Montreal Alouettes select versatile Richards first overall in CFL draft
TORONTO — Tyrell Richards is a soccer participant once more.
The Montreal Alouettes chosen the previous Syracuse linebacker first general within the CFL draft Tuesday night time. The six-foot-three, 232-pound Richards, had a career-high 24 tackles (3.5 for a loss) and two sacks in eight video games (three begins) for the Orange in 2020.
He did not play in 2021 after he entered the switch portal however wasn’t in a position to transfer to a different faculty resulting from not having sufficient transferable credit.
Richards attended the CFL mix in March and carried out nicely, posting a 37-inch vertical bounce, 19 reps within the 225-pound bench press and operating the 40-yard sprint in 4.60 seconds. He additionally impressed along with his versatility, testing with defensive lineman and understanding with defensive backs.
“Actually, main as much as the mix it was form of tough however after that day, I began feeling like a soccer participant once more,” Richards mentioned. “All the preparation that went into that has elevated and now that we’re heading into camp, you may get one of the best me.”
Richards, of Brampton, Ont., spent 2021 coaching and training at Clarkson Secondary College, his former highschool in Mississauga, Ont. Richards had 54 tackles (9.5 for a loss) and 6 sacks in 31 profession video games at Syracuse and admits there’s stress on him as the primary general choose.
“I really feel like I understand how to cope with myself in these conditions, protecting my head on straight and never worrying about what anybody has to say,’ Richards mentioned. “I wish to go on the market and never shrink back from something.
“They (Alouettes) can count on some physicality.”
Montreal secured the No. 1 choose earlier than the draft in a commerce with Edmonton. The Elks acquired the rights to Canadian offensive lineman Carter O’Donnell — a local of Pink Deer, Alta., at the moment with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts — and the fourth general choice.
Earlier on Tuesday, Montreal secured the ninth and 18th alternatives from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for Canadian defensive deal with Cameron Lawson and the thirteenth general choose.
Montreal additionally had the highest choose within the international draft and chosen Nigerian-born defensive lineman Kingsley Jonathan, who performed with Richards at Syracuse. However Jonathan agreed to phrases with the Buffalo Bills on Saturday after being bypassed within the NFL draft.
The Ottawa Redblacks took Zach Pelehos, an offensive lineman from the College of Ottawa, second general. The six-foot-five, 296-pound Gananoque, Ont., native was an OUA first-team all-star final season and was the quickest offensive linemen over 40 yards on the mix.
“I am very happy to have the ability to keep within the metropolis of Ottawa,” Pelehos mentioned “I do know I will carry the physicality every day.
“I do know I will get moved inside . . . to extra of a guard-centre kind. Coming into camp I will work as onerous as I probably can, work to take over a kind of spots . . . every day goes to be a grind.”
At No. 3, the B.C. Lions appeared to Saskatchewan defensive lineman Nathan Cherry. The six-foot-three, 245-pound Saskatoon native had 24 tackles (15 solo, eight for loss) and 6 sacks final season.
Cherry was stunned to be taken by B.C. so early.
“I had no concept that I used to be going No. 3 however I talked to B.C. (Tuesday morning) and I knew they have been keen on me. When my first began ringing, I used to be like, ‘OK, it is occurring proper now.’ I believed there was a one-in-nine shot for each workforce however I am excited to be going to B.C.”
Edmonton adopted by taking Coastal Carolina linebacker/defensive again Henoc Makonzo. The five-foot-11, 195-pound Lachine, Que., native had 71 tackles and three compelled fumbles final season, incomes All-Solar Belt honourable point out.
The Calgary Stampeders stayed native at No. 5, drafting Dinos receiver Jaylen Philpot. The five-foot-11, 193-pound native of Delta, B.C., whose father, Cory, was a former CFL operating again, registered 43 catches for 799 yards and three touchdowns in six video games, incomes first workforce All-Canadian honours for a second straight 12 months.
The Toronto Argonauts shored up their offensive line with St. Francis Xavier’s Gregor MacKellar. The six-foot-five, 311-pound native of Timberlea, N.S., started his school profession at Rice and is anticipated to carry a imply streak into the CFL.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders drafted Louisiana Tech receiver Samuel Emilus, a six-foot-one, 198-pound Montreal native. He had 17 catches for 257 yards and three TDs final season and has accepted a mini-camp provide from the Arizona Cardinals.
The Elks used their second opening-round choose on Waterloo Warriors quarterback Tre Ford. The Hec Crighton Trophy winner from Niagara Falls, Ont., had 1,465 passing yards and 10 touchdowns whereas speeding for 667 yards and three TDs over six video games final 12 months.
The Elks’ quarterback depth chart already contains veteran Nick Arbuckle, former Ohio State star T.J. Barrett and sophomore Taylor Cornelius, who made eight begins final 12 months. The five-foot-11, 199-pound Ford turns into the very best quarterback taken since Edmonton chosen Kansas State’s Sheldon Paris seventh in 1980 however Ford has been invited to the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants mini camps.
Montreal rounded out the primary spherical by taking Calgary receiver Tyson Philpot, Jaylen’s twin brother. The five-foot-11, 189-pound Tyson Philpot had 41 catches for 746 yards and 9 TDs final season and was named a first-team All-Canadian and Canada West’s excellent participant.
Coincidentally, Montreal kicks off the common season visiting Calgary on June 9.
Toronto obtained nice worth within the second spherical, taking Western defensive lineman Deionte Knight at No. 10 and Bryant operating again Daniel Adeboboye 5 picks later. The six-foot-three, 278-pound Knight, of Ajax., Ont., was Canadian college soccer’s high lineman final 12 months whereas Adeboboye, a Toronto native, was a All-NEC First workforce participant within the spring of 2021 after changing into the primary Bryant operating again to common over 100 yards per sport since 2015.
B.C. chosen Saskatchewan offensive lineman Noah Zerr with the third choose of the spherical, No. 12 general. The six-foot-six, 305-pound Zerr, of Langenburg, Sask., was a primary workforce All-Canadian and Canada West all-star in 2021 however has accepted an invite to the New York Giants mini camp.
Then with the subsequent choose, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers took Waterloo defensive again Tyrell Ford, Tre Ford’s twin brother. The five-foot-10, 188-pound Tyrell Ford was the quickest participant on the CFL mix, posting a 40-yard sprint of 4.42 seconds. He was invited to the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets mini camps.
The Redblacks accomplished the second spherical deciding on Penn State’s Jesse Luketa, the CFL scouting bureau’s second-ranked draft prospect. The six-foot-three, 247-pound Ottawa native spent his first three school seasons as a linebacker earlier than including defensive finish to his repertoire final 12 months. However Luketa was a seventh-round draft choose of the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.
Alabama receiver John Metchie III, who was the draft’s top-ranked prospect, went within the seventh spherical, No. 59 general, to B.C. The Brampton, Ont., participant was chosen within the second spherical of the NFL draft by the Houston Texans.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Might 3, 2022.
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
