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Laval Rouge et Or quarterback Hugo Richard is also in camp this year, but he’s an underclassman.

Having gone through a CFL training camp once already was beneficial, Wendel but the Redblacks have changed offensive systems after dismissing Mike Gibson following the 2014 season and replacing him with Jason Maas.

There are always some similarities from offence to offence, Wendel said, “but the terminology and everything else is much different.

“It’s a little bit different adjusting because (he and Richard) were just thrown into the fire in the meetings yesterday. I’m copying down every play as quick as I can.”

Veterans Henry Burris, Thomas DeMarco and Danny O’Brien and CFL newcomer Brock Jensen have all had access to Redblacks playbooks for months, but Wendel said he wasn’t been fazed by his situation. He’s accustomed to adapting to new offensive schemes after playing for three different head coaches and an interim head coach during his first three of five possible seasons as a Gee-Gee.

He’ll be officially released about the time the Redblacks commence CFL preseason play, allowing him to rejoin an off-season work-study program for U of O football team members.

“My coach (Jamie Barresi) just waived that and said, ‘Hey, if you’re going to get better through this, I’d rather have you there than here helping out for a couple of weeks,’ ” Wendel said.

Ravens quarterback Jesse Mills was also invited to participate in Redblacks rookie and main training camp for the second year in a row, but he had to withdraw because of summer work commitments, Redblacks general manager Marcel Desjardins said.

gholder@ottawacitizen.com

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