Top 4 2019 CFL Draft picks are national team alumni

20 National and Provincial alumni drafted by 7 teams during eight rounds

By Ameeta Vohra

Last Thursday night, several national and provincial team alumni saw their dreams become a reality as they heard their name called in the 2019 CFL Draft.

The first four overall picks represented Canada and brought home medals at previous IFAF World Junior Championships.  First overall pick  Shane Richards, an offensive lineman who went to the Toronto Argonauts and third pick Mathieu Betts, a defensive lineman who was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos, helped Canada claim silver at the 2014 Championship in Kuwait.

Second overall pick Jesse Gibbon, an offensive lineman who was selected by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and fourth pick Drew Desjarlais, an offensive lineman drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, were part of the national team that won gold in Harbin China at the 2016 Championship.

In total, five alumni were selected in the first round of the CFL Draft.  Drafted eighth by the Calgary Stampeders was wide receiver Hergy Mayala who helped Quebec win gold at the 2012 Football Canada Cup in London, Ontario.

Laval Rouge et Or teammates Vincent Desjardins (defensive lineman) and Samuel Thomassin (offensive lineman were drafted in the second round. Desjardins was chosen 17th by the Calgary Stampeders and Thomassin 19th by the Montreal Alouettes.  Both were silver medallists when Canada participated in the 2014 IFAF World Junior Championships in Kuwait. Wide receiver Nikola Kalinic , who represented the country at the 2016 International Bowl in Arlington, Texas, was drafted 10th by the Hamilton Tiger Cats.

Here are the 20 provincial and national alumni drafted in all seven rounds of the 2019 CFL Draft: