David Naylor breaks down the first 2 rounds of the draft
Courtesy The Globe and Mail:
A look at the first two rounds of the CFL College Draft.
1. Hamilton — Dylan Barker — S — Saskatchewan — 6-4, 200— Far and away the best prospect available at a Canadian school. Might not be ready to start right away but will evolve into either a first-string safety with the potential to play linebacker.
2. Calgary — Dimitri Tsoumpas — OL — Weber State — 6-4, 315 — The safest offensive lineman choice in the draft. Tsoumpas has the skills to step in and play right away in the CFL but isn’t an NFL prospect.
3. Calgary — Jesse Newman — OL Jesse Newman, Louisianna-Lafayette — 6-4, 309 — A four-year starter at left tackle who raised eyebrows at college with his work ethic and toughness. Stamps have had attrition on the offensive line in recent years, take two good young ones.
4. Saskatchewan — Keith Shologan — DL — Central Florida — 6-2, 290 — Perhaps the best player available today, Shologan’s CFL draft stock took a plunge on Sunday when he inked a free agent contract with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. The Riders got lucky a few year back by drafting defensive lineman Scott Schultz who’d signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers but returned quickly to Canada.
5. B.C. Lion — Justin Sorenson — OL — South Carolina — 6-7, 327 — Would have been drafted higher but for two things. He’s a junior who’s returning to school and may very well be hot on the NFL’s radar screen by then. Comes from a passing school and should transition well to the CFL.
6. Winnipeg — Brendon LaBatte — OL — Regina — 6-4, 320 — The second player taken from a Canadian school may be a bit of a project. Has lots of upside but needs to improve his strength and quickness to be effective in the pros.
7. Montreal — Shea Emry — UBC — 6-1, 230 — Athletic linebacker who spent his first three college seasons at Eastern Washington. Can cover lots of the field and be a force on special teams as well.
8. Hamilton — Samuel Giguerre — Sherbrooke — 6-0, 215 — The best receiver prospect in Canada might have been taken by the TiCats with the first pick had he not signed with Indianapolis Sunday night. Great speed and physical skills, he has lots of upside.
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