CFL Canadian Draft: Record year for CIS, 15 OUA athletes picked up

OTTAWA (CIS) – Linden Gaydosh, a defensive tackle from the University of Calgary, became the seventh CIS player in as many years – and the 11th in the past 14 years - to be selected first overall in the CFL Canadian Draft when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats called his name at No. 1, on Monday.

For all the information on the CFL Canadian Draft: www.cfl.ca

A record number of 44 CIS players were selected out of 60 total picks for a percentage of 73.3, up from 53.3% a year ago (24/45). The previous mark of 38 CIS draftees had been set in 2009 over six rounds (38/48 – 79.1%), one less than this year.

Four CIS stars were called in the first round, six in the second, four in the third, eighth in the fourth, eight in the fifth, six in the sixth, and eight in the seventh.

Gaydosh, who hails from Peace River, Alta., followed in the footsteps of Saskatchewan offensive lineman Ben Heenan, who was picked first overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders a year ago, as well as StFX linebacker Henoc Muamba (Winnipeg), Queen’s linebacker Shomari Williams (Saskatchewan), Alberta offensive lineman Simeon Rottier (Hamilton), Saskatchewan defensive back Dylan Barker (Hamilton) and Regina wide receiver Chris Bauman (Hamilton), the No. 1 selections in 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Laval defensive end Miguel Robédé (2005, Calgary), Saint Mary’s offensive lineman Steven Morley (2003, Calgary), Laval offensive lineman Alexandre Gauthier (2002, Ottawa) and UBC linebacker Tyson St. James (2000, Saskatchewan) were also top picks out of CIS since 2000.

Gaydosh joined slotback Don Blair (1996, Edmonton) and defensive end Kent Warnock (1986, Calgary) on the list of Dinos to go at No. 1.

Since 1965 (year of first Vanier Cup championship), 28 CIS players have been chosen with the first pick. All players selected first overall in the first nine CFL Canadian Drafts between 1956 and 1964 were also from schools currently competing in CIS.

“I can’t think of any good words to describe it,” said Gaydosh in an interview with CFL Draft broadcaster TSN. “I really like the coaches there, and I hope I’m able to do some things in Hamilton this year. The next goal is to get on the field and show everyone what I can do now.”

Gaydosh was dominant in his four seasons at the U of C. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound arts student started every game as a freshman in 2009 and went on to claim the Peter Gorman Trophy as CIS rookie of the year. After being named defensive MVP of the Canada West Hardy Cup final in 2010, he was voted a conference all-star in each of the past two campaigns, including in 2011, when he earned second-team all-Canadian status.

Last fall, he recorded 11.5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, one quarterback sack and one forced fumble in seven league contests as Calgary led Canada West in every major defensive categories, including least points allowed (14.6 per game), total yards (272.1), passing yards (167.8) and rushing yards (104.4).

The Dinos captured the conference banner in each of his four seasons with the team and made back-to-back Vanier Cup appearances in 2009 and 2010.

After playing in the CIS East West Bowl a year ago, Gaydosh was ranked in the top three on the CFL’s Scouting Bureau prospect list throughout the 2012-13 season, including at No. 2 back in September and No. 3 in both December and March.

Three more CIS standouts were selected in the first round on Monday, including two more Dinos. Calgary linebacker Mike Edem was called at No. 3 by the Montreal Alouettes; teammate Steven Lumbala, a running back, was picked by Montreal at No. 5; and McMaster offensive tackle Matt Sewell was chosen at No. 8 by the Toronto Argonauts.

Edem, who was born in Nigeria and whose family now lives in Brampton, Ont., started his university career with McGill as a safety in 2009 before transferring to the U of C, where he played halfback in 2011 and linebacker in 2012. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound open studies student flourished at his new position and was named Canada West defensive MVP after leading the conference with 55 tackles – 10 more than the next-highest total – and 9.5 tackles for a loss. He was ranked 10th on the final Scouting Bureau list on March 18.  

Lumbala, who was born in Montreal and now calls Calgary home, put up remarkable numbers in his fourth season with the Dinos despite seeing action in only six of eight conference games due to injuries. The 5-foot-11, 220-pound business student racked up 636 yards on only 79 rushing attempts for a Canada West-leading average of 8.1 yards per carry, good for second in the country. A two-time Canada West all-star and a first-team all-Canadian in 2011, the younger brother of B.C. Lions fullback Rolly was left off the final Scouting Bureau list after being ranked fifth in September and 13th in December. 

Sewell, a 6-foot-8, 330-pound physical specimen from Milton, Ont., played a major role in the Marauders reaching back-to-back Vanier Cup finals – including the first national title in program history in 2011 – and McMaster quarterback Kyle Quinlan winning the Hec Crighton Trophy last fall. A two-time all-Canadian, the commerce student was ranked in the top four on the CFL’s prospect list throughout the season (No. 2, No. 2, No. 4) and recently signed a free agent contract with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.

Other notables among CIS draftees include Regina defensive tackle Stefan Charles, who was the top-ranked CIS player (No. 2) on the last Scouting Bureau list but dropped to the second round (10th overall, Edmonton) after signing an NFL free agent contract with Tennessee; McMaster defensive lineman Ben D’Aguilar, the 2012 J.P. Metras Trophy winner as CIS lineman of the year, who was picked 13th overall by Calgary; and Regina offensive lineman Brett Jones, a two-time first-team all-Canadian and the 2012 Canada West nominee for the J.P. Metras and Russ Jackson Trophies, who was also selected by Calgary in the second round (16th overall).

Saint Mary’s led all CIS programs with six players selected. Calgary and McMaster followed with five apiece.

The 10-team OUA league was the most prolific of the four CIS conferences with 15 draftees, followed by the six-team Canada West (14), six-team RSEQ (9) and four-team AUS (6).

Offensive linemen were the most popular CIS players as 11 were called. Receivers (9) were second, ahead of defensive linemen (6), linebackers (6), defensive backs (6), running backs / fullbacks (3) and kickers (3).

The 2013 CFL season gets underway on June 27th.

NOTES: The 1983 and 1984 CFL Canadian Drafts opened with one Territorial Protection per team, so the first player drafted was the 10th overall choice... Each Draft from 1973 to 1982 opened with two Territorial Protections per team, so the first player drafted was the 19th overall choice.  

CIS players selected in 2013 CFL Canadian Draft (44):

First Round (9 total selections)
1. Linden Gaydosh, Calgary, DT (by Hamilton)
3. Mike Edem, Calgary, LB (by Montreal)
5. Steven Lumbala, Calgary, RB (by Montreal)
8. Matt Sewell, McMaster, OT (by Toronto)

Second Round (9 total selections)
1. (10 total) Stefan Charles, Regina, DT (by Edmonton)
2. (11 total) Kris Robertson, Concordia, DB (by Winnipeg)
3. (12 total) Seydou Junior Haïdara, Laval, WR (by B.C.)
4. (13 total) Ben D’Aguilar, McMaster, DL (by Calgary)
7. (16 total) Brett Jones, Regina, OL (by Calgary)
8. (17 total) Jermaine Gabriel, Bishop’s, DB (by Toronto)

Third Round (9 total selections)
2. (20 total) Carl Fitzgerald, Saint Mary’s, WR (by Winnipeg)
6. (24 total) Kyle Norris, Saint Mary’s, LB (by Edmonton)
7. (25 total) Yannick Morin-Plante, Laval, WR (by Calgary)
8. (26 total) Christopher Mercer, Regina, OL (by Edmonton)

Fourth Round (9 total selections)
1. (28 total) Charlie Power, Saskatchewan, WR (by Calgary)
2. (29 total) Michael DiCroce, McMaster, WR (by Winnipeg)
3. (30 total) Nicolas Boulay, Sherbrooke, LB (by Montreal)
4. (31 total) Jorgen Hus, Regina, LB (by Edmonton)
5. (32 total) Michael Klassen, Calgary, OL (by Montreal)
6. (33 total) Matt McGarva, Windsor, DB (by B.C.)
7. (34 total) Taylor Servais, Ottawa, OL (by Edmonton)
8. (35 total) Simon Le Marquand, Ottawa, WR (by Hamilton)

Fifth Round (8 total selections)
1. (37 total) Isaac Dell, Wilfrid Laurier, FB (by Hamilton)
2. (38 total) Matt Vonk, Waterloo, OL (by Saskatchewan)
3. (39 total) Alex Anthony, Wilfrid Laurier, WR (by Saskatchewan)
4. (40 total) Levi Steinhauer, Saskatchewan, DL (by Saskatchewan)
5. (41 total) Jake Piotrowski, Guelph, OL (by Montreal)
6. (42 total) Matthew Albright, Saint Mary’s, OL (by B.C.)
7. (43 total) Neil King, Saint Mary’s, DB (by Hamilton)
8. (44 total) Spencer Moore, McMaster, TE (by Saskatchewan)

Sixth Round (8 total selections)
1. (45 total) Michael Daly, McMaster, DB (by Hamilton)
3. (47 total) Simon Légaré, Montreal, OL (by Montreal)
4. (48 total) Shane Bergman, Western, OL (by Calgary)
5. (49 total) Thomas Spoletini, Calgary, LB (by Saskatchewan)
6. (50 total) Matt Walker, UBC, DB (by B.C.)
7. (51 total) Elie Ngoyi, Bishop’s, DE (by Edmonton)

Seventh Round (8 total selections)
1. (53 total) Brett Lauther, Saint Mary’s, K (by Hamilton)
2. (54 total) Billy Pavlopoulos, UBC, K (by Winnipeg)
3. (55 total) Smith Wright, Alberta, FB (by Edmonton)
4. (56 total) Eric Armitage, Western, OL (by Saskatchewan)
5. (57 total) Damone Blackman, Saint Mary’s, WR (by Montreal)
6. (58 total) Cameron Thorn, Guelph, DL (by B.C.)
7. (59 total) Dumitru Ionita, Concordia, P (by Calgary)
8. (60 total) Paul Spencer, Concordia, LB (by Toronto)

CIS players selected by round (44):

First round: 4
Second: 6
Third: 4
Fourth: 8
Fifth: 8
Sixth: 6
Seventh: 8

CIS players selected by regional associations (44):

OUA: 15
Canada West: 14
RSEQ: 9
AUS: 6

CIS players selected by universities (44):

Saint Mary’s: 6
Calgary: 5
McMaster: 5
Regina: 4
Concordia: 3
Bishop’s: 2
Guelph: 2
Laval: 2
Ottawa: 2
Saskatchewan: 2
UBC: 2
Western: 2
Wilfrid Laurier: 2
Alberta: 1
Montreal: 1
Sherbrooke: 1
Waterloo: 1
Windsor: 1

CIS players selected by positions (44):

Offensive linemen: 11
Receivers: 9
Defensive linemen: 6
Linebackers: 6
Defensive backs: 6
Running back / fullbacks: 3
Kickers / punters: 3

Source: CIS