LIneman Bryce McKinnon has never shied away from challenges in his football career and he's not about to start.

The 6' defensive lineman who played most of his career with the CIS Regina Rams as nose tackle has finished university and is now looking for a chance to show he belongs in the Canada Football League (CFL), So far, though, McKinnon and his agent Denis Genereux are miffed that all teams, except the Saskatchewan Roughriders, have been unwilling to even take a look at the talented Canadian.

When the two connected early in the year, Genereux set him up with a trainer and new program. In four months, McKinnon went from 300 lbs. to 280 lbs. and has dropped his body fat to 22 per cent from 29 per cent. He's faster and his core strengths have all shot off the chart. 

"I've been trying to get hold of (Brandon) Mahoney, (the Stampeders chief Canadian scout)," says Genereux. "I wrote to him four or five times to say, 'Hey, I have a kid from Calgary, give him a break, give him a chance, bring him in, no charge, he doesn't even have to travel, he's right there. There's been no response and it's all because his tapes are all last year."

"I think Calgary should look at him. I think any Canadian team should be looking at their own base product. It's in their backyard," says the former CFL player turned agent. "I don't understand why Mahoney isn't getting hold of me."

McKinnon's 2017 CFL combine tests were average for a defensive lineman, but his conditioning has since improved in all his core strength. 

"For him, the hardest thing is we're having a tough time getting him any tryouts because people remember Bryce at 300 lbs. and he's at 280 lb."

"His change is unbelievable. He's not the same man. He did it all by himself because he's totally devoted to it and he really wants a break, really wants an opportunity."

McKinnon makes it clear he's not looking for pity, just a chance to workout and prove he belongs in the CFL.

"That's not what I'm trying to get across here," McKinnon says." I just want to get across the fact that I loved this sport and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get to where I want to be."

Genereux says the Roughriders' Ed Philion was impressed with the change in McKinnon but they have filled their Canadian roster. While an opportunity there may be an injury or two away, the agent doesn't want to sit and wait; he wants other teams to take a look at what McKinnon brings.

Nik Lewis has also been helping McKinnon the last couple of years, particularly focusing on his footwork. In fact, many are pulling for the Cochrane Cobras alumni.

"I have a lot of people who are helping me get to where I have to get to. Now we just need to get the other side of things to pull the trigger and say they'll take a look at me."

McKinnon says he realizes he's not the only player trying to draw attention.

"It doesn't come easy. There are a lot of kids in my situation who are determined to make it to the next level and they're going to do whatever they can to get there. It's tough because we all want the same thing."

But McKinnon isn't one to give up on his dream. He has surprised naysayers since starting with the Cochrane Lions at age eight.

"My favourite part about this is that I've been told I'm too small. Every level moving forward has always said I'm too small."

They said it with the Cobras but they gave him a shot at centre and he went on to become their left tackle and a two-way lineman, When he went to university, people questioned whether he was big enough to start or if he would red shirt. 

"I played all five years and I never missed a game," says McKinnon, who was also named the Rams' rookie of the year and was twice defensive lineman of the year.

"I love adversity and this is my biggest challenge yet. I'm definitely motivated."

McKinnon says he has wanted to play pro ever since he knew what that meant.

"When I played for Lions, I wanted to go play for the Cobras because I saw them practicing. And then when I was with the Cobras  I wanted to go to university because I saw all these university teams playing. Now, I've played university and I want to go professional because I know I can compete with those guys and I can play at that level."

He doesn't care where.

"If football needs me to go to Nunavut, I'd go to Nunavut. It doesn't matter where it is."

In the meantime, the CFL preseason ends this weekend.