May 1, 2008
CFL CANADIAN DRAFT, MCMASTER�S BRADWELL TOP PICK FROM THE OUA
HAMILTON, Ont. - After a tremendous 2007 season for the McMaster Marauders, third year, wide receiver, Mike Bradwell (Toronto, ON) was drafted in the second round by the Toronto Argonauts, 13th overall as the top pick from the OUA.
Bradwell had a breakout season in 2007, which earned him a spot on the All-Canadian First Team. He set the Marauder all-time school record catching 53 passes (first in the OUA) and finished first in the CIS with 958 yards receiving in a single season. The civil engineering student didn't score his first touchdown until his third season with the Marauders, but managed to finish the season with nine receiving touchdowns.
Queen's University running back Mike Giffin (Kingston, ON) was selected 17th overall by the Hamilton Tiger Cats. "It's exciting to be drafted and definitely an honour that not a lot of people get to experience," said Giffin. "Right now I can't wait to get to training camp to show Hamilton my skills. My goal is to make the team and have a long career." Giffin, who is completing his degree in Geography, broke several school records becoming the first player in Queen's rich football history to rush for over 1,000-yards in single season while ranking as the nation's third leading rusher with 1,157-yards in 2007. He also set school marks in scoring (96 points), touchdowns (16), carries (185) and finished second in the country with rushing touchdowns (12).
Jason Arakgi (Toronto, ON), a fourth-year Marauder line backer was drafted 20th overall to the B.C Lions. In the 2007 regular season he accumulated 38 total tackles (16th in the OUA) including 32 solo tackles, one sack and one interception. His best game was in the playoffs where he notched five more tackles, three sacks, and one interception in a single game.
Windsor Lancer's Daryl Stephenson (London, ON) was selected in the third round of the CFL draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he will join former Lancer teammate Arjei Franklin. The 2006 Hec Crighton trophy winner as the Canadian University's Most Outstanding Player is the OUA's all-time leading rusher and is second all-time in the CIS in rushing with 4,402 yards. He sits only 336 yards away from becoming Canadian University Football's all-time leading rusher. He is also the only player in CIS history to rush for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons.
Gee-Gees defensive back Delroy Clarke was drafted in the fourth round, 29th overall, by the Toronto Argonauts. Clarke, a third-year student-athlete from Whitby, ON, had two interceptions and 10 solo tackles last season after playing in six of eight regular season games. "He is a tall defensive back, which is something all coaches look for," said Gee-Gees head coach Denis Piche. "After a couple of (CFL) practices he will not look out of place."
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawk wide receiver Dante Luciani (Oakville, ON) was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in the fifth round (34th overall). Dante was the only Hawk taken in the draft this year. Luciani, an OUA second team all-star this past season, was second on the team in receiving yards with 259 yards and third on the team in scoring with eight touchdowns. After playing his first season as a quarterback, Dante switched positions and became one of the team's star receivers.
Rounding out the draft for the OUA were Western Mustangs offensive lineman Richard Zulys (Toronto, ON) who was drafted in the fifth round (37th overall) and defensive back/wide received Tyler Scott (Windsor, ON) who was drafted in the sixth round 44th overall. Leading the way for Mustangs running back Randy McAuley to a third all-time CIS career rushing yardage mark, Zulys was one of the CIS's best linemen. The fourth-year, Social Justice and Peace student represented Western at the 2007 East-West Bowl at Laval, and he jumped right into a starting role as a rookie during the 2004 season. Scott, a second year Geography student, a transfer from Saginaw Valley State Cardinals was redshirted at Western in 2007. In 2006 for the Cardinals, Scott caught 19 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown.
OUA players selected in 2008 CFL Canadian Draft:
Second Round
5. (13 total) Mike Bradwell, McMaster, WR (by Toronto)
Third Round
1. (17 total) Mike Giffin, Queen's, RB/FB (by Hamilton)
4. (20 total) Jason Arakgi, McMaster, LB (by B.C.)
8. (24 total) Daryl Stephenson, Windsor, RB (by Winnipeg)
Fourth Round
5. (29 total) Delroy Clarke, Ottawa, DB (by Toronto)
Fifth Round
2. (34 total) Dante Luciani, Wilfrid Laurier, WR (by Edmonton)
5. (37 total) Richard Zulys, Western Ontario, OL (by Toronto)
Sixth Round
4. (44 total) Scott Tyler, Western Ontario, REC (by Toronto)
- OUA - (With files from McMaster, Queen's, Windsor, Ottawa, Laurier and Western)
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
Bradwell had a breakout season in 2007, which earned him a spot on the All-Canadian First Team. He set the Marauder all-time school record catching 53 passes (first in the OUA) and finished first in the CIS with 958 yards receiving in a single season. The civil engineering student didn't score his first touchdown until his third season with the Marauders, but managed to finish the season with nine receiving touchdowns.
Queen's University running back Mike Giffin (Kingston, ON) was selected 17th overall by the Hamilton Tiger Cats. "It's exciting to be drafted and definitely an honour that not a lot of people get to experience," said Giffin. "Right now I can't wait to get to training camp to show Hamilton my skills. My goal is to make the team and have a long career." Giffin, who is completing his degree in Geography, broke several school records becoming the first player in Queen's rich football history to rush for over 1,000-yards in single season while ranking as the nation's third leading rusher with 1,157-yards in 2007. He also set school marks in scoring (96 points), touchdowns (16), carries (185) and finished second in the country with rushing touchdowns (12).
Jason Arakgi (Toronto, ON), a fourth-year Marauder line backer was drafted 20th overall to the B.C Lions. In the 2007 regular season he accumulated 38 total tackles (16th in the OUA) including 32 solo tackles, one sack and one interception. His best game was in the playoffs where he notched five more tackles, three sacks, and one interception in a single game.
Windsor Lancer's Daryl Stephenson (London, ON) was selected in the third round of the CFL draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he will join former Lancer teammate Arjei Franklin. The 2006 Hec Crighton trophy winner as the Canadian University's Most Outstanding Player is the OUA's all-time leading rusher and is second all-time in the CIS in rushing with 4,402 yards. He sits only 336 yards away from becoming Canadian University Football's all-time leading rusher. He is also the only player in CIS history to rush for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons.
Gee-Gees defensive back Delroy Clarke was drafted in the fourth round, 29th overall, by the Toronto Argonauts. Clarke, a third-year student-athlete from Whitby, ON, had two interceptions and 10 solo tackles last season after playing in six of eight regular season games. "He is a tall defensive back, which is something all coaches look for," said Gee-Gees head coach Denis Piche. "After a couple of (CFL) practices he will not look out of place."
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawk wide receiver Dante Luciani (Oakville, ON) was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in the fifth round (34th overall). Dante was the only Hawk taken in the draft this year. Luciani, an OUA second team all-star this past season, was second on the team in receiving yards with 259 yards and third on the team in scoring with eight touchdowns. After playing his first season as a quarterback, Dante switched positions and became one of the team's star receivers.
Rounding out the draft for the OUA were Western Mustangs offensive lineman Richard Zulys (Toronto, ON) who was drafted in the fifth round (37th overall) and defensive back/wide received Tyler Scott (Windsor, ON) who was drafted in the sixth round 44th overall. Leading the way for Mustangs running back Randy McAuley to a third all-time CIS career rushing yardage mark, Zulys was one of the CIS's best linemen. The fourth-year, Social Justice and Peace student represented Western at the 2007 East-West Bowl at Laval, and he jumped right into a starting role as a rookie during the 2004 season. Scott, a second year Geography student, a transfer from Saginaw Valley State Cardinals was redshirted at Western in 2007. In 2006 for the Cardinals, Scott caught 19 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown.
OUA players selected in 2008 CFL Canadian Draft:
Second Round
5. (13 total) Mike Bradwell, McMaster, WR (by Toronto)
Third Round
1. (17 total) Mike Giffin, Queen's, RB/FB (by Hamilton)
4. (20 total) Jason Arakgi, McMaster, LB (by B.C.)
8. (24 total) Daryl Stephenson, Windsor, RB (by Winnipeg)
Fourth Round
5. (29 total) Delroy Clarke, Ottawa, DB (by Toronto)
Fifth Round
2. (34 total) Dante Luciani, Wilfrid Laurier, WR (by Edmonton)
5. (37 total) Richard Zulys, Western Ontario, OL (by Toronto)
Sixth Round
4. (44 total) Scott Tyler, Western Ontario, REC (by Toronto)
- OUA - (With files from McMaster, Queen's, Windsor, Ottawa, Laurier and Western)
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
