You’d never know he was once a budding soccer star in his native Haiti. That’s because Claudell Louis looks every bit like the ferocious run stopper he has been through his first four games in Lions orange: 6-foot-5, 302 pounds with all the athleticism you want in a defensive tackle.
Yet, the story of how he would eventually get turned onto the game of football for good is about as random as it gets.
“I had played for a year in high school and then stopped because I didn’t really know the game,” recalls Louis.
“Then one time I was walking through a training facility and, long story short, a trainer called someone he knew out in California and told them there was somebody here he knew that could play football. The rest is history, I guess. I went out there, took the opportunity and ran with it.”
Claudell Louis introduced prior to a game against the Ottawa Redblacks on September 7th, 2018. Photo: Paul Yates
From there it was on to the (Junior) College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California, no doubt a culture shock for a kid whose family had emigrated from Haiti to Florida when he was just ten years old.
But Louis proved to be a quicker study in his second go around on the gridiron, transferring to nearby Fresno State for his sophomore season. After breaking out as a senior, 47 tackles, five sacks and an All-Mountain West Honourable Mention, he earned himself NFL workouts in Buffalo and Minnesota before attending 2017 training camp with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Now that he has some game action under his belt with a defence that has turned some heads the last couple of weeks, he has recorded 11 defensive tackles and a pair of sacks, Louis is glad he was discovered in that weight room a few years back.
“It’s been a pretty good feeling. Those guys, when we come out here, they help us get ready; especially the coaches,” explains Louis.
“Watching film helps us get ready every week with those little details to help us compete and get better. That’s what we’re still working on.”
You won’t find many guys as intense as Lions’ defensive line coach Randy Melvin, a man who has seen it all and done it all in pro football. Having someone like that pushing you can only make your transition even smoother.
“He’s tremendous,” says Louis of his position coach.
“With my experience not being mostly about football, coach Melvin breaks it all down and makes it all simple. I’m able to play fast. With this game being a yard off the ball on defence, he is always telling us to get vertical. He’s been tremendous in my development and I love working with him.”
Louis and his two brothers, Jude and Phil, would spend their summers in Florida where their mother Ilna was already living. After moving there for good, the big challenge was picking up English. Nothing Will Smith or Martin Lawrence couldn’t help out with.
“I had to study a lot and pick most of my English from TV shows, a lot of Martin and Fresh Prince Of Bel Air,” chuckles Louis.
“It was a steep learning curve.”
Whether it’s learning a new culture or a new brand of football, Louis has been known to master it once it starts to feel natural. Like many neophytes from south of the border, lining up a yard off the ball took some getting used to.
“It’s pretty big because if you just get off and get moved you’re not really threatening the line of scrimmage,” explains Louis.
“You’ve just got to run out, threaten the line of scrimmage and get that yard back. If you put stress on the offensive line then they have to try and anchor and you can get your moves. Getting vertical is huge in this league.”
Now the pressure remains on Louis and the rest of the defence to keep performing at this elite level, as the games get even more important down the stretch. The best part? None of the 12 men on the field at any given time make it about the individual.
“It’s a great feeling,” adds the CFL rookie.
“Overall, the last two games we’ve played great defence and everybody is doing their job. Nobody is trying to be a hero or do too much. We’re all on the same page. We’re talking more and we feel comfortable with each other. It’s a fun feeling these days.”
And although he may be too big in stature for stardom on the soccer pitch, Louis will never forget where he came from.
“Soccer still is pretty big in Haiti. Whether it’s the World Cup or Champions League, it’s always huge. If you went there right now I guarantee you every kid would have a soccer ball. My brothers played forward and I played midfield. I used to always like the ball at my feet.”
Who are we kidding? He could probably try out for Haiti’s national team and at least make it interesting.
Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com