FB: CW leads first round picks; 15 conference players taken in CFL Draft
Evan Daum, Canada West Communications
Highlights:
- 15 Canada West players were taken in the 2018 Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft Thursday night
- Alberta offensive linemen Mark Korte was the first CW and U SPORTS player selected, going 4th overall to the Ottawa REDBLACKS
- A total of four CW players were taken in the first round, along with three more in the second round
- The Calgary Dinos led the CW charge with eight players taken in the eight-round draft
EDMONTON – A total of 15 Canada West football players had a night to remember Thursday, as they were selected in the CFL Draft.
It didn't take long for a host of CW players to get drafted, as four of the top eight picks were conference products, including Alberta Golden Bear offensive linemen Mark Korte, who went fourth overall to the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
Korte was the first U SPORTS athlete taken, and started a string of three straight CW players chosen in the first round, as Canada West was the only U SPORTS conference to produce any 2018 first rounders.
Joining Korte as first-round picks were UBC Thunderbird Dakoda Shepley (OL – 5th overall to the Saskatchewan Roughriders), and Calgary Dino Darius Ciraco (OL – 6th overall to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats).
In total, seven conference players were taken in the first two rounds, as a trio of Dinos went in the second round – former Dino receiver Rashaun Simonise 12th overall to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, linebacker Micah Teitz 14th overall to Saskatchewan, and defensive linemen Brett Wade 15th overall to Hamilton.
Korte, who was the 2017 CW Outstanding Linemen, headed into Thursday night as the No. 2 ranked CW prospect according to conference coaches in the annual CW CFL Prospect Rankings. Shepley narrowly edged Korte for top spot in the CW rankings, while Ciraco (No. 3) and Sceviour (No. 4) were drafted in order of their CW ranking.
In terms of CW team representation in the draft, the Calgary Dinos once again led the way, as eight Dinos were drafted. Last season, a total of nine Calgary players were selected in the draft – the most in program history.
WATCH THE CFL STARS OF THE FUTURE BEGINNING AUGUST 31
The 2018 Canada West football season opens Friday, August 31, as the CFL stars of the future return to the gridiron for opening night.
Every CW game this season will be available on Canada West TV – the official streaming home of Canada West football.
2018-19 Canada West TV passes will go on sale this June and will be available for purchase here.
CW PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE 2018 CFL DRAFT (15)
Round / Overall / Position / Name / University / CFL team
1 / 4 / OL / Mark Korte / Alberta Golden Bears / Ottawa REDBLACKS
1 / 5 / OL / Dakoda Shepley / UBC Thunderbirds / Saskatchewan Roughriders
1 / 6 / OL Darius Ciraco / Calgary Dinos / Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1 / 8 / OL / Ryan Sceviour / Calgary Dinos / Calgary Stampeders
2 / 12 / REC / Rashaun Simonise / Calgary Dinos / Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2 / 14 / LB / Micah Teitz / Calgary Dinos / Saskatchewan Roughriders
2 / 15 / DL / Brett Wade / Calgary Dinos / Hamilton Tiger-Cats
4 / 31 / REC / Marcus Davis / UBC Thunderbirds / Hamilton Tiger-Cats
5 / 39 / OL / Justin Lawrence / Alberta Golden Bears / Calgary Stampeders
5 / 40 / OL / Curtis Krahn / Calgary Dinos / Edmonton Eskimos
5 / 42 / DB / Dagogo (Will) Maxwell / UBC Thunderbirds / Calgary Stampeders
6 / 50 / RB / Atlee Simon / Regina Rams / Calgary Stampeders
7 / 54 / REC / Will Watson / UBC Thunderbirds / BC Lions
8 / 62 / DL / Joel Van Pelt / Calgary Dinos / Hamilton Tiger-Cats
8 / 68 / LB / Boston Rowe / Calgary Dinos / Calgary Stampeders
CW PLAYERS SELECTED BY UNIVERSITY
Calgary Dinos – 8 (Ciraco, Sceviour, Simonise, Teitz, Wade, Krahn, Van Pelt, Rowe)
UBC Thunderbirds – 4 (Shepley, Davis, Maxwell, Watson)
Alberta Golden Bears – 2 (Korte, Lawrence)
Regina Rams – 1 (Simon)
CW PLAYERS SELECTED BY CFL TEAM
Calgary Stampeders – 5 (Sceviour, Lawrence, Maxwell, Simon, Rowe)
Hamilton Tiger-Cats – 4 (Ciraco, Wade, Davis, Van Pelt)
Saskatchewan Roughriders – 2 (Shepley, Teitz)
BC Lions – 1 (Watson)
Ottawa REDBLACKS – 1 (Korte)
Edmonton Eskimos – 1 (Krahn)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers – 1 (Simonise)