CFL DRAFT RECAP, RIDERS SELECT FORD
The Ottawa Redblacks selected offensive lineman Dontae Bull first overall in the CFL draft Tuesday night.
The six-foot-seven, 320-pound Victoria native started seven games at right tackle for Fresno State in 2022 before sustaining a season-ending broken leg Oct. 29. Bull started 11-of-13 games for the school in 2021.
Bull started 33 of 37 games at Fresno State and will look to help an Ottawa offence that finished second-last in rushing last year (85.4 yards per game).
The Edmonton Elks, selecting second, took Montreal Carabins linebacker Michael Brodrique, a native of Saint-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Que. The six-foot-three, 230-pound Brodrique had 32 tackles (4.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks and an interception in seven games and was the top U Sports player in the CFL scouting bureau’s top-20 draft list at No. 11.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders then chose UBC defensive lineman Lake Korte-Moore. The six-foot-five, 262-pound Ottawa native registered 48 tackles (26 solo, 12.5 for loss), six sacks and a forced fumble in 10 games last season when he was a Canada West all-star.
With the fourth selection, the Calgary Stampeders grabbed Northern Illinois receiver Cole Tucker. The six-foot-one, 193-pound Tucker was born in the U.S. but is deemed a Canadian as his mother is from Brandon, Man.
Tucker had 155 catches for 2,030 yards and 10 touchdowns over five seasons with the Huskies.
The Montreal Alouettes, with the first of two opening-round picks, took Penn State defensive back Jonathan Sutherland, a surprise given he signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. Sutherland, of Ottawa, was a four-year captain with the Nittany Lions and had 137 tackles, eight sacks, an interception and forced fumble in 58 games.
At No. 6, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats took Saskatchewan offensive lineman Dayton Black, a six-foot-five, 295-pound native of Brandon, Man. Black, a converted quarterback, was a Canada West all-star last season.
Montreal followed by selecting Edmonton’s Lwal Uguak, a six-foot-five, 271-pound defensive lineman at TCU. He played in 14 of TCU’s 15 games, recording 10 tackles as the Horned Frogs defeated Michigan 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl before losing 65-7 to Georgia in the NCAA championship game.
With the eighth selection, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers picked Regina defensive lineman Anthony Bennet. The six-foot-three, 230-pound Bennett was a 2022 Canada West all-star and first-team all-Canadian after registering a team-record eight sacks during the regular season and tying a school mark for tackles for a loss (10.5).
Bennett comes from a football family. His father, Charles, uncle, Tony, and cousin, Michael, are all former NFL players. Bennett’s older brother, Andrew, played collegiately at Regina before signing with Montreal.
The B.C. Lions completed the opening round by selecting Southern Utah defensive lineman Francis Bemiy. The six-foot-three, 257-pound Montreal native – who was expected to go much earlier in the round – played defensive end and tackle in school, registering 163 tackles (38.5 for loss), 13 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 49 career games.
(Canadian Press)
FULL ROUGHRIDERS DRAFT CLASS
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have selected eight talented football players in the 2023 CFL Draft:
- Lake Korte-Moore (DL – UBC) – 1st round, 3rd overall
- Jaxon Ford (DB – Regina) – 2nd round, 11th overall
- Matt Dean (LB – York) – 3rd round, 21st overall
- Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (RB – Delaware State) – 4th round, 30th overall
- Sidy Sow (OL – Eastern Michigan) – 6th round, 48th overall
- Evan Floren (OL – Queen’s) – 7th round, 57th overall
- Nick Thomas (LB – Manitoba) – 7th round, 60th overall
- Tavius Robinson (DL – Mississippi) – 8th round, 66th overall
Korte-Moore (6’5-262) has spent four collegiate seasons (2018-22) at the University of British Columbia. In 34 games, the former Thunderbird recorded 110 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two interceptions, eight pass knockdowns, and three forced fumbles.
The Ottawa native had a breakout season in 2022, logging a career high 48 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and six sacks to earn a Canada West All-Star selection. Korte-Moore participated in the 2023 College Gridiron Showcase and posted the highest vertical jump among defensive linemen at the CFL Combine.
Ford (6’1-190) played four seasons (2018-22) at the University of Regina. In 29 games, the 22-year-old recorded 130 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, one sack, five interceptions, 11 pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick. In 2022, Ford started all eight games at safety for the Rams and earned U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadian honours and was named a Canada West All-Star. Born and raised in Regina, Ford is the grandson of legendary Roughrider player and general manager Al Ford.
Dean (6’2-220) spent four collegiate seasons (2018-22) at York University. The 23-year-old logged 115 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, seven pass knockdowns, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and one blocked field goal over 31 games. Dean was named an OUA All-Star and Team MVP in 2022 and to the OUA All-Rookie Team in 2018.
Bertand-Hudon (6’0-220) spent four collegiate seasons (2019-22) at Delaware State University. The Quebec native registered 239 carries for 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding 11 catches for 51 receiving yards over 27 games. In 2019, Bertrand-Hudon led the Hornets and was sixth in the MEAC averaging 56.6 rushing yards per game. The 26-year-old had a strong showing at the 2023 CFL Combine, finishing with the fastest 40-yard dash of all running backs at 4.71 seconds and the quickest shuttle time of all participants, clocking in a time of 4.16 seconds.
Sow (6’5-323) played five collegiate seasons (2018-22) at Eastern Michigan University. He started 13 games last season, allowing just two sacks in 949 snaps, and only six over his whole career. He helped the Eagles finish first in the MAC in red-zone offence (93.9 per cent) and third-down percentage (44.9), and second in passing efficiency (137.9). The native of Bromont, Que., left school as the leader in games played (56) and started (54) and participated in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. He was named Third-Team All-MAC in 2019 and was a First-Team selection in both 2021 and 2022. Sow was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round, 117thoverall, of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Floren (6’4-300) played four collegiate seasons (2019-22) at Queen’s University. Primarily starting at left guard in 2022, Floren was part of a line that helped Queen’s finish second in the OUA in rushing at 239.3 yards per game and fourth with 227.3 passing yards per game. The Ontario native was named an OUA First-Team All-Star and a U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadian following the 2022 season.
Thomas (5’11-210) earned 107 total tackles over four seasons (2018-22) as a University of Manitoba Bison. Over 24 career collegiate games he’s also added seven tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass deflections, and two force fumbles. He was named a U SPORTS and Canada West All-Star in 2021 after leading the Bisons in tackles (50). Thomas ranked second among linebackers in the bench press at the CFL Combine with 18.
Robinson (6’6-265) spent three collegiate seasons (2020-22) at Ole Miss, seeing action in 34 games. The Guelph native logged 90 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, one pass knockdown, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. In 2022, he led the Rebels with seven sacks and five forced fumbles. Robinson previously played two seasons (2018-19) at the University of Guelph, where he was named to the OUA All-Rookie team in 2018 and was an OUA Second-Team All-Star in 2019. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 4th round, 124th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft.
(Riderville.com)
