StFX’s Henoc Muamba selected first overall in CFL Draft (video)

Antigonish, NS—StFX linebacker Henoc Muamba made history today as the first ever X-Man to be selected first overall in the Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft. Muamba was the No. 1 pick of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as announced this afternoon in Toronto. He becomes the fifth CIS player in as many years – and the ninth in 12 years – to be selected first overall in the CFL Canadian Draft.

Muamba was pretty excited with the selection, commenting “It hasn’t really hit me yet, maybe on the flight tonight or when I arrive back home it will start to sink in.”

“Being drafted is the first step but the real work begins now,” he said during a post-draft media conference. “Now I need to prove to the coaches and the rest of the Blue Bombers organization that I am worthy of the number one pick.”

Muamba becomes only the third Atlantic University Sport (AUS) player ever to be drafted first overall, joining Steven Morley of Saint Mary’s who was the top pick by Calgary in 2003, and Mike Riley of Dalhousie, selected first overall by Ottawa in 1977. Muamba also joins an elite squad of X-Men, becoming only the third X-Man to ever be selected in the opening round of the CFL Draft, dating back to the inaugural draft in 1970. Andrew McConnell was selected sixth overall in 1987 for StFX, while Mark (Farraway) Verbeek was chosen eighth overall in 1997. StFX University has had 36 total players selected since 1970.

“I was thrilled to hear the news of Henoc being the first pick in the CFL draft,” commented X-Men head coach Gary Waterman. “Personally, I have known Henoc since he was in high school, and to watch his maturation as a person and a football player has been an amazing thing. Henoc has worked very hard over the years in order to put himself in this position, and he deserves the many awards and accolades he has received. I am very confident that Henoc will continue to work and grow, and that he will have an outstanding professional career. This is a proud day for all of us at StFX University.”

Muamba closed out his four year career with StFX this past fall as the X-Men’s all-time career leader in tackles. The 6’0″, 230 pound native of Mississauga, Ont. finished his career with 149.5 tackles, fourth overall on the AUS career tackling list. The AUS Defensive Player of the Year in both 2008 and 2010, Muamba was honored as the recipient of the President’s Trophy this past season for the top defensive player in the country.

Muamba is also a three-time CIS All-Canadian and AUS defensive all-star, and was a participant in the 2010 East-West Bowl that features the top CFL prospects in that draft year. In September, 2010, Muamba was ranked 11th by the CFL’s Scouting Bureau among the top 15 eligible prospects for the upcoming 2011 CFL Canadian Draft. After an impressive CFL evaluation camp this past March, he leapt to No. 3 on the prospect list.

Henoc’s older brother Cauchy Muamba, former X-Men defensive back, was drafted last year by the BC Lions, 34th

overall and is currently on the Lions roster, as is Akeem Foster, drafted 25th overall in 2010. Two other AUS athletes were drafted this year including defensive lineman Akwasi Antwi from Mount Allison University who was selected 26th overall by Calgary and Chris Hodgson (DL) from Saint Mary’s, chosen 42nd overall by BC.

Krista McKenna

Sports Information Director