Nine OUA Athletes selected in the 2011 CFL Draft
Nine OUA football players were selected in the 2011 CFL Draft on Sunday afternoon. The Western Mustangs had the most representation with four players being selected. Toronto, Queen’s, Guelph, Ottawa, and Laurier were also represented.
Craig Butler, defensive back for the Mustangs from London, Ont., was the first OUA student-athlete selected. He was drafted in the second round at 12th overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Varsity Blues defensive back Hugo Lopez was selected by the Edmonton Eskimos in the second round, 14th overall. The Newmarket, Ont., native made 22 tackles and one interception in eight games played in 2010.
Queen's offensive lineman Matthew O'Donnell of Kingston, Ont., was selected in the second round, 15th overall, by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. O'Donnell will join former Gaels stars Shomari Williams and Rob Bagg as members of the Roughriders. He is a two-time All-Canadian and was the 2010 recipient of the OUA J.P. Metras Award for the top lineman in the conference.
Two Mustangs were picked in the third round of the draft. Brendan Dunn, an offensive lineman from Barrie, Ont. was selected 17th overall by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Zander Robinson, defensive lineman from Vancouver, was selected 22nd overall by the Toronto Argonauts.
Guelph Gryphon wide receiver Jedd Gardner from Niagara Falls, Ont., was selected in the fourth round, 28th overall, by the Toronto Argonauts. He finished his fourth year of eligibility with the Gryphons in 2010 and currently sits with a career record of 2,000 yards on 114 passes.
2010 Hec Crighton winner Brad Sinopoli, from Peterborough, Ont., has achieved a rare feat for Canadian QBs by being drafted into the CFL - as a quarterback. The Calgary Stampeders selected Sinopoli in the fourth round of the 2011 Canadian Draft with the 29th overall pick.
Former Western Mustangs defensive lineman and current San Diego Chargers player Vaughn Martin was selected in the fifth round, 39th overall, by the Montreal Alouettes. Montreal will retain his rights if he decides to play in the CFL.
The final OUA pick of the day was Laurier’s Michael Knill who was selected in the sixth round, 43rd overall by Toronto. The offensive lineman from Rochester Hills, MI turned heads at the CFL evaluation camp after breaking the CFL bench press record.
OUA players selected in 2011 CFL Canadian Draft (9):
Second Round (3 total selections)
4. (12 total) Craig Butler, Western, DB (by Saskatchewan)
6. (14 total) Hugo Lopez, Toronto, DB (by Edmonton)
7. (15 total) Matthew O’Donnell, Queen’s, OL (by Saskatchewan)
Third Round (2 total selections)
1. (17 total) Brendan Dunn, Western, DL (by Winnipeg)
6. (22 total) Alexander Robinson, Western, DE (by Toronto)
Fourth Round (2 total selections)
5. (28 total) Jedd Gardner, Guelph, WR (by Toronto)
6. (29 total) Brad Sinopoli, Ottawa, QB (by Calgary)
Fifth Round (1 total selection)
8. (39 total) Vaughn Martin, Western, DL (by Montreal)
Sixth Round (1 total selection)
4. (43 total) Michael Knill, Wilfrid Laurier, OL (by Toronto)
OUA players selected by round (9):
Second round: 3
Third round: 2
Fourth round: 2
Fifth round: 1
Sixth round: 1
OUA players selected by universities (9):
Western: 4
Toronto: 1
Queen’s: 1
Guelph: 1
Ottawa: 1
Wilfrid Laurier: 1
