Saskatchewan Roughrider linebacker Larry Dean has been named a part of this year’s CFL Player Mentorship Program.

The program is in its second year and it allows the players to engage directly with the league office to gain invaluable experience in the business behind the game.

The joint venture between the league office and the CFL Players’ Association serves as a platform for players to gain a deeper understanding of the business priorities of the CFL and its various departments, while building skills to one day transition away from the field into their chosen career paths.

Other players selected to the program include Ottawa’s Shaq Evans, Montreal’s Jeshrun Antwi, Hamilton’s Anthony Federico, Winnipeg’s Patrick Neufeld and Kamer Jordan who is currently a free agent.

From February 28 to March 3, players will take part in information sessions, job shadowing and mentorship opportunities with senior subject matter experts from the league office. A wide range of topics associated with the business of professional sports will be covered, including football operations, marketing and communications, finance, data insights and more. Participants will also visit the TSN studios for a unique behind-the-scenes tour of the work that goes into the CFL ON TSN broadcast.

The experience will culminate in a trip to Feridun Hamdullahpur Field House at the University of Waterloo on March 3 for the CFL Invitational Combine presented by New Era. Participants will be able to see how the efforts of the league office’s various departments come together to stage one of the off-season’s key events. Following the completion of the program, participants will be paired with an individual mentor for ongoing advice and support as they consider and explore future career paths

With files from the Canadian Football League