Six years ago, Chris Gangarossa helped block for star running back Qadree Ollison as Canisius High School won New York's Catholic State Championship.

Fast forward to 2020, and both Crusaders are pursuing professional football careers.

Earlier this month, one year after Ollison was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, Gangarossa heard his name called during the sixth round of the CFL Draft, completing a rapid rise that continues to leave him surprised. After two years of playing sparingly at FCS Wagner College, the 6'6 Gangarossa earned a starting job on the Seahawks offensive line, launching himself onto the CFL radar with his large build and solid technique.

"Canadian scouts coming to my practices. I’m like ‘holy [expletive],'" he remembers thinking. "They’re actually trying to scout me and trying to do recruiting. I want to keep playing football. I don’t want to start real life, you know?"

The Fort Erie native was 6'5 when he first stepped onto Wagner's campus - unlike many linemen that play Division I, he never needed to cut weight or pack on pounds. Gangarossa's focus at Wagner was footwork and how to effectively use his hands.

"It gets very technical, once you get into higher competition, higher level of sports," he says. "You need to know what your opponent’s going to do. You need to know their next move and your next move." 

Gangarossa had a mixed reaction while watching the CFL Draft; he says most mocks put him in the second or third rounds, but the Edmonton Eskimos snatched him up in the sixth. Any initial disappointment disappeared when he hugged his parents.

"It was really cool. My parents were really happy, they were really supportive my whole football career. I'm just happy to even see them happy about me," he says.

The former Crusader says much of his success is owed to Canisius - his final two years of High-School football helped guide him on his current path to professional ball.

"It’s a tough school, but it pays off in the long run," he says. "I don’t regret any moment at Canisius. If it wasn’t for them, I would be where I’m at today. I thank Coach (Rich) Robbins a lot, I thank the whole Canisius program and school a lot for my success.

Once CFL teams open up their camps, the next goal for Gangarossa is finding a place to stay. His brother lives near the Eskimos' stadium and has already offered up a room.