Training Camp Notebook: Kaseem Ferdinand hopes to follow in late father’s footsteps with Als
Montreal Alouettes receiver Kaseem Ferdinand’s introduction to professional football was tough. The former Carleton Raven fully expected to be selected in CFL Draft on Apr. 29, but his name was never called.
After a couple of difficult days, the Ottawa, Ontario native picked himself back up and got back to work. Less than a week into training camp, the Alouettes called Ferdinand’s camp and offered the 22-year-old a contract and a spot on the training camp roster. Ferdinand jumped on the opportunity.
“It was a little bit tough not being picked in the draft,” he said after Wednesday’s practice. “I won’t say that it hurt my feelings a little bit, but I was sad for a day or two, and then I got back on the field…I’m really happy and thankful that I got to play for the team I wanted to play for.”
Ferdinand was fast asleep one morning after a late shift at his job at Lorenzo’s pizzeria delivering as a delivery driver in Kanata, Ontario, when his mom, Alexia, woke him up. His agent was trying to get in touch with him to inform him that the Alouettes wanted to sign him.
Kaseem Ferdinand
“I had three missed messages from my agent, and the first one said: ‘you’re going to Montreal. Call me as soon as you wake up!’ So, I did a little happy dance and screamed a little bit. It was a dream come true. I packed my bags immediately and I was here the next day. Things have been amazing since then.”
Ferdinand admits that despite being from Ottawa, the Alouettes were the number one team he wanted to play for in the CFL. After all, his father, the late Denny Ferdinand, suited up for the Montreal Concordes from 1982 to 1984. Most of his father’s side of the family, including his three brothers, all live in Montreal.
Denny had a long CFL career with Montreal, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Ottawa Rough Riders between 1982 and 1989. In 1983, he rushed for over 600 yards for the Concordes and was named the best Canadian in the East Division.
Unfortunately, Denny died in April of 2002 in Ottawa of heart arrhythmia. His wife was pregnant with twin boys Denny Jr. and Kaseem at the time of his death. Denny Sr. passed away at the age of 40 without having met his twins.
“If you’re heart gets too strong, it can create like a heart attack. From what I heard from my family members, this guy was like a superhero. My grandmother told me he played AAA hockey, and he would lead everyone in goal-scoring when he was a kid. He could dunk a basketball 360 degrees when he was in grade 8. Obviously, there was football, but his true passion was soccer. He was great at every sport he did.”
“(Not having dad around) put a chip on my shoulder because when I was younger, I didn’t really understand how all of it went down. It was a tough subject to talk about with my family and I never wanted to ask. When I was in grade 8 and 9, I googled (my dad) and read through everything. It made me want to work harder. Every now and then you’d have some kids at school say some mean things. Aside from that, I never really knew him and I didn’t grow up with him around, so it wasn’t always a thought in my mind. Occasionally, it would get at you.
This tragedy forced the boys’ mom, Alexia, into an even more difficult situation.
Kaseem Ferdinand, Charleston Rambo, David Dallaire
“Growing up, it was amazing. Me, my mom and my twin brother. She would cook for us. Anything I ever needed; she would do everything for us. Until I got my driver’s license, she would drive us to every practice every single day. We would have basketball in the morning before school, we’d have basketball after school, and football after that. She’s the hardest working person I’ve ever met. I got my work ethic from her.
“It was a little bit hard money-wise and familywise, but mom is really the best. She did everything for us.”
Ferdinand has fit in well with his new teammates. After a pair of receptions during practice on Wednesday, the entire offensive sideline cheered loudly for the young receiver. He also puts in extra work with quarterback James Morgan after the team gets off the field.
Making the roster won’t be easy. Ferdinand is in competition with good Canadian receivers like Tyson Philpot, Shedler Fervius, Daniel Oladejo, and Isaac Gaillardetz.
His first opportunity to make a splash will come on Saturday afternoon when the Als host the Ottawa Redblacks in a preseason game at Percival Molson Stadium.
“It really means everything,” Ferdinand said of the upcoming preseason game. “When I called my older brother, Tristan, who lives (in Montreal), he was crying on the phone when I told him Montreal called me and wanted me to come to training camp. It was the same thing with the rest of my family; I could hear them crying on the phone. I’m sure when I put the helmet on and they give me my jersey, I’m sure I’ll be a little bit emotional.”
TRANSACTIONS: On Wednesday, the Alouettes signed Northern Illinois defensive back Jashon Prophete.
