April 19, 2006
CIS STARS SURE TO IMPACT CFL DRAFT
OTTAWA (CIS) - Canadian Interuniversity Sport is confident its top football talent will once again highlight the CFL Canadian Draft in 2006. This year's draft will take place this Thursday, April 20.
For all the info on CIS football: http://www.universitysport.ca
A year ago, 62 per cent of the players selected in the six-round CFL Canadian Draft came from CIS institutions (33 out of 53). Laval defensive tackle Miguel Robede became the third CIS representative in four years, and the fourth in six years to be picked first overall when his name was called by the Calgary Stampeders. Offensive linemen Steve Morley of Saint Mary's (by Calgary) and Alexandre Gauthier of Laval (by Ottawa) had been chosen first overall in 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The Laval University Rouge et Or led the way 12 months ago with five players selected, all in the first two rounds (1-5-14-16-17). The University of Saskatchewan Huskies and McMaster University Marauders followed with four apiece.
Over the past five years, the University of Manitoba Bisons have had the highest total of Canadian players drafted by the CFL with 15, followed by Laval, Saint Mary's and Simon Fraser, with 12 each. Ottawa (11) and Saskatchewan (10) also averaged at least two selections per year over that period. The 11 schools with the most Canadian players selected in the past half-decade are all CIS institutions, with Toledo (tied 13th) and Stanford (tied 17th) the only NCAA schools to place among the top 21.
Highlighting the list of CIS players eligible for Thursday's session is highly-skilled wide receiver / slotback Andy Fantuz from the Western Ontario Mustangs, who captured the Hec Crighton Trophy as the university football player in Canada in 2005. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound native of Chatham, Ont. broke almost every major CIS career receiving record during his four seasons at Western. He is the career leader among receivers for touchdowns (41), catches (189) and yards (4,123), and was named to the first all-Canadian team in 2002, 2004 and 2005, and to the second squad in 2003. He also set the single-season mark for receiving yards (1,300) when he was named CIS rookie of the year in 2002.
Among many other CIS representatives to keep an eye on on Thursday are Calgary defensive lineman Dan Federkeil, who suited up alongside Fantuz in the prestigious East-West Shrine Game in Texas in January; Laval offensive centre Dominic Picard, who claimed the J.P. Metras Trophy as CIS lineman of the year in 2005; McMaster linebacker Jason Pottinger, the OUA nominee for CIS defensive player of the year in 2005; and Saskatchewan running back David Stevens, the Canada West nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy and the CIS leader with 14 regular-season touchdowns in 2005.
2005 first-team all-Canadians Chris Sutherland of Saskatchewan (offensive tackle), Ivan Birungi of Acadia (slotback) and Arjei Franklin of Windsor (wide receiver), along with Jesse Alexander (linebacker) of the reigning Vanier Cup champion Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, Ricky Foley of York (defensive end / linebacker), and Derek Armstrong of StFX (offensive lineman) are also considered top prospects.
The order of selection for the first round of the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft is: Edmonton (via Hamilton), British Columbia (via Winnipeg), Saskatchewan, British Columbia (via Calgary), Toronto, British Columbia, Montreal, and Hamilton (via Edmonton).
(Source: Michel Belanger, CIS Communications Manager.)
(Photo: Windsor's All-Canadian Arjei Franklin is just one of the many OUA and CIS stars expected to make a splash at Thursday's CFL Canadian Draft. File photo by Craig Glover.)
For all the info on CIS football: http://www.universitysport.ca
A year ago, 62 per cent of the players selected in the six-round CFL Canadian Draft came from CIS institutions (33 out of 53). Laval defensive tackle Miguel Robede became the third CIS representative in four years, and the fourth in six years to be picked first overall when his name was called by the Calgary Stampeders. Offensive linemen Steve Morley of Saint Mary's (by Calgary) and Alexandre Gauthier of Laval (by Ottawa) had been chosen first overall in 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The Laval University Rouge et Or led the way 12 months ago with five players selected, all in the first two rounds (1-5-14-16-17). The University of Saskatchewan Huskies and McMaster University Marauders followed with four apiece.
Over the past five years, the University of Manitoba Bisons have had the highest total of Canadian players drafted by the CFL with 15, followed by Laval, Saint Mary's and Simon Fraser, with 12 each. Ottawa (11) and Saskatchewan (10) also averaged at least two selections per year over that period. The 11 schools with the most Canadian players selected in the past half-decade are all CIS institutions, with Toledo (tied 13th) and Stanford (tied 17th) the only NCAA schools to place among the top 21.
Highlighting the list of CIS players eligible for Thursday's session is highly-skilled wide receiver / slotback Andy Fantuz from the Western Ontario Mustangs, who captured the Hec Crighton Trophy as the university football player in Canada in 2005. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound native of Chatham, Ont. broke almost every major CIS career receiving record during his four seasons at Western. He is the career leader among receivers for touchdowns (41), catches (189) and yards (4,123), and was named to the first all-Canadian team in 2002, 2004 and 2005, and to the second squad in 2003. He also set the single-season mark for receiving yards (1,300) when he was named CIS rookie of the year in 2002.
Among many other CIS representatives to keep an eye on on Thursday are Calgary defensive lineman Dan Federkeil, who suited up alongside Fantuz in the prestigious East-West Shrine Game in Texas in January; Laval offensive centre Dominic Picard, who claimed the J.P. Metras Trophy as CIS lineman of the year in 2005; McMaster linebacker Jason Pottinger, the OUA nominee for CIS defensive player of the year in 2005; and Saskatchewan running back David Stevens, the Canada West nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy and the CIS leader with 14 regular-season touchdowns in 2005.
2005 first-team all-Canadians Chris Sutherland of Saskatchewan (offensive tackle), Ivan Birungi of Acadia (slotback) and Arjei Franklin of Windsor (wide receiver), along with Jesse Alexander (linebacker) of the reigning Vanier Cup champion Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, Ricky Foley of York (defensive end / linebacker), and Derek Armstrong of StFX (offensive lineman) are also considered top prospects.
The order of selection for the first round of the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft is: Edmonton (via Hamilton), British Columbia (via Winnipeg), Saskatchewan, British Columbia (via Calgary), Toronto, British Columbia, Montreal, and Hamilton (via Edmonton).
(Source: Michel Belanger, CIS Communications Manager.)
(Photo: Windsor's All-Canadian Arjei Franklin is just one of the many OUA and CIS stars expected to make a splash at Thursday's CFL Canadian Draft. File photo by Craig Glover.)
