Global prospect Wilfried Pene added to CFL national combine after stint with Patriots

By Canadian Press on January 29, 2026.

TORONTO — Wilfried Pene will be attending the CFL’s national combine.

The six-foot-three, 283-pound defensive lineman was listed Thursday among the participants for the combine, which will be held in Edmonton on March 27-29. Pene, a former New England Patriot, was added to the CFL’s 2026 Global list last week, making him eligible for the league’s Global draft.

Pene is a native of Tours, France, who played collegiately at Virginia Tech, both as a tight end and defensive lineman. He appeared in 34 games for the Hokies, registering 73 total tackles (nine for loss) with five sacks.

In 2024, Pene recorded 33 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He joined the Patriots in 2025 as an undrafted free agent and, after attending rookie camp, signed an NFL contract with New England.

However, the Patriots were forced to release Pene after his international visa, which he obtained while playing at Virginia Tech, expired, and he wasn’t able to remain in the United States.

Pene, a two-time All-New England selection in high school and in 2019, helped the St. Thomas More Prep Chancellors post a 7-1 record as a tight end and defensive lineman. He registered eight catches for 183 yards with four TDs on offence while posting 47 tackles (11 for loss), 15.5 sacks and three forced fumbles along with a blocked punt.

Eight players who were listed on the CFL Scouting Bureau’s winter list of the top-20 prospects for the ’26 league draft will also attend the national combine. They include East Carolina offensive lineman Darius Bell (Hamilton, No. 12), South Alabama linebacker Darius McKenzie (Ottawa, No, 13), Michigan State defensive back Devynn Cromwell (Toronto, No. 14), Louisiana Tech offensive lineman Jonathan Denis (Homestead, Fla., No. 15), Coastal Carolina offensive lineman Aamari Notice (Toronto, No. 16), North Dakota receiver Nate DeMontagnac (Mississauga, Ont., No. 18), Purdue offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro (Winnipeg, No. 19) and Laval tight end/fullback Emeric Boutin (L’Assomption, Que., No. 20).

The CFL also announced Thursday it will hold an invitation combine on March 6 in Waterloo, Ont., on the campus of the University of Waterloo.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2026.

The Canadian Press