CW athletes loom large in 2022 CFL draft

WINNIPEG - It was a triumphant night for Canada West student-athletes as nineteen football players heard their names called in CFL draft.

This surpasses previous years' totals. Fourteen CW athletes were taken in each the 2021 and 2020 CFL drafts, while 18 went in 2019.

Three CW athletes were first-round picks, starting with Saskatchewan's Nathan Cherry who went to the B.C. Lions third overall. Calgary Dinos and brothers Jalen and Tyson Philpot were next at fifth and ninth to the Calgary Stampeders and Montreal Alouettes respectively.

All six CW teams celebrated draftees this year. The Dinos and Golden Bears led the way with four picks apiece. The mark furthered the Dinos' record of draftees since 2006. The program now boasts 67 CFL draftees since that year, the most of any school in North America.

Canada West athletes in 2022 CFL Draft

Cherry shot up the board after being ranked 20^th in the CFL’s final Scouting Bureau rankings. The CW first-team all-star and U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian tallied 5.5 sacks in the shortened 2021 season to lead the conference.

Much to the delight of Calgary football fans, Jalen Philpot will be staying in the city after going fifth overall to the Stampeders. Philpot posted 35 receptions for 715 yards in the shortened season en route to securing his place on the U SPORTS first-team All-Canadian roster.

Jalen’s brother, Tyson Philpot was scooped up at ninth overall by the Montreal Alouettes. Philpot was named the Canada West Football Player of the Year after grabbing 41 receptions for 746 yards in just six games last season.

Saskatchewan’s Noah Zerr is poised to join teammate Nathan Cherry in B.C. after going third in the second round to the Lions. The offensive lineman was a CW and U SPORTS first-team all-star this past season. ​

Josiah Schakel will trade green for red after the Alberta product was taken fifth in the second round by the Calgary Stampeders. Schakel was the 2021 CW and U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in tackles with 51.5 and the nation in tackles per game at 8.6.

The next Alberta Golden Bear to be taken off the board was Rodeem Brown, another CW and U SPORTS first-team All-Canadian. The Montreal Alouettes selected Brown with the ninth pick of the second round.

Calgary’s Jacob Plamondon will head north after he heard his name called tenth in the second round by the Edmonton Elks. The defensive lineman boasts speed off the line and is a special teams contributor.

British Columbia’s Diego Alatorre was the first CW athlete to be selected in the third round. The offensive lineman from Tlajomulco de Zuñiga, Mexico is coming off a CW all-star worthy season.

Ryder Varga of the Regina Rams was taken two picks later by the B.C. Lions. The linebacker was a Canada West all-star after ranking second in the conference in tackles (41.5) and solo tackles (35).

Manitoba’s Gavin Cobb was scooped up first in the fourth round by the Edmonton Elks. Cobb posted 18 receptions for 241 yards and four touchdowns in 2021 and was a CW Special Teams all-star.

Rounding out the fourth round for CW was Cole Adamson. The Winnipeg product turned Manitoba Bison is now a Winnipeg Blue Bomber. The hometown defensive lineman had 14 solo tackles and 10 assists in six games last season.

Saskatchewan’s Riley Pickett was the third Huskie to be selected by the B.C. Lions in this draft. Pickett is poised to join his Hardy Cup-winning teammates after going with the third pick of the fifth round.

Joel Braden of the Regina Rams looks to find a new home in Calgary after being selected with the fifth pick of the fifth round by the Stampeders.

UBC’s Daniel Kwamou followed Braden as the sixth pick of the fifth round. The linebacker averaged 3.5 tackles per game in 2021.

Subomi Oyesoro, a Calgary product who played for his hometown Dinos, was the first CW selection of the sixth round, taken by the Ottawa REDBLACKS.

Peter Kozushka of the Alberta Golden Bears went to the Montreal Alouettes with the fourth pick of the sixth round. The towering offensive lineman loomed large in scouting reports leading up to the draft.

Another Golden Bear, Jayden Dalke, was taken off the board in the sixth round. The Saskatchewan Roughriders scooped up the defensive back.

Regina’s Riley Boersma went to the Saskatchewan Roughriders with the seventh pick of the eighth round after posting 18 receptions averaging 15.8 yards per carry in 2021. ​ ​ ​

Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown out of UBC was selected by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with the eighth pick of the eighth round. The linebacker posted 5.5 tackles per game last season.

CW PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE 2021 CFL DRAFT

Position /Name (overall draft position) / University / CFL team

ROUND 1 (3)

ROUND 2 (4)

ROUND 3 (2)

ROUND 4 (2)

ROUND 5 (3)

ROUND 6 (3)

ROUND 8 (2)