Three Eagles Taken in the Canadian Football League Draft

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University football players Andy Mulumba (Montreal, Quebec, Canada-Vieux Montreal), Corey Watman (Queensville, Ontario, Canada-Huron Heights) and Kalonji Kashama (Brampton, Ontario, Canada -Brampton) were taken in the 2013 Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft Monday, May 6. Mulumba, a defensive end, was drafted second overall by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers while Watman, an offensive lineman, was drafted fourth overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Kashama, also a defensive end, was selected as the 27th overall pick by Ottawa.

Mulumba joins 2012 second-overall pick Jabar Westerman as the highest-ever Eagles taken in the CFL Draft. The three draftees in 2013 mark the first time in school-history a trio of EMU players has been taken in the same CFL Draft. Previously, Matt Kudu and Jean-Olivier Gagnon-Gordillo were taken by Saskatchewan in 2005 while Mike Logan joined Calgary and Doug Keene was picked by Edmonton in 1973.

Mulumba, a native of Montreal, Quebec earned four letters play for the Eagles’  defensive line. A 2012 All-Mid-American Conference Second Team selection, he started all 12 games for the Eagles in 2012 and 31 in his career. Mulumba had 73 tackles (27 solo, 46 assists) to go along with seven quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery in 2012. He finished second on the team with 7.0 tackles for a loss of 25 yards. A first time All-MAC honoree, Mulumba had a career-best 11 tackles and three hurries against Central Michigan, Nov. 10. He finished his career with 48 games played to go along with 156 tackles (59 solo, 97 assists) and 18.0 tackles-for-loss.

As a freshmen in 2009, Mulumba earned his first letter after playing in all 12 games, two of which he started, and notched 15 tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.  His performance continually improved from there as he made a career total of 156 tackles, 18 TFLs and two forced fumbles. Mulumba was named to the Academic All-MAC team in the 2011 season, in which he was fourth on the team in TFLs and had two pass breakups and eight QB hurries.

Watman, the 6-foot-2, 294 pound offensive lineman from Queensville, Ontario was also a four-time letterwinner for the Eagles.  Throughout his Eastern career, he doubled as a center and guard in all but two games in four seasons. Watman was one of 17 EMU football players to compete in 30 or more games during his career. Last season, he started all 12 games on the offensive line.

Kashama played in 11 contests for the Green and White, recording 30 tackles (8 solo, 22 assists) to go along with a pair of forced fumbles last season. In 2011, he appeared in all 12 games for the Eagles, making four starts, recording 28 total tackles (10 solo,18 assists) 1.5 sacks, four QB hurries, one pass break-up and 3.5 tackles for loss. Kashama is preceded in the CFL by his three brothers, Alain, Hakeem, and Fernand.

EMU’s 2013 senior class will have plenty of representation at the professional level as camps open up this summer. Tight end Garrett Hoskins (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Creston) signed with the Cleveland Browns, long snapper Mike Zupancic (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.-Trabuco Hills) agreed to terms with the New England Patriots while Mulumba signed with the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, punter Jay Karutz (North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia-Holy Cross College) was invited to the Chicago Bears’ mini-camp while offensive lineman Korey Neal (Bowie, Md.-St. John’s) and wide receiver Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) were invited to the Washington Redskins’ mini-camp. Linebacker Justin Cudworth (Monte Nido, Calif.-Agoura-College of the Canyons) also earned a mini-camp invitation from the San Diego Chargers.

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.