He has the size, athleticism, bloodline, statistics and a love for the game that would suggest a promising football career is ahead of him.
But when American universities came calling, offering a full-ride scholarship to the 18-year-old 性视界传媒 resident, only one thing mattered to Christian Covington 鈥 academics.
A first team All-Canadian as well as an Academic All-Canadian in his senior year at Vancouver College, the six-foot-three, 275-pound defensive lineman signed a letter of intent to attend Rice University yesterday afternoon, opting for the Houston school over similar offers from three major Pac 12 teams.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very academic school, ranked 17th in the nation. That appealed to me,鈥 explained Covington after signing the letter.
鈥淚 want to pursue medicine as a career. Rice is in Houston, the fourth largest city in the nation, and it鈥檚 located right next to the world鈥檚 largest medical centre. That was huge, and made my decision a little easier.鈥
The son of Grover Covington, a Hamilton Tiger-Cats legend who is in the Canadian Football League (CFL) Hall of Fame and is the league鈥檚 all-time quarterback sack leader, Christian led the Vancouver College Fighting Irish to a Subway Bowl provincial championship last season.
The team captain was credited with 83 tackles, 15 sacks, six fumble recoveries an interception and two defensive touchdowns in 14 games.
It will likely take a few years before he starts putting up those numbers for the Rice Owls of Conference USA, but Covington is willing to wait for the opportunity.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not too sure about the playing situation,鈥 he admitted. 鈥淏ecause of my age, I鈥檓 one of the youngest going there, I might be red-shirting (practice, not play) my first year. But I鈥檒l leave it up to them. I鈥檒l just play whatever role they tell me to.鈥
But Owls head coach David Bailiff doesn鈥檛 expect it will be long before his new recruit makes an impact at the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) level.
鈥淗is upside is going to be amazing,鈥 Bailiff said. 鈥淗e just turned 18 in October. He runs well and is very powerful. He鈥檚 been well-coached by his father and uses great technique.鈥
Grover Covington has had a huge influence on his son鈥檚 playing career, offering advice, some coaching and support along the way. But only after Christian was successful in letting hi s father allow him to play.
鈥淔ootball is the kind of sport you have to love. He was around it, but it was going to be his decision if he played,鈥 said the father.
鈥淚 never pushed him that way, but he bugged me to play in Grade 8. He kept saying 鈥榩lease Dad. Please Dad.鈥 So I told him 鈥榦nce you make that commitment, you gotta go full force.鈥 And he did. He鈥檚 always been that kind of young man.鈥