TORONTO – Tyrell Richards is a footballer again.
Montreal Aluets chose the former Syracuse midfielder first overall in the CFL draft on Tuesday night. Six feet and three, the 232-pound Richards had 24 career hits (3.5 to lose) and twice in eight games (three starts) for the Orange in 2020.
He did not play in 2021 after entering the transfer portal, but could not move to another school due to a lack of transfer credits.
Richards attended the CFL Combine in March and performed well, making a 37-inch vertical jump, 19 reps in a 225-pound bench press and a 40-yard run in 4.60 seconds. He also impressed with his flexibility, testing with defensive linear and working with defensive backs.
“Honestly, it was a little rough before the plant, but after that day I started to feel like a footballer again,” Richards said. “All the preparation that was involved in this has intensified and now that we are heading to the camp, you will get the best out of me.”
Richards of Brampton, Ont., Spent 2021 training and coaching at Clarkson High School, his former high school in Mississauga, Ont. Richards has had 54 rebounds (9.5 to lose) and six shots in 31 career games in Syracuse and admits he is under pressure as his first overall pick.
“I feel like I know how to deal with myself in these situations, keeping my head up and not worrying about what anyone has to say,” Richards said. “I want to go out there and not be afraid of anything.
“They (Alouettes) can expect some physicality.
Montreal secured No. 1 choice before the draft in exchange for Edmonton. Elks won the rights to Canadian offensive line-up Carter O’Donnell – a native of Red Deer, Altai, currently with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL – and the fourth overall selection.
Earlier on Tuesday, Montreal secured the ninth and 18th Winnipeg Blue Bombers selections for Cameron Lawson’s Canadian defensive match and the 13th overall pick.
Montreal also had the best choice in the global draft and chose Nigerian-born defender Kingsley Jonathan, who played with Richards in Syracuse. But Jonathan agreed to make a deal with Buffalo Bills on Saturday after being sidelined in the NFL Draft.
The Ottawa Reds took Zach Pelejos, an offensive master from the University of Ottawa, second overall. Six feet and five, the 296-pound Gananoque, Ontario, was born in the first team of all OUA stars last season and was the fastest offensive striker over 40 yards at the plant.
“I am very pleased to be able to stay in Ottawa,” Pelehos said. “I know I will wear physicality every day.
“I know I will be moved inside … rather than a security guard. Entering the camp, I will work as hard as I can, I will work to conquer one of these places … there will be grinding every day. “
Number 3 BC Lions looked at Saskatchewan defender Nathan Cherry. The 245-pound Saskatchewan-born, six feet and three tall, had 24 fights (15 solo, eight to lose) and six sacks last season.
Cherry was surprised to be picked up by BC so early.
“I had no idea I was going to number 3, but I talked to BC (Tuesday morning) and I knew they were interested in me. When it first rang, I said to myself, “Okay, this is happening right now.” I thought there was a hit one to nine for each team, but I’m excited to go to BC. “
Edmonton, followed by Carolina midfielder / defender Enoc Maconzo. The 5-foot 11 and 195-pound native of Lachin, Quebec, had 71 rebounds and three forced strikes last season, earning the honorable mention of the All-Sun Belt.
The Calgary Stampiders remained local at number 5, choosing Dinos’ successor Jaylan Philpott. 5 feet 11 and 193 pounds, originally from Delta, British Columbia, whose father Corey, a former CFL quarterback, recorded 43 catches for 799 yards and three touchdowns in six games, winning first-team all-Canada awards for the second year in a row.
The Toronto Argonauts backed their offensive line with Gregor McKellar of St. Francis Xavier. Six feet and five, 311 pounds, a native of Timberley, NS, began his career at Rice College and is expected to make the middleweight streak in the CFL.
The Saskatchewan Roaders have chosen Louisiana tech successor Samuel Emillos, a 6-foot-tall, 198-pound Montreal-born Montreal. He made 17 catches for 257 yards and three TDs last season and accepted an offer for a mini-camp from the Arizona Cardinals.
The Elks used their second pick of the opening round against Waterloo Warriors quarterback Tre Ford. The winner of the Hec Crighton Trophy of Niagara Falls, Ont., Had 1,465 passes and 10 touchdowns, while rushing for 667 yards and three TDs in six games last year.
Elks’ quarterback depth chart now includes veteran Nick Arbuckle, former Ohio star TJ Barrett and sophomore Taylor Cornelius, who made eight starts last year. The 5-foot 11 and 199-pound Ford became the tallest quarterback since Edmonton selected Sheldon Paris of Kansas State Seventh in 1980, but Ford was invited to the mini-camps of the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants.
Montreal finished the first round by taking Calgary’s successor Tyson Philpott, Jaylan’s twin brother. 5 feet 11 and 189 pounds Tyson Philpot made 41 catches on 746 yards and nine TDs last season and was named the first all-Canada team and Canada’s outstanding West player.
Coincidentally, Montreal began the regular season by visiting Calgary on June 9.
Toronto gained great value in the second round, taking Western defender Deionte Knight at number 10, and Bryant defender Daniel Adeboboy five picks later. Six feet and three, the 278-pound Knight of Ajax, Ont., Was the best footballer at a Canadian university last year, while the Toronto-born Adeboboy was an All-NEC First Team player in the spring of 2021 after became the first Bryant to run an average of over 100 yards per game since 2015.
BC chose Saskatchewan’s offensive lineman Noah Zer with the third pick of the round, No. 12 overall. Six-foot-six, the 305-pound Zer from Langenburg, Saskatchewan, was the first all-star team in Canada and Western Canada in 2021, but accepted an invitation to the New York Giants mini-camp.
Then with the next pick, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers took Waterloo defender Tyrell Ford, Tre Ford’s twin brother. Tyrell Ford, 5 feet tall and 10, weighing 188 pounds, was the fastest player in the CFL combine, scoring 40 yards in 4.42 seconds. He was invited to the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets mini-camps.
The Red Blacks finished the second round by choosing Jesse Lucketta of Penn State, the second promising candidate for the CFL Scouting Draft. The 247-pound native of Ottawa, six feet and three feet tall, spent his first three college seasons as a midfielder before adding a defensive end to his repertoire last year. But Lucketta was selected for the Arizona Cardinals’ seventh-round draft on Saturday.
Alabama successor John Mechi III, who was the highest-ranked potential draft candidate, went into the seventh round, No. 59 overall, for BC The Brampton, Ont., The player was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Texas of Houston. .
This Canadian Press report was first published on May 3, 2022.
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