2022 CFL DRAFT RECAP, RIDER PICKS

Tyrell Richards is a football player again.

The Montreal Alouettes selected the former Syracuse linebacker first overall in the CFL draft Tuesday night. The six-foot-three, 232-pound Richards, had a career-high 24 tackles (3.5 for a loss) and two sacks in eight games (three starts) for the Orange in 2020.

Richards attended the CFL combine in March and performed well, posting a 37-inch vertical jump, 19 reps in the 225-pound bench press and running the 40-yard dash in 4.60 seconds. He also impressed with his versatility, testing with defensive lineman and working out with defensive backs.

Montreal secured the No. 1 pick before the draft in a trade with Edmonton. The Elks received the rights to Canadian offensive lineman Carter O’Donnell – a native of Red Deer, Alta., currently with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts – and the fourth overall selection.

Earlier on Tuesday, Montreal secured the ninth and 18th selections from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for Canadian defensive tackle Cameron Lawson and the 13th overall pick.

Montreal also had the top pick in the global draft and selected Nigerian-born defensive lineman Kingsley Jonathan, who played with Richards at Syracuse. But Jonathan agreed to terms with the Buffalo Bills on Saturday after being bypassed in the NFL draft.

The Ottawa Redblacks took Zach Pelehos, an offensive lineman from the University of Ottawa, second overall. The six-foot-five, 296-pound Gananoque, Ont., native was an OUA first-team all-star last season and was the fastest offensive linemen over 40 yards at the combine.

At No. 3, the B.C. Lions looked to Saskatchewan defensive lineman Nathan Cherry. The six-foot-three, 245-pound Saskatoon native had 24 tackles (15 solo, eight for loss) and six sacks last season.

Edmonton followed by taking Coastal Carolina linebacker/defensive back Henoc Makonzo. The five-foot-11, 195-pound Lachine, Que., native had 71 tackles and three forced fumbles last season, earning All-Sun Belt honourable mention.

The Calgary Stampeders stayed local at No. 5, drafting Dinos receiver Jaylen Philpot. The five-foot-11, 193-pound native of Delta, B.C., whose father, Cory, was a former CFL running back, registered 43 catches for 799 yards and three touchdowns in six games, earning first team All-Canadian honours for a second straight year.

The Toronto Argonauts shored up their offensive line with St. Francis Xavier’s Gregor MacKellar. The six-foot-five, 311-pound native of Timberlea, N.S., began his college career at Rice and is expected to bring a mean streak into the CFL.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders drafted Louisiana Tech receiver Samuel Emilus, a six-foot-one, 198-pound Montreal native. He had 17 catches for 257 yards and three TDs last season and has accepted a mini-camp offer from the Arizona Cardinals.

The Elks used their second opening-round pick on Waterloo Warriors quarterback Tre Ford. The Hec Crighton Trophy winner from Niagara Falls, Ont., had 1,465 passing yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing for 667 yards and three TDs over six games last year.

The Elks’ quarterback depth chart already includes veteran Nick Arbuckle, former Ohio State star T.J. Barrett and sophomore Taylor Cornelius, who made eight starts last year. The five-foot-11, 199-pound Ford becomes the highest quarterback taken since Edmonton selected Kansas State’s Sheldon Paris seventh in 1980 but Ford has been invited to the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants mini camps.

Montreal rounded out the first round by taking Calgary receiver Tyson Philpot, Jaylen’s twin brother. The five-foot-11, 189-pound Tyson Philpot had 41 catches for 746 yards and nine TDs last season and was named a first-team All-Canadian and Canada West’s outstanding player.

Coincidentally, Montreal kicks off the regular season visiting Calgary on June 9.

Toronto got great value in the second round, taking Western defensive lineman Deionte Knight at No. 10 and Bryant running back Daniel Adeboboye five picks later. The six-foot-three, 278-pound Knight, of Ajax., Ont., was Canadian university football’s top lineman last year while Adeboboye, a Toronto native, was a All-NEC First team player in the spring of 2021 after becoming the first Bryant running back to average over 100 yards per game since 2015.

B.C. selected Saskatchewan offensive lineman Noah Zerr with the third pick of the round, No. 12 overall. The six-foot-six, 305-pound Zerr, of Langenburg, Sask., was a first team All-Canadian and Canada West all-star in 2021 but has accepted an invitation to the New York Giants mini camp.

Then with the next pick, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers took Waterloo defensive back Tyrell Ford, Tre Ford’s twin brother. The five-foot-10, 188-pound Tyrell Ford was the fastest player at the CFL combine, posting a 40-yard dash of 4.42 seconds. He was invited to the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets mini camps.

The Redblacks completed the second round selecting Penn State’s Jesse Luketa, the CFL scouting bureau’s second-ranked draft prospect. The six-foot-three, 247-pound Ottawa native spent his first three college seasons as a linebacker before adding defensive end to his repertoire last year. But Luketa was a seventh-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.

Alabama receiver John Metchie III, who was the draft’s top-ranked prospect, went in the seventh round, No. 59 overall, to B.C. The Brampton, Ont., player was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Houston Texans.

(Canadian Press)

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have selected eight talented football players in the 2022 CFL Draft:

Samuel Emilus (WR – Louisiana Tech) – 1st round, 7th overall
Zack Fry (OL – Western) – 2nd round, 16th overall
Diego Alatorre Montoya (OL – British Columbia) – 3rd round, 27th overall
Tommy Bringi (LB –Laurier) – 4th round, 36th overall
Tristan Fleury (DB – McGill) – 5th round, 45th overall
Jayden Dalke (DB – Alberta) – 6th round, 54th overall
Zach Herzog (DB – Hillsdale) – 7th round, 63rd overall
Riley Boersma (WR – Regina) – 8th round, 72nd overall

Emilus (6’1-200) spent his senior season at Louisiana Tech University, playing eight games for the Bulldogs. The Montreal native recorded 17 receptions for 257 yards and three touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams, returning three kickoffs for 66 yards. Previously, Emilus played three collegiate seasons (2018-20) at the University of Massachusetts, playing in 22 games as a receiver and a returner. Over his career as a Minuteman, he earned 59 receptions for 653 yards and seven touchdowns and returned six kicks for 114 yards while adding four punt returns for 57 yards. In 2020, he was named to the Phil Steele All-Independent First Team as a punt returner. Emilus is invited to attend rookie minicamp with the Arizona Cardinals.

Fry (6’6-304) played three collegiate seasons at Western University, playing in 33 games and making 28 starts at right tackle. In both 2021 and 2019, the London, Ont. native was named an OUA First-Team All-Star as well as a U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadian. Additionally, he capped off the 2021 season by helping the Mustangs capture their eighth Vanier Cup in school history. He was also named to the OUA All-Rookie Team in 2018.

Alatorre Montoya (6’3-312) played four collegiate seasons at the University of British Columbia playing in 31 games as a Thunderbird. The versatile lineman played both left and right tackle before moving to left guard in his senior season. In 2021, Alatorre Montoya anchored the offensive line as the only senior and helped running back Isaiah Knight rush for 701 yards and three touchdowns on 113 carries. For his efforts, the Mexican native was named a Canada West Conference All-Star.

Bringi (5’11-229) played three collegiate seasons at the Wilfrid Laurier University, playing in 23 games. In his collegiate career, the London native racked up 147 tackles, nine-and-a-half tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions, and two pass breakups. The 21-year-old was named an OUA First-Team All-Star in 2021 and 2019.

Fleury (6’2-192) played four collegiate seasons at McGill, playing in 32 games as a Redbird. The Quebec native made 120 career tackles, including two tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, three interceptions and seven pass breakups. Noted for his tackling, Fleury was named a team captain in the 2021 season, participated in the Eastern Regional Combine and was selected for both the 2020 and 2021 East-West Bowl.

Dalke (6’1-203) played in 16 games over three collegiate seasons at the University of Alberta. The Leduc native recorded 94 tackles, one-and-a-half tackles for loss, three interceptions, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in a Golden Bears uniform. In 2021 he was named a Canada West First-Team All-Star and a U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadian. He previously played in the CJFL (2015-18) for the Edmonton Wildcats.

Herzog (5’9-192) spent five collegiate seasons at Hillsdale College playing in 30 games as a Charger. The Windsor, Ontario native made 244 defensive tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and averaging 8.1 tackles per game. He also added one sack, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three interceptions and eight pass breakups. His strong play saw him named First-Team All-Conference in three consecutive seasons.

Boersma (5’10-191) spent four collegiate seasons at the University of Regina, playing in 19 games, and will continue his football career in the same city. Over his time as a Ram, the 21-year-old earned 39 catches for 763 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 19.6 yards per reception. The Cambridge native had a strong showing at the CFL combine, recording the second best 40-yard dash time at 4.49 seconds and tying for the best vertical jump at 40.5 inches.

(Riderville.com)