Chris O’Leary
Edmonton Journal
While many of the Edmonton Eskimos struggled to deal with winter’s prelude on Thursday, Clint Kent was just happy to be at work.
The 29-year-old defensive back has been looking for a job and into the real world enough in the past to appreciate what he has in front of him; even if that involves wearing a hoody under his equipment at practice to deal with a chilly late October morning in Edmonton.
Kent’s path to the CFL is a testament to his dedication to his craft and the tremendous amount of self-belief it takes to survive three years away from the game.
“I started in Montreal in ’06 and I ended up getting released in ’07,” Kent said, as he and his teammates thawed out in the lockerroom. “I was kind of out of football for three years after that, just training and determined to get back.”
Kent stayed in shape and worked as a substitute teacher in his hometown of Macon, Ga., while he waited to resume his football career.
“In ’08 I went and played Arena 2 (the developmental division of the Arena Football League), but I tore my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in training camp, so I was out that year. In ’09 I went and played football in Europe (Finland) for a month, just to test my knee out. That was a humbling experience,” he said.
In between the short seasons, he continued to teach, heal his knee and wait for his opportunity. In those three years, it would have been easy to stick with teaching and let his dream of being a pro athlete get lost in the daily regimen of working Monday to Friday and having summers off.
Kent’s father, Clint Kent Sr., wouldn’t let that happen.
“He’s always been there for me,” the younger Kent said of his dad. “He’s been my biggest supporter in my life.”
In 2010, a former teammate from Kent’s days at James Madison University travelled to Winnipeg for a private workout with the Blue Bombers. He told the team about Kent and convinced them to work him out as well. Winnipeg’s defensive coordinator at the time, Kavis Reed, was impressed with what he saw and invited Kent back for training camp.
Given the opportunity, Kent flourished and made 77 tackles, 13 on special teams, had two quarterback sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. He tied for sixth in the league in tackles.
“I had a great season in 2010. I played great and got a chance to work with Kavis,” Kent said. “To me, he’s the best coach I’ve ever had.”
This year, Kent, a defensive captain in Winnipeg last season, was a surprise training camp cut with the Bombers. The second that word got out Kent was available, Reed went to Eskimo general manager Eric Tillman and requested the services of the 201-pound defensive jack-of-all-trades.
“We released a veteran guy because of (Kent’s) ability to play at that same linebacker position,” Reed said. “That is a very difficult position to find. We were playing with fire last year because we didn’t really have a true backup for T.J. Hill. This year, with the confidence we have in Clint, we’re very secure there.”
Kent has made his biggest impact on special teams. He’s recovered four fumbles and ran two of them back for touchdowns. With the return coverage team banged up, Kent picked up his game and had three special teams tackles last week in the Eskimo loss to the BC Lions.
Two years spent in Winnipeg have Kent ready for the chilly final weeks of the CFL season. He admits the Canadian weather is one thing that can slow his father down.
“My father came up last year for the East finals in Winnipeg,” Kent said. “It was -20, it was freezing. He was layered up, but it wasn’t enough. That game was freezing cold. He’s not used to that, being outside in Georgia.”
coleary@edmontonjournal.com
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