Guelph, ON β It has been 20 years since this many Gryphon football players were taken in the CFL draft.Β On Tuesday, May 12th, a total of three Gryphons were selected in the CFL draft, the most since 1995 when a total of four Gryphons were chosen.Β The trio of names that were called on Tuesday night include:
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Defensive end Cam Walker was taken by the Toronto Argonauts in the third round, 21st overall.
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Receiver Alex Charette was picked by the Montreal Alouettes in the fourth round, 36th overall.
–Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Long snapper Dan MacDonald was selected by Toronto in the seventh round, 56th overall.
All three Gryphons are expected to attend the training camps for their CFL teams in June.
When CFL scouts look at Cam Walker, there is a lot to like.Β The 6-foot-4, 245 pound London, Ontario native established himself as one of the premiere defensive ends in the CIS this past season, recording 50.5 tackles, 7 sacks and a forced fumble in 2014.Β But it is Walkerβs versatility that makes him such an attractive prospect for the CFL.Β Prior to settling in at defensive end with the Gryphons, Walker showed the ability to excel at the outside linebacker position while also earning the title as the OUAβs Special Teams Player of the Year in 2012 thanks in large part to his dominating down the field coverage skills on kickoffs and punts.Β While Gryphon fans would love nothing more than to see the three time OUA All-Star return for a fifth and final season at U of G, that could be a bit of a longshot considering the kind of upside he brings to Argos camp.Β In his four years with the Gryphons, Walker made 117.5 tackles, 26 of them for losses, recorded 14.5 sacks and forced four fumbles.
In the fourth round, the Montreal Alouettes scooped up Gryphons receiver Alex Charette who, during his CIS career, was one of the most dynamic players in the league.Β Early on in his Gryphon career, Charette showed his ability to make a difference in the return game, finishing his career with 50 punt returns for 582 yards as well as 30 kickoff returns for 680 yards.Β More recently, Charette emerged as the go-to receiver for Jazz Lindsey and James Roberts.Β In 2014, Charette led the Gryphons withi 49 catches and six touchdown receptions during the regular season.Β The St. Catherineβs native was also the difference in a 49-46 regular season victory over Western, a game in which he led the way with 13 catches for 188 yards, a touchdown and a spectacular catch in the game-tying two-point conversion late in regulation.
The third and final Gryphon drafted Tuesday night was long snapper Daniel MacDonald who will join his teammate Cam Walker at Argos camp.Β MacDonald will be battling former Gryphon Jake Reinhart for the long snapper job.
Another former Gryphon was in the news just prior to Tuesday nightβs CFL draft.Β Offensive lineman Ryan Bomben, who played for the Gryphons from 2006-2010, was traded by the Montreal Alouettes to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.Β In return for Bomben, the Alouettes acquired a pair of draft picks from the Ticats. Bomben, a former OUA All-Star with the Gryphons, will now suit up in the CFL close to his hometown of Burlington.
Listed below is a look at which Gryphons have been drafted in the last 10 years.
2015
Cam WalkerΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β DEΒ Β Β Β Β Β 3rd roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 21st overallΒ Β Β Β Β Β Toronto Argonauts
Alex CharetteΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β RecΒ Β Β Β Β 4th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 36th overallΒ Β Β Β Β Montreal Alouettes
Dan MacDonaldΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β LSΒ Β Β Β Β Β 7th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 56th overallΒ Β Β Β Β Toronto Argonauts
2014
Jeff FinleyΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β DLΒ Β Β Β Β Β 5th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 22nd overallΒ Β Β Β Β Montreal Alouettes
2013
Jake PiotrowskiΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β OLΒ Β Β Β Β Β 5th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 41st overallΒ Β Β Β Β Β Montreal Alouettes
Cam ThornΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β DLΒ Β Β Β Β Β 7th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 60th overallΒ Β Β Β Β B.C. Lions
2012
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2011
Jedd GardnerΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β RecΒ Β Β Β Β 4th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 28th overallΒ Β Β Β Β Toronto Agronauts via Hamilton
2010
Rob MaverΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β K/PΒ Β Β Β Β 1st roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 5th overallΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Calgary Stampeders
Ryan BombenΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β OLΒ Β Β Β Β Β 4th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 31st overallΒ Β Β Β Β Β Montreal Alouettes
2009
Brad CrawfordΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β DBΒ Β Β Β Β 6th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 43rd overallΒ Β Β Β Β Toronto Agronauts via Winnipeg
2008
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2007
Dave McKoyΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β RecΒ Β Β Β Β 2nd roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 9th overallΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Saskatchewan Roughriders via Hamilton
2006
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2005
—
2004
Anthony MasonΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β OLΒ Β Β Β Β Β 5th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 36th overallΒ Β Β Β Β Hamilton Tiger-Cats
2003
Michael PalmerΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β RecΒ Β Β Β Β 6th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 48th overallΒ Β Β Β Β Toronto Argonauts
2002
Sean SpenderΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β LBΒ Β Β Β Β Β 6th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 48th overallΒ Β Β Β Β Toronto Argonauts
2001
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2000
Loren PadelfordΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β OLΒ Β Β Β Β Β 4th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 28th overallΒ Β Β Β Β B.C. Lions
Note:Β The four Gryphons selected in the 1995 CFL Draft are as follows
Kevin ReidΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β RecΒ Β Β Β Β 1st roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 7th overallΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Calgary Stampeders
Heron TaitΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β DBΒ Β Β Β Β 3rd roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 27th overallΒ Β Β Β Β Β Ottawa Rough Riders
Charles AssmanΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β DBΒ Β Β Β Β 4th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 32nd overallΒ Β Β Β Β Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Kip WigmoreΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β RecΒ Β Β Β Β 5th roundΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 40th overallΒ Β Β Β Β Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Source: Andy Baechler, Guelph Gryphons Sports Information
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