Kwaku Boateng says he will be focused on getting quarterback sacks and winning championships with the Eskimos, but he is also preparing for the rest of his life.
Trying to balance football with a job didn’t work out so well for him two years ago. Initially a highly rated prospect by the CFL’s Scouting Bureau, he slid all the way to the fifth round before the Eskimos selected the six-foot-two, 257-pound defensive end with the 41st pick overall.
“The (CFL) Combine came at a time when I was working at PwC for my last co-op term (at Wilfrid Laurier University) and PwC is like top-four in the world for accounting,” Boateng said. “I was pretty happy I got that placement. It was during the busy season because it was during the winter, so I was working long hours and also trying to train for the Combine.
“It was a tough time for me and, obviously, the Combine didn’t go exactly how I planned,” he continued. “Originally, I was ranked No. 2. The only person above me was Justin Senior out of Mississippi (State University).”
The Eskimos also chose Senior with the 40th pick overall in 2017 – one spot ahead of Boateng – but the big offensive lineman had already been drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and signed with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs in February.
“I’m grateful that Brock (Sunderland, Eskimos General Manager and Vice-President of Football Operations) and the guys in upper management realized I should have been way higher,” Boateng said. “My first two years has helped solidify that and now my next goal is just to be the best defensive end I can be in this league.”
Boateng, 24, who led the Eskimos with nine quarterback sacks during his second CFL season last year, is also trying to set himself up for the future. He finished his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with honours and a major in accounting and minor in economics during last year’s off-season.
“I just wanted to get my education because a sports career only lasts so long,” he said. “So always having a back-up plan is the key.”
He is now working towards his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, which may take up to five years by the time he finishes all of the courses, gets some experience and writes the final exam, so he can have his own practice when his football career is over.
“That’s a pretty lengthy goal and process,” he admitted. “Right now, football gives me an opportunity to gain a lot of income in a short period of time so I’m using that to leverage myself. During the off-seasons, I’m taking those extra courses and I’m working towards getting my designation.
“I want to become a financial advisor, obviously geared toward the investment side. But, ultimately, I want to be able to help out with the whole holistic view of being an adult, which is like taking care of your insurance, your investments and all that stuff and budgeting yourself.”
Boateng signed a two-year extension with the Eskimos on Feb. 1, less than two weeks before he could have become a free agent.
“I’m comfortable here, I like the management here, I like the players here so it just made sense for me to stay here,” he said. “The fan support is great and it’s hard to leave a place that gave you an opportunity to play.”
Boateng worked out with four NFL teams and had talks with a fifth team before he re-signed with the Eskimos. He said it was a great experience and that he received positive feedback.
“They loved my pass-rushing. I’m just under-sized and I would have to learn how to cover (receivers) because, most of the time, I would be at an outside linebacker position in the (United) States.”
On the other hand …
“I love being here in Canada and I love the opportunities I’ve been granted so far,” he said. “The way I look at it is you could be a big fish in a small pond here or be a small fish in a big pond.
“Just the way things are going for me, I’m good here for now.”
Edmonton Eskimos take on the BC Lions this Sunday, May 26 in pre-season action. Get your tickets here!
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