MONTREAL – Three players from the McGill University Redmen –
Jesse Briggs,
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and
Alexandre Bernard – were selected in the 2014 Canadian Football League Draft, Tuesday.
SEE COMPLETE 2014 CFL DRAFT
Briggs, a six-foot, 230-pound linebacker from Kelowna, B.C., was drafted in the second round, 17th overall, by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Duvernay-Tardif, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive tackle from St. Hilaire, Que., was a third-round pick, 19th overall by the Calgary Stampeders. The No.1 rated prospect, his CFL stock plummeted after he was selected in the NFL Draft last Saturday, when he was a sixth round choice (200th overall) of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bernard, a 5-foot-11, 220-pound linebacker from Laval, Que., was grabbed in the seventh round, 57th overall, by the Ottawa RedBlacks.
Of the 65 players drafted, 59 were chosen from CIS institutions, a single-season high, surpassing last year's previous best of 44. They was also a record 21 players culled from the Quebec-based RSEQ conference.The OUA produced 19 picks, while Canada West had 11 and the AUS had eight. Only one American institution had a player drafted, the lowest U.S.-based total ever, excluding five players chosen from Simon Fraser, a Canadian-based school that plays in the NCAA.
The three Redmen picks were the first out of McGill since 2008 and the program has now produced 128 CFL draft picks since 1953. It marked the first time since 2003 that multiple McGill players were chosen in the same year. The last occurrence when three Redmen were picked was in 1991.
For Briggs, his profile rose significantly at the CFL Combines draft evaluation camp in March at Toronto. The 23-year-old physical and health education senior impressed many with his athleticism and physical test scores. He won the Friends of McGill Football Trophy as the team's most outstanding defensive player during the 2013 season. In 35 career contests over four years with the Redmen, Briggs was credited with 118 total tackles, including 94 solos, 16.5 for loss and six quarterback sacks. He added a pair of interceptions, five knockdowns and a forced fumble.
"Jesse has grown so much over the last year that he made himself into a CFL prospect," said Redmen head coach
Clint Uttley. "A gym rat with outstanding strength, he is a superb athlete who can run from sideline to sideline to make a play. As a linebacker, he is solid against the run and is excellent in coverage. He possesses an outstanding football IQ and is a total film junkie (studying game video). Highly competitive, Jesse brings a great attitude and effort every day. He is a very humble, selfless team player."
Duvernay-Tardif, a two-time all-Canadian, won the prestigious J.P. Metras Trophy last fall as the most outstanding lineman in Canada at the CIS level. He was one of two CIS players to merit a berth in the 2014 East-West Shrine Game, a showcase primarily for graduating NCAA seniors. A recipient of both, Academic All-Canadian and Academic All-American honours, the 23-year-old medical student is one of the most decorated football players in McGill history.
"I have never had a prospect who is as athletic, strong, and highly intelligent as Laurent," said Uttley. "On top of those three valuable traits, he plays offensive line like a defensive lineman. He is nasty, plain and simple."
Bernard, a 24-year-old senior in management, led the Redmen defence with 63 total tackles last season, including one QB sack, in eight games. He also led the team in 2012 with 59 tackles.
"Alex bounced back from a number of injuries in his sophomore year to become a tackling machine for us," said Uttley. "He is a smart, eventful player with a huge football IQ."
In 27 career contests, Bernard racked up 154 tackles, including 11 solos, 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He also had three interceptions and two knockdowns.
SEE BRIGGS HIGHLIGHT TAPE
SEE ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH BRIGGS
SEE LIST OF DUVERNAY-TARDIF ACHIEVEMENTS WITH VIDEO LINKS
It was a record night for CIS football as 90.8 per cent of the players drafted came from CIS programs. The eight CIS standouts drafted in the opening round also tied the league mark from 1970 and 1972. Eight more CIS stars were called in each of the second, third and fourth rounds, with nine following in the fifth, seven in the sixth and 11 in the seventh, which included two more picks than the other rounds.
Pierre Lavertu, a centre from Université Laval, became the eighth CIS player in as many years – and the 12th in the past 15 years - to be selected first overall in the CFL Canadian Draft when the Calgary Stampeders called his name at No. 1.
Since 1965 (year of first Vanier Cup championship), 29 CIS players have been chosen with the first pick. All players selected first overall in the first nine CFL Canadian Drafts between 1956 and 1964 were also from schools currently competing in CIS.
Laval and Montreal led all CIS programs with six players selected, followed by Manitoba (5), Concordia (4), Queen's (4), Toronto (4) and Western (4).
Defensive linemen were the most popular CIS players as no less than 18 were called. Offensive linemen, linebackers and receivers tied for second (8), ahead of running backs / fullbacks (7), defensive backs (6) and kickers (4).
The 2014 CFL season gets underway on June 26th.
NOTES: The 1983 and 1984 CFL Canadian Drafts opened with one Territorial Protection per team, so the first player drafted was the 10th overall choice... Each Draft from 1973 to 1982 opened with two Territorial Protections per team, so the first player drafted was the 19th overall choice.
CIS players selected in 2014 CFL Canadian Draft (59):
First Round (9 total selections)
1. Pierre Lavertu, Laval, OL (by Calgary)
3. Anthony Coombs, Manitoba, RB (by Toronto)
4. Antoine Pruneau, Montreal, DB (by Ottawa)
5. David Foucault, Montreal, OL (by Montreal)
6. Devon Bailey, StFX, WR (by Edmonton)
7. Quinn Smith, Concordia, DL (by Calgary)
8. Beau Landry, Western, LB (by Hamilton)
9. Evan Gill, Manitoba, DL (by Hamilton)
Second Round (9 total selections)
1. Andrew Lue, Queen's, DB (by Montreal)
2. Dylan Ainsworth, Western, DL (by Saskatchewan)
4. Scott MacDonnell, Queen's, WR (by Ottawa)
5. Pascal Lochard, Laval, RB (by British Columbia)
6. Aaron Milton, Toronto, RB (by Edmonton)
7. Max Caron, Concordia, LB (by Calgary)
8. Jesse Briggs, McGill, LB (by Winnipeg)
9. Alex Pierzchalski, Toronto, WR (by Saskatchewan)
Third Round (9 total selections)
1. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, McGill, OL (by Calgary)
2. Johnny Mark, Calgary, K (by Saskatchewan)
3. Jaskaran Dhillon, UBC, DL (by Toronto)
4. Jeff Finley, Guelph, DL (by Montreal)
5. Nigel Romick, Saint Mary's, DL (by Ottawa)
6. Adam Thibault, Laval, DB (by Calgary)
7. Joe Circelli, Western OL (by Calgary)
8. Kristopher Bastien, Concordia, WR (by Saskatchewan)
Fourth Round (9 total selections)
1. Aaron Weathon, Toronto, OL (by Ottawa)
3. Raye Hartmann, StFX, DB (by Edmonton)
4. James Tuck, York, DL (by Montreal)
5. David Ménard, Montreal, DL (by British Columbia)
6. Thomas Miles, Manitoba, LB (by Toronto)
7. Derek Wiggan, Queen's, DL (by Calgary)
8. Andrew Smith, Manitoba, WR (by Montreal)
9. Alexandre Dupuis, Montreal, FB (by Toronto)
Fifth Round (9 total selections)
1. Hugo Desmarais, Laval, OL (by Ottawa)
2. Eric Black, Saint Mary's, DB (by Toronto)
3. Matt Webster, Queen's, DB (by Saskatchewan)
4. Tyler Crapigna, McMaster, K (by Calgary)
5. Alexander Fox, Bishop's, WR (by British Columbia)
6. Evan Pszczonak, Windsor, WR (by Toronto)
7. Nick Boyd, Manitoba, K (by Montreal)
8. Christopher Johnson, Toronto, LB (by Hamilton)
9. Kyle Paterson, Regina, OL (by Saskatchewan)
Sixth Round (9 total selections)
1. Stephon Miller, Windsor, DL (by Ottawa)
2. Quinn Everett, Mount Allison, DL (by Winnipeg)
3. Zackary Medeiros, Montreal, K (by Edmonton)
4. Jean-Christophe Beaulieu, Sherbrooke, FB (by Montreal)
7. Mathieu Girard, Montreal, DL (by Hamilton)
8. Stephen Mawa, UBC, DL (by Hamilton)
9. Travis Bent, Concordia, LB (by Saskatchewan)
Seventh Round (11 total selections)
1. Vincent Desloges, Laval, DL (by Ottawa)
2. Aram Eisho, McMaster, LB (by Winnipeg)
3. Michael Dadzie, Regina, DL (by Edmonton)
4. Mackenzie Sarro, Calgary, FB (by Montreal)
5. Guillaume Bourassa, Laval, RB (by British Columbia)
6. Kirby Fletcher, Acadia, DL (by Toronto)
7. Brian Marshall, Western, WR (by Calgary)
8. Martin Pesek, Acadia, DL (by Hamilton)
9. Terry Hart, StFX, OL (by Saskatchewan)
10. Alexandre Bernard, McGill, LB (by Ottawa)
11. Kevin Malcolm, McMaster, DL (by Ottawa)
CIS players selected by round (59):
First round: 8
Second: 8
Third: 8
Fourth: 8
Fifth: 9
Sixth: 7
Seventh: 11
CIS players selected by regional associations (59):
RSEQ: 21
OUA: 19
Canada West: 11
AUS: 8
CIS players selected by universities (59):
Laval: 6 *
Montreal: 6 *
Manitoba: 5
Concordia: 4
Queen's: 4
Toronto: 4
Western: 4
McGill: 3
McMaster: 3
StFX: 3
Acadia: 2
UBC: 2
Calgary: 2
Regina: 2
Saint Mary's: 2
Windsor: 2
Bishop's: 1
Guelph: 1
Mount Allison: 1
Sherbrooke: 1
York: 1
* Laval and Montreal both had a player drafted who last played for the school in 2011
CIS players selected by positions (59):
Defensive linemen: 18 *
Offensive linemen: 8
Linebackers: 8
Receivers: 8
Running back / fullbacks: 7
Defensive backs: 6
Kickers: 4
* 1 defensive lineman (Kevin Malcolm) drafted as a long snapper
| ALL-TIME CFL DRAFT PICKS FROM McGILL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| YEAR |
# PICKS |
NAME |
POS |
TM |
SELECTED |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1953 |
7 |
Jim Miller |
DE |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Garnett Bertrand |
OL |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Don Menard |
HB |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Cameron Kenney |
RB |
OTT |
na |
|
|
Geoff Crain |
QB |
TOR |
na |
|
|
Don Williams |
QB |
TOR |
na |
|
|
Rod Foster |
OG |
TOR |
na |
| 1954 |
9 |
Joe Benoit |
OL |
TOR |
na |
|
|
George Klein |
RB |
OTT |
na |
|
|
Len Shaw |
FB |
OTT |
na |
|
|
Vince Capogreco |
OG |
OTT |
na |
|
|
Mark Hart |
OG |
OTT |
na |
|
|
Fred Wilmot |
RB |
MTL |
na |
|
|
John McGill |
OL |
MTL |
na |
|
|
W. Moulton |
OG |
HAM |
na |
|
|
George Bertrand |
OG |
HAM |
na |
| 1955 |
1 |
Herb English |
RB/DB |
MTL |
na |
| 1956 |
2 |
Ted Taporowski |
OT |
CAL |
na |
|
|
Emil Bosacki |
QB |
HAM |
na |
| 1957 |
9 |
Bob Holland |
DB |
BC |
na |
|
|
John Larsen |
OT |
HAM |
na |
|
|
Rick Adrian |
DB |
HAM |
na |
|
|
Bob Rogers |
DB |
HAM |
na |
|
|
Murdy Armstrong |
DB |
WPG |
na |
|
|
Paul Dingle |
DE |
WPG |
na |
|
|
Vaughan McVey |
OL |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Bill Picard |
DB |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Livio Desimone |
OG |
EDM |
na |
| 1958 |
10 |
Len Sigurdson |
OT |
SSK |
na |
|
|
Leo Konyk |
OG |
SSK |
na |
|
|
Merv Shaw |
OG |
SSK |
na |
|
|
Garnett Bertrand |
OL |
SSK |
na |
|
|
Ron Murphy |
DE |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Sam Yuska |
DE |
MTL |
na |
|
|
John Bennett |
DE |
OTT |
na |
|
|
John Sandzelius |
DB |
WPG |
na |
|
|
John Cronin |
DB |
HAM |
na |
|
|
Rae Brown |
OT |
HAM |
na |
| 1959 |
1 |
Steve O'Farrell |
DB |
OTT |
na |
| 1960 |
3 |
Gordon Merritt |
DE |
CAL |
na |
|
|
Joe Irvine |
DB |
OTT |
na |
|
|
Bob Tucker |
DE |
HAM |
na |
| 1961 |
4 |
Peter Hoisak |
OG |
CAL |
na |
|
|
Al Braekvelt |
OG |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Bob Milligan |
DB |
TOR |
na |
|
|
John Moore |
DB |
OTT |
na |
| 1962 |
9 |
Harry Haukkala |
DB |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Tony Blair |
OG |
TOR |
na |
|
|
John Cleghorn |
OL |
TOR |
na |
|
|
Chuck Wood |
OG |
OTT |
na |
|
|
Bob Winsor |
DE |
OTT |
na |
|
|
John Roberts |
DB |
HAM |
na |
|
|
Leo Konyk |
OT |
HAM |
na |
|
|
Bob Kennel |
OT |
HAM |
na |
|
|
Colin Russell |
OT |
HAM |
na |
| 1963 |
9 |
Willie Lambert |
RB/LB |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Murray Thomas |
DB |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Fraser Allen |
DB |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Pete Holmay |
OT |
MTL |
na |
|
|
James Hogan |
OT |
SSK |
na |
|
|
Graeme Strathdee |
DB |
CAL |
na |
|
|
Ewart Budgell |
DB |
CAL |
na |
|
|
Tom Skypeck |
QB |
HAM |
na |
|
|
Ian Monteith |
FB |
WPG |
na |
| 1964 |
1 |
Bruce Johnson |
DB |
MTL |
na |
| 1965 |
3 |
Ian Bruce |
DB |
TOR |
na |
|
|
Al Jenner |
OT |
MTL |
na |
|
|
Eric Walter |
RB |
CAL |
na |
| 1966 |
4 |
Rich Ripstein |
QB |
SSK |
na |
|
|
Jim Dickie |
DE |
OTT |
na |
|
|
Dick Fiedler |
OG |
OTT |
na |
|
|
Peter Howlett |
FB |
WIN |
na |
| 1967 |
1 |
Brian Rose |
OT |
HAM |
na |
| 1968 |
3 |
Don Desontis |
FB |
WPG |
na |
|
|
John Frost |
DE |
TOR |
na |
|
|
George Springate |
DE/K |
HAM |
na |
| 1969 |
1 |
Dave Fleiszer |
RB |
SSK |
na |
| 1970 |
2 |
Robert Taylor |
OT |
BC |
na |
|
|
Dave Doherty |
DB |
OTT |
na |
| 1971 |
1 |
Dan Dulmage |
OT |
CAL |
na |
| 1972 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 1973 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 1974 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 1975 |
1 |
Don Cowie |
DB |
CAL |
19th |
| 1976 |
1 |
Yvon Thibeault |
OT |
MTL |
Territorial |
| 1977 |
1 |
Hector Pothier |
DT |
MTL |
14th |
| 1978 |
5 |
Phil Roberts |
LB |
BC |
33rd |
|
|
Barry Dobson |
TE |
BC |
42nd |
|
|
Daniel Graham |
LB |
SSK |
57th |
|
|
Tom Barbeau |
RB |
OTT |
61st |
|
|
Eris Salvatori |
RB |
MTL |
72nd |
| 1979 |
1 |
Keir Cutler |
WR |
MTL |
62nd |
| 1980 |
1 |
Paul Gohier |
OT |
BC |
14th |
| 1981 |
1 |
Marc Lacelle |
RB |
MTL |
Territorial |
| 1982 |
4 |
Mark Lemery |
LB |
TOR |
20th |
|
|
Denis Tardif |
LB |
CAL |
39th |
|
|
Mark Joncas |
DT |
SSK |
49th |
|
|
Ron Poulton |
DB |
OTT |
na |
| 1983 |
1 |
Tony Lawson |
DE |
EDM |
Territorial |
| 1984 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 1985 |
1 |
Glenn Miller |
SB/K |
HAM |
44th |
| 1986 |
1 |
Denis Touchette |
DB |
MTL |
50th |
| 1987 |
2 |
Robin Belanger |
DB |
BC |
36th |
|
|
Allan Lekun |
OL |
WPG |
60th |
| 1988 |
2 |
Floyd Salazar |
DB |
TOR |
31st |
|
|
Scott Warr |
OT |
OTT |
49th |
| 1989 |
1 |
Michael Soles |
RB |
EDM |
5th |
| 1990 |
4 |
Paul Kerr |
DL |
TOR |
17th |
|
|
Gerry Ifill |
RB |
TOR |
44th |
|
|
Hagen Mehnert |
LB |
OTT |
56th |
|
|
Chuck Petitpas |
K |
OTT |
Supplemental |
| 1991 |
3 |
Christian Masotti |
SB |
EDM |
15th |
|
|
Steven Baillargeon |
WR |
OTT |
51st |
|
|
Francois Belanger |
OT |
HAM |
57th |
| 1992 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 1993 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 1994 |
2 |
Val St. Germain |
OL |
HAM |
1st |
|
|
Matthieu Quiviger |
OT |
SSK |
10th |
| 1995 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 1996 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 1997 |
1 |
Ryan Coughlin |
OL |
MTL |
14th |
| 1998 |
2 |
Samir Chahine |
OG |
EDM |
11th |
|
|
Daniel Lafontaine |
OL |
MTL |
34th |
| 1999 |
1 |
J.P. Darche |
LS/LB |
TOR |
21st |
| 2000 |
0 |
|
|
|
| 2001 |
2 |
Randy Chevrier |
LS/DT |
EDM |
5th |
|
|
Ben Wearing |
RB |
WPG |
19th |
| 2002 |
1 |
John Macdonald |
DL |
HAM |
7th |
| 2003 |
2 |
Jim Merrick |
OG |
SSK |
31st |
|
|
Nick Hoffmann |
FB |
BC |
41st |
| 2004 |
1 |
Mike Mahoney |
LB |
TOR |
39th |
| 2005 |
1 |
Robert LeBlanc |
SB |
EDM |
40th |
| 2006 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 2007 |
1 |
Greg Hetherington |
SB |
CAL |
45th |
| 2008 |
1 |
Jean-Nicolas Carriere |
LB |
TOR |
21st |
| 2009 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 2010 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 2011 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 2012 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
| 2013 |
1 |
Mike Edem |
LB |
MTL |
3rd |
| 2014 |
3 |
Jesse Briggs |
LB |
WPG |
17th |
|
|
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif |
OT |
CAL |
19th |
|
|
Alexandre Bernard |
LB |
OTT |
57th |
TOT: 128
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
MOBILE SITE: http://mcgillathletics.ca/mobile/index.aspx
WEBSITE: www.mcgillathletics.ca
TWITTER: @EarlZukerman
E-MAIL: earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
