RSEQ Football Player Profile: Kris Bastien, Concordia Stingers
These days it’s not easy to get a seat in the pressbox at Concordia Stadium because the CFL scouts are showing up in large numbers to check out Stinger receiver Kris Bastien.
The fourth-year veteran from St. Lambert, Que. is highly rated by the professional scouts and will likely be a first or second round pick in the 2014 draft.
“He’s pretty high on everyone’s list,” says Stinger head coach Gerry McGrath. “He’s a great receiver. He’s a good route runner, he has good speed, he’s strong, he catches the ball in traffic and he plays a physical game.
“He’s got a great aptitude for the game and he understands coverage.”
That’s pretty high praise from a veteran coach who has helped develop accomplished CFL receivers like Cory Watson, who is currently with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and André Bolduc, Denis Montana and Sylvain Girard – all of whom had outstanding careers with the Montreal Alouettes.
McGrath feels Bastien is ready to take his place along side Concordia’s famous alumni.
“I expect Kris to have an all-Canadian season,” says the coach. “He is our go-to guy. He makes our offence better.”
Bastien, who checks in at six foot three, 205 pounds, started the year with an exceptional performance in the preseason. He hauled in seven passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns in an exhibition game versus the Varsity Blues at University of Toronto on Aug. 18. He plans to keep playing at that level.
“Personally, I’d like to be first in Canada in yards per reception,” he says. “I’m prepared for it. I know I have to give 100 per cent on every snap and deliver on the field.”
The inside receiver is gracious when it comes to acknowledging his teammates’ contributions to his success, especially the work of veteran quarterback Reid Quest.
“The thing about Reid is he always comes through,” Bastien explains of his veteran pivot. “He’s a gamer. When he says ‘let’s go’ he’s going to give it everything.
“I feel like we have a strong chemistry. I know he’s going to put the ball in the right place and he knows I’m going to come down with it.”
Bastien also gives credit to the game of baseball for preparing him to play elite football.
“I learned a lot of skills from my time playing baseball,” he explains. “In baseball you are not always in the best position to make a play but you can adjust and come down with the ball. As a receiver, I feel I do well at tracking down the deep ball. That’s what separates me from the others.”
In 2012, Bastien struggled with injuries and although he appeared on four scoresheets he really only participated fully in two games. In his very limited playing time, he caught 13 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns.
His career totals over his first three seasons in CIS football are 23 games, 74 receptions for 1178 yards and nine touchdowns. It will be exciting to watch and see what he can add to those totals in 2013.
