36 CIS players drafted into CFL

OTTAWA (CIS) – Shomari Williams of the reigning Vanier Cup champion Queen’s University Gaels, who can play at both linebacker and defensive end, became the fourth CIS player in as many years – and the eighth in 11 years – to be selected first overall in the CFL Canadian Draft after the Saskatchewan Roughriders traded up to make him the No. 1 pick, on Sunday.

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

The 36 CIS players selected out of 47 total picks (76.6%) are the second highest total since 1970 (complete CFL archives go back to 1970), two behind last year’s record crop and one more than in 2004.

Four CIS standouts went in the first round, seven in the second, six in each of the third, fourth and fifth rounds, and seven in the sixth.

Hours before Sunday’s draft, Saskatchewan traded the second and fourth overall selections as well as former CIS kicker Jamie Boreham to the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for the first and eighth overall picks in order to put their hands on Williams.

Williams followed in the footsteps of Alberta offensive lineman Simeon Rottier, Saskatchewan defensive back Dylan Barker and Regina wide receiver Chris Bauman, all No. 1 selections of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Laval defensive end Miguel Robébé (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 No.1 picks out of CIS since 2000.

Since 1970, 20 CIS players have been chosen with the top pick.

Williams of Brampton, Ont., was the fourth Gael in history to go first overall in the CFL Draft. He followed running back and receiver Jim Young (1965, Toronto), Jim Hughes (1957) and Lou Bruce (1956). He was also the first player from Queen’s chosen in the first round since 1993 when running back Brad Elberg was taken by Saskatchewan at No. 2.

The six-foot-two, 236-pound Williams topped the final prospects list published last month by the CFL Amateur Scouting Bureau. After suiting up for the University of Houston Cougars of the NCAA for three seasons, he excelled last fall in his lone CIS campaign finishing fourth in the country with 8.5 tackles for a loss in six starts at defensive end, while leading his team with four quarterback sacks and tallying 32 tackles. He was named Mitchell Bowl MVP after he exploded for 3.5 sacks in a 33-30 upset of top-ranked Laval in the national semifinal, and on Nov. 28 helped the Gaels capture their first Vanier Cup since 1992 with a 33-31 win over Calgary.

“I’m very happy to be a Roughrider. I’m ready for training camp right now and ready to begin my career in Saskatchewan,” Williams told TSN. “The last year has really been a blessing for me, coming back to Canada and winning the Vanier Cup. Now I can’t wait to join the CFL.”

Rounding out the first-round selections out of CIS were Concordia linebacker Cory Greenwood of Kingston, Ont., who went to Toronto at No. 3; Guelph kicker Rob Maver of Brampton, Ont., picked by the Calgary Stampeders at No. 5; and Concordia offensive lineman Kristian Matte of St-Hubert, Que., taken by the Montreal Alouettes with the seventh and final opening-round pick.

Greenwood, who was ranked third on the final CFL Scouting Bureau list, claimed the Presidents’ Trophy as CIS defensive player of the year in 2009 after he led the Quebec conference and finished third in the nation with 62 regular-season tackles in eight games, including five for a loss and a pair of quarterback sacks. The three-time Quebec all-star and 2009 first-team all-Canadian, who stands at six-foot-two and 235 pounds, had the fifth-best single-game performance in QUFL history on Sept. 19 when he racked up 14 tackles against Sherbrooke.

Maver, who was sixth on last month’s Scouting Bureau list, was an all-Canadian as both a punter and placekicker in 2008 when he averaged a massive 46.1-yard punting average. Last season, he made 13 of 14 field goal attempts for the second best success rate in CIS (92.9%) and averaged 41.3 yards per punt, also good for second place in the country. He earned a second straight OUA all-star nod as a placekicker and a fourth nomination in as many years as an all-OUA punter.

Matte, who signed a free-agent contract with the NFL’s Houston Texans on April 24, was a second-team all-Canadian and a QUFL all-star in his fourth season at Concordia in 2009. The six-foot-four, 296-pound tackle, who can also line up at guard and centre, helped the Stingers place third in the country with 340.6 passing yards per game last fall and finish tied for sixth in CIS with only 11 sacks allowed in eight games.

The Saint Mary’s Huskies led all CIS programs with four players selected, part of seven draftees from the four-team Atlantic conference. Five schools followed with three selections apiece including Concordia, Bishop’s, Montreal, Simon Fraser and St. Francis Xavier.

The QUFL and OUA both saw 10 of their players drafted, with Canada West not far behind with nine.

Linebackers were the most popular CIS players as eight of them heard their names called. Receivers (7) and offensive linemen (7) tied for second.

The 2010 CFL season gets underway on July 1st.

CIS players selected in 2010 CFL Canadian Draft (36):

First round (7 total selections)
1. Shomari Williams, Queen’s, LB / DE (by Saskatchewan)
3. Cory Greenwood, Concordia, LB (by Toronto)
5. Rob Maver, Guelph, K (by Calgary)
7. Kristian Matte, Concordia, OT (by Montreal)

Second Round (8 total selections)
1. (8 total) Jordan Sisco, Regina, WR (by Saskatchewan)
2. (9 total) Cory Watson, Concordia, WR (by Winnipeg)
3. (10 total) Shawn Gore, Bishop’s, WR (by B.C.)
4. (11 total) Grant Shaw, Saskatchewan, DB / K (by Toronto)
5. (12 total) Saleem Borhot, Saint Mary’s, DB (by Edmonton)
6. (13 total) Taurean Allen, Wilfrid Laurier, DB (by Calgary)
7. (14 total) Chima Ihekwoaba, Wilfrid Laurier, DE (by Montreal)

Third Round (8 total selections)
1. (16 total) Joash Gesse, Montreal, LB (by B.C.)
3. (18 total) Spencer Watt, Simon Fraser, WR (by Toronto)
4. (19 total) Samuel Fournier, Laval, RB (by Hamilton)
5. (20 total) Hamid Mahmoudi, Montreal, DB (by B.C.)
7. (22 total) Eddie Steele, Manitoba, DE (by Hamilton)
8. (23 total) Marc-Olivier Brouillette, Montreal, QB (by Montreal)

Fourth Round (8 total selections)
2. (25 total) Akeem Foster, St. Francis Xavier, WR (by B.C.)
3. (26 total) Joel Reinders, Waterloo, OT (by Toronto)
5. (28 total) Christopher Smith, Queen’s, LB (by Winnipeg)
6. (29 total) Anthony Woodson, Calgary, RB (by Winnipeg)
7. (30 total) Steven Turner, Bishop’s, WR (by Toronto)
8. (31 total) Ryan Bomben, Guelph, OL (by Montreal)

Fifth Round (8 total selections)
1. (32 total) Michael Warner, Waterloo, OL (by Toronto)
2. (33 total) Patrick Neufeld, Saskatchewan, OL (by Saskatchewan)
3. (34 total) Cauchy Muamba, St. Francis Xavier, DB (by B.C.)
5. (36 total) Justin Palardy, Saint Mary’s, K (by Hamilton)
6. (37 total) Karl McCartney, Saint Mary’s, LB (by Calgary)
8. (39 total) Brian Ridgeway, Simon Fraser, LB (by Montreal)

Sixth Round (8 total selections)
2. (41 total) Adam Baboulas, Saint Mary’s, OL (by B.C.)
3. (42 total) Matthew Chapdelaine, Simon Fraser, WR (by B.C.)
4. (43 total) Corbin Sharun, St. Francis Xavier, QB (by Edmonton)
5. (44 total) Elliot Conor, Western Ontario, LB (by Toronto)
6. (45 total) Christopher Greaves, Western Ontario, DL (by Winnipeg)
7. (46 total) Oama Culbreath, UBC, OL (by Calgary)
8. (47 total) Justin Conn, Bishop’s, LB (by Montreal)

CIS players selected by round (36):

First round: 4
Second round: 7
Third round: 6
Fourth round: 6
Fifth round: 6
Sixth round: 7

CIS players selected by regional associations (36):

QSSF: 10
OUA: 10
Canada West: 9
AUS: 7

CIS players selected by universities (36):

Saint Mary’s: 4
Concordia: 3
Bishop’s: 3
Montreal: 3
Simon Fraser: 3
StFX: 3
Queen’s: 2
Guelph: 2
Saskatchewan: 2
Wilfrid Laurier: 2
Waterloo: 2
Western: 2
Regina: 1
Laval: 1
Manitoba: 1
Calgary: 1
UBC: 1

CIS players selected by positions (36):

Linebackers: 8 *
Receivers: 7
Offensive linemen: 7
Defensive backs: 5
Kickers: 3 *
Defensive linemen: 3
Running backs: 2
Quarterbacks: 2

* First overall pick Shomari Williams listed as a linebacker
* Grant Shaw listed as both DB and K

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