Trio of Gryphons selected in CFL Draft

Guelph, ON – It has been 20 years since this many Gryphon football players were taken in the CFL draft.  On Tuesday, May 12^th, a total of three Gryphons were selected in the CFL draft, the most since 1995 when a total of four Gryphons were chosen.  The trio of names that were called on Tuesday night include:

 

–          Defensive end Cam Walker was taken by the Toronto Argonauts in the third round, 21st overall.

–          Receiver Alex Charette was picked by the Montreal Alouettes in the fourth round, 36th overall.

–          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.  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.  But it is Walker’s versatility that makes him such an attractive prospect for the CFL.  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 OUA’s Special Teams Player of the Year in 2012 thanks in large part to his dominating down the field coverage skills on kickoffs and punts.  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.  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.  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.  More recently, Charette emerged as the go-to receiver for Jazz Lindsey and James Roberts.  In 2014, Charette led the Gryphons withi 49 catches and six touchdown receptions during the regular season.  The St. Catherine’s 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.  MacDonald will be battling former Gryphon Jake Reinhart for the long snapper job.

Another former Gryphon was in the news just prior to Tuesday night’s CFL draft.  Offensive lineman Ryan Bomben, who played for the Gryphons from 2006-2010, was traded by the Montreal Alouettes to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.  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 Walker                DE       3^rd round          21^st overall       Toronto Argonauts

Alex Charette              Rec      4^th round          36^th overall      Montreal Alouettes

Dan MacDonald         LS       7^th round          56^th overall      Toronto Argonauts

 

2014

Jeff Finley                   DL       5^th round          22^nd overall      Montreal Alouettes

 

2013

Jake Piotrowski           OL       5^th round          41^st overall       Montreal Alouettes

Cam Thorn                  DL       7^th round          60^th overall      B.C. Lions

 

2012

—

 

2011

Jedd Gardner              Rec      4^th round          28^th overall      Toronto Agronauts via Hamilton

 

2010

Rob Maver                  K/P      1^st round          5^th overall        Calgary Stampeders

Ryan Bomben             OL       4^th round          31^st overall       Montreal Alouettes

 

2009

Brad Crawford            DB      6^th round          43^rd overall      Toronto Agronauts via Winnipeg

 

2008

—

 

2007

Dave McKoy              Rec      2^nd round         9^th overall        Saskatchewan Roughriders via Hamilton

 

2006

—

 

2005

—

 

2004

Anthony Mason          OL       5^th round          36^th overall      Hamilton Tiger-Cats

 

2003

Michael Palmer           Rec      6^th round          48^th overall      Toronto Argonauts

 

2002

Sean Spender              LB       6^th round          48^th overall      Toronto Argonauts

 

2001

—

 

2000

Loren Padelford          OL       4^th round          28^th overall      B.C. Lions

 

 

Note:  The four Gryphons selected in the 1995 CFL Draft are as follows

Kevin Reid                  Rec      1^st round          7^th overall        Calgary Stampeders

Heron Tait                   DB      3^rd round          27^th overall        Ottawa Rough Riders

Charles Assman          DB      4^th round          32^nd overall      Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Kip Wigmore              Rec      5^th round          40^th overall      Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Source: Andy Baechler, Guelph Gryphons Sports Information