GRAND FORKS — UND’s Quincy Vaughn has taken a first step to joining the family business.
Vaughn, who became a Grand Forks favorite with short-yardage conversions and an engaging personality in five years at UND, has received an official invitation to the Canadian Football League combine in Regina, where he’ll work out in front of scouts and interview with team personnel.
The CFL combine will take place March 21 to 23.
Vaughn grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, where his dad was a running back for the hometown Tiger-Cats. His brother, Justin Vaughn, seven years older than Quincy who became an All-Patriot League defensive lineman at Fordham University in New York, also spent three seasons with Hamilton in the CFL.
When Vaughn posted his CFL combine invite on social media this week, his Ontario supporters quickly were hoping for a third Vaughn to play for Hamilton.
“Growing up, I always knew about (the CFL) and played the same rules,” Vaughn said. “When I was younger, I was way more accustomed to it. I remember running around that stadium and played there for some championships at like the peewee level.
“Hamilton is very passionate about the Tiger-Cats. A lot of people were saying if I end up there, it’d be cool. But you never know how it all shakes out.”
Vaughn started his career at UND as a highly regarded quarterback prospect. After Tommy Schuster took over the role as UND’s starting quarterback, Vaughn still spent some time at quarterback, often in a wildcat look for the Fighting Hawks. He also handled most of UND’s short-yardage and goal-line situations.
But in his final two seasons, Vaughn grew in a role as a tight end. He ended his UND career with 17 rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns. He caught 21 balls for 197 yards.
Vaughn and a handful of UND’s graduated seniors are working out at UND with strength coach Derek Stein. UND will also host a pro day in March.
UND wide receiver Bo Belquist is training in Colorado but may return for the pro day event.
Vaughn said he took a week or two after the season to take in the emotions of his college career ending.
“I don’t get to go to the Alerus anymore or go to those runs at 6 a.m.,” he said. “I didn’t do much those first two weeks, then I started lifting, knowing I had aspirations to play in the NFL or CFL. So I took a step back and then ramped it up and now in January we’ve been training for two or three weeks now.”
Vaughn knows his position is unique for the CFL, which doesn’t typically employ tight ends in formations.
“Knowing my athletic ability, I can be utilized in short yardage or wildcat like I did at UND,” Vaughn said. “That’s big in the CFL.”
For now, Vaughn is focused on performing his best for scouts.
“My agent and I have talked about knowing I have to run fast and show versatility,” Vaughn said.
Vaughn is still adjusting to life after college football.
“It’s something I’ve always envisioned from a young age,” Vaughn said of pursuing pro football. “When you get to high school, you don’t look too far ahead and try to better yourself. When you’re at UND, you’re always on a schedule and thinking about conference championships and being a good teammate.
“Now, in the ream of not being on a team, it’s very different emotionally but it’s good, too, to reflect on my goals as a kid … digging deep and realizing that it’s something I’ve always wanted. It’s exciting and scary.”
The CFL draft is April 29.
Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 and 2022.
His primary beat is UND football but also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preps.
He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, [email protected] or on Twitter at @tommillergf.
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