “I was very surprised to be chosen so soon. In fact, I would say that I didn’t even have time to be nervous.”

The first steps of Davidson in the CFL were not easy. Besides getting used to the speed of the game, he also had to deal with the speed and strength of the throws from his new Alouettes teammates.

“During the first two weeks of training camp, I dropped several passes. Yet with the Carabins, our quarterbacks would throw hard, but never that strong,” said the one who used to catch quarterback Gabriel Cousineau’s passes in his fourth year with the Carabins.

Stepping his game up a notch, Davidson showed great things to the coaches in June 2015, and they had no choice but to make a place for him in the 46-man roster.

Davidson finally played five games in his first season in the CFL, acting mainly as a substitute for kick returner Stefan Logan. In the end, he caught three passes and carried the ball twice, during plays occurring mainly during the last duel of the Alouettes in the regular season last year.

Despite statistics far less eloquent than during his stay at the Université de Montréal, the wide receiver of five feet eight inches and 175 pounds, was pleased with his year as a rookie.

“I’m still satisfied,” said Davidson. “I was up for it in the last game of the season even when we knew we were not going to the playoffs. Coaches wanted to see what I could do, and they wanted me to have videos to study during winter. And it really helped me prepare myself during the offseason.”

“Obviously I hope to jump on the field more often than last year.”

Realizing that his speed was not going to let him win all his battles on the field among professionals, the young 24 year-old man sought to improve his vision of the game, his ability to read coverages and his technique during the offseason.

Nevertheless, despite his efforts and even if his coaches advised him to prepare as if he would be starting in 2016, Davidson knows it will be difficult for him to see more action in his second year in the Montrealers’ uniform.

“Obviously I hope to jump on the field more often than last year ,” said the one who will be part of a group of receivers which will include SJ Green, Duron Carter, Kenny Stafford, Nik Lewis and Samuel Giguère, to name a few.

But the main interested is far from discouraged: he even sees the presence of many veterans as an opportunity.

“Our group of receivers this year will be particularly good. I want to try to learn as much as possible from all of them,” said Davidson. “I want to be there when I am needed, and to successfully execute plays when I will be asked to perform. I’ll give it my best. That’s what I tried this winter, and that’s what I always try to do. ”