Having a dad who was a professional football player, Westshore Rebels quarterback Te Jessie is taking his invite to the B.C. Lions training camp in stride. Jessie and Westshore receiver Kieran Poissant have been invited to the Canadian Football League Lions’ rookie camp beginning next Wednesday in Kamloops. Main camp, with the veterans reporting, opens May 14.
“I’m excited to see how I match up against pro players and how much growth I need to reach that level,” said Jessie, who arrived back in Victoria two weeks ago from his native Winnipeg for Rebels spring training.
“I want to learn as much as I can.”
Tossing the ball again to Poissant has rekindled memories of their explosive combination last year at Starlight Stadium in the B.C. Football Conference. Big things are expected from the pair this season after Jessie was named 2022 BCFC offensive player of the year with 169 completions, 2,864 passing yards and 28 passing touchdowns in 10 regular-season games and Poissant the league’s top receiver last season with 49 catches for 811 yards and 10 touchdowns as they led the Rebels to the BCFC championship game for the Cullen Cup before losing out to Okanagan Sun.
“We are in tune as a quarterback and receiver,” said Jessie.
“Kieran’s athletic ability is off the charts.”
The Lions certainly believe so, even if both are expected to be returned to junior this season with the Rebels.
“Both Te and Kieran put in the work and both are character players,” said Rebels offensive co-ordinator Rob Lervold.
“We expect them to perform well in Lions camp and be back with us this season and then move forward in following seasons [to potential pro careers]. They both have the skills and tools to do it.”
Jessie had a Super Bowl and Grey Cup champion father, Tim Jessie, to learn from while growing up. The former NFL Washington and CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers running-back Tim Jessie also played in the backfield of the Auburn University Tigers with Bo Jackson.
“Because of my dad, I have some expectation of what pro camps involve, so I’m not going into this blind,” said Te Jessie.
Did he get any advice from his father?
“He’s happy for me and told me to stay on my toes,” said the younger Jessie.
The Rebels open the 2023 BCFC season July 29 in the rivalry game against the Vancouver Islander Raiders in Nanaimo. The official spring camp for the Rebels is June 3-4 with main camp beginning July 8 at Starlight Stadium.
