EDMONTON • Danny Groulx had visited Western Canada, but only on short trips, so moving here meant he was leaving friends and family behind for the first time.

There’s a girlfriend in Quebec City, family members in Sherbrooke and his hometown of Gatineau.

They shouldn’t have long to wait and won’t have far to travel to see the 25-year-old offensive lineman in action, given that Groulx expects to be in the lineup when the Edmonton Eskimos visit Ottawa for a game against the Redblacks on July 17.

“Honestly, it’s like 40-plus,” Groulx said when asked how many would be in the stands at TD Place stadium to cheer on his behalf.

Groulx was a highly rated prospect in the 2015 CFL college draft, and there was some thought the Redblacks might consider the Université Laval product for first overall, but instead they chose Ottawa’s Alex Mateas from the University of Connecticut.

It turned out the Eskimos called his name at No. 7 overall.

“I’m playing against great players. Honestly, it’s a step up from the (Canadian Interuniversity Sport football).”

Groulz is a 6-6, 325-pounder who was listed as a backup for Thursday’s contest against the Redblacks at Commonwealth Stadium. “You don’t find those kind of players in the CIS. Well, you find some, but the best ones in the CIS are going to play in the CFL, and you play against great defensive lineman, great linebackers form the United States and guys that have been playing in this league for a long time. This is what I have had to adjust myself to the most.

“First of all, I was a tackle (at Laval), and now I play guard. As a guard, I had to adjust myself with technique and against better players.”

Another significant change is the workload, and not just for the rookie offensive guard. After losing to the Toronto Argonauts on June 27 and having a Week 2, the Eskimos have started a mind- and body-bending stretch of 17 consecutive weeks of action before receiving the second and final bye on the final weekend of the regular season.

“After eight weeks you (usually) have a bye week and you have to take your break and re-set,” said Groulx, whose university football seasons would have featured a maximum of 11 or 12 contests. “Now it’s 17 games in a row.

“We have to be ready mentally and physically. We have to be disciplined in our preparation and our focus and take care of our bodies.”

gholder@ottawacitizen.com

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