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Although, there were also a number of players with previous CFL or NFL experience dotted among the large field of rookies taking part in drills amid the 25 C temperature.

While the Eskimos offered mini-camp rosters to media including the names and positions of the signed and unsigned American free agents, and presumably players on the Eskimos negotiation list, those aren’t going to be made public until closer to the opening of training camp on May 29.

But for now, Mass has liked what he’s seen, aside from maybe a handful of mini-campers who were beginning to succumb to dehydration in the humidity.

“I did,” he said. “It’s all about competition here, that’s the bottom line. That’s what we’ve wanted to see today.

“They’re not going to know everything, but you want them to be able to compete at a high level. Make it through and work extremely hard and I think they’ve accomplished all those things.”

For Maas and his coaching staff, it was the first opportunity to get out of the classroom or from behind the desk and get some physical work done with the players.

“Football is what we love to do,” he said. “It’s an on-the-field sport as much as it is in the classroom, but we’ve had a lot of classroom time for the last five months and it’s nice to finally be outside seeing the guys throw it around, and being able to coach and teach again.”

LACEY’S UP: Following a 2015 season where he came up with six sacks in relief work, not to mention making a name for himself during coin tosses, Lacey’s presence at mini-camp shows just how interested the Eskimos are in having him take over the WIL linebacker spot previously held by 2014 CFL most outstanding rookie Dexter McCoil, who has signed with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers.

Other defensive gaps that need filling are DHB Aaron Grymes (Philadelphia Eagles), SAM LB Otha Foster (Saskatchewan Roughriders) and DE Willie Jefferson (Washington Redskins).

gerry.moddejonge@sunmedia.ca

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