Brian Bulcke has missed playing football so much, he's actually looking forward to training camp.

Last month, the six-foot-four, 285-pound defensive lineman received medical clearance to seriously amp up his off-season workouts. Bulcke, 28, missed the 2015 campaign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during training camp.

"I feel great," Bulcke said in an interview Friday. "I'm squatting, I'm running, I'm sprinting, I'm doing everything.

"The cool part is I get four-five months to become a super human again. Now it's about getting that 600-700 pounds back on your back (for squats). I think that's still a month or two ahead of me but honestly if I can crank those out by March or April, I'm humming."

Bulcke's timing couldn't be better. He's scheduled to become a free agent Feb. 9 and getting a clean bill of health should answer the biggest question Hamilton or any other CFL team would have regarding Bulcke's status.

Hamilton faces a bit of a dilemma in free agency as Bulcke is one of four Canadian defensive lineman poised to hit the market. The others are Montreal native Ted Laurent, Mike Atkinson of Windsor and Hasan Hazime of Pickering, Ont.

It's been a tough stretch for Bulcke, who played just eight games in 2014 before suffering a season-ending torn bicep. But Bulcke said he's further along in his off-season program now than he would be if he played.

And the time away has only fuelled Bulcke's desire to return.

"I'm going to be chomping at the bit for training camp," he said. "It's just that mental edge that adds a little extra flavour and kick to every workout that I've got going on right now."

Many players despise training camp because of its twice-daily workouts under a hot summer sun and the monotony of practices and meetings. But Bulcke has adopted the novel approach advocated by fun-loving teammate Peter Dyakowski, who in 2012 was crowned Canada's Smartest Person.

"I'm going to take his line that training camp is the best paid vacation a grown adult can have," Bulcke said with a chuckle. "You get to hang out with your buddies all day, physical activity, room and board is provided, three square meals, it's a blast, man.

"Not to mention you get to throw some pads on and crack some skulls. There's nothing better than lining up in one-on-ones and proving again the defensive line always dominates the offensive line."

Bulcke was a dominant player in 2013, his first season with Hamilton. He had career highs in tackles (24), sacks (three) and fumble recoveries (three) and was named the Ticats' top defensive and outstanding player nominee.

He added 11 tackles in Hamilton's three playoff games, including its 45-23 Grey Cup loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. That was the second of three Grey teams Bulcke has been with — 2012 with Calgary and '14 again with Hamilton — and he's yet to sip champagne from the historic trophy.

Bulcke played collegiately at Stanford, where he completed his Master's degree in Management Science and Engineering and Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Edmonton selected Bulcke sixth overall in the 2010 CFL draft before dealing his rights to Calgary the following year.

Bulcke was surprised by the seriousness of his injury, intially feeling he had sprained his knee. And his rehab wasn't always pleasant.

"I'll be honest, right around playoffs and Grey Cup time and, oh man, it was tough," he said. "But getting through that and being responsible with the knee was great because it feels solid now."

Bulcke isn't worrying about his football future. His top priority remains rehabbing his knee while agents Gil Scott and Tim Fleiszer handle the business side.

"I love playing for Hamilton and we (Bulcke's camp and Ticats coach/GM Kent Austin) have a great relationship on every level," he said. "I'm focused on ball and letting my agents take care of that."

Whatever team Bulcke plays for in 2016, his approach will remain the same.

"I have full confidence I'm going to come with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind in 2016," he said. "I've been a part of three Grey Cups but I don't have a ring yet so that's something huge.

"It's a focus, I've got it written on my goal board . . . every day I am taking it in."