Saskatchewan Roughriders' offensive lineman worked out for the NFL Denver Broncos during the offseason.
Ferland told The SportsCage.
"Really holding yourself to a high standard, being really respectful of their time and not wasting any reps. You can't afford to have one bad rep and you never know what a guy's thinking. You have to put your best foot forward and it's really all in the prep beforehand, make sure you're prepared for every possible thing. You have no clue what workouts you're going to be doing, reaching out to as many guys as possible to get a bit of a step ahead of the rest of the competition."
The six-foot-four, 300-pound offensive lineman signed a two-year extension with the Riders.
"Being a Sask guy, that's really what motivated them and really what motivated me. Why would I want to go anywhere else?" Ferland explained. “We may as well make this a long term deal.”
The 27-year-old Ferland considers this a full circle moment since he is from Melfort, Saskatchewan and grew up a Roughriders fan.
"I really have to step back when I was a kid looking up to those guys. I remember not a Sask guy, but Xavier Fulton. I remember seeing that guy for the first time, I think they had the Riders for a hockey tournament or a hockey game when they won the Grey Cup, and they came down to Melfort. I believe they brought the Grey Cup and everything, very cool to see that and see Xavier out there," Ferland said.
"That was insane, seeing how big of a human he was and how much we all looked up to a guy like that. Seeing all these players like Brendon LaBatte and Dan Clark, very memorable moments in my life were watching those guys play. Then being able to play beside Dan Clark, I learned a little bit from Brendon LaBatte when I was on the practice roster in his final year. That was a very full circle moment to watch those guys growing up, then to be on the same field and share that time with them as well."
Last year, Ferland earned All-CFL honours and was nominated as the West Division Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. He had to shift his position from right guard to centre and right tackle due to injuries along Saskatchewan's offensive line. He played all 18 regular season games where he suited up 11 times at right guard, six at centre and one at right tackle.
"Our meetings, the centre is in control of that room. He's the one telling us how we're going to attack these guys right along with the coach," Ferland detailed.
"Not only I had to study as a guard or a tackle, but understanding I could potentially be calling out our combos or whatever we're doing, making sure we're pointing to the right guys."
The Green and White kick off the 2025 regular season at home against the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday, June 5.
