Three Quebecers are among the top 20 prospects in the Canadian Football League draft, according to the most recent ranking released Tuesday by the recruiting office of the Ambrosie circuit. But overall, it’s a disappointing vintage, says Montreal Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia.
“I’m a little disappointed with this year’s vintage. Actually, really disappointed,” Maciocia said in a phone interview with The Canadian Press. “Not just in Quebec, in general. I really don’t know why. I believe the lost season due to the pandemic had an effect on that. »
The three Quebecers designated by the CFL are defensive back Enock Makonzo (8and rank, Coastal Carolina University), wide receiver Samuel Émilius (11andLouisiana Tech University) as well as offensive lineman Cyrille Hogan-Saindon (18andLaval University).
“It’s definitely a great honour. It’s a ranking that is recognized from year to year, and it’s nice to see his name appear there, but the real ranking is that of May 3rd. It will be the start of a new adventure if my name is called,” said Hogan-Saindon, who is completing a master’s degree in business administration. He credits his aggressive style for getting his name on this list. “I’m going forward, I’m trying to gain the extra yard. I am an athletic player, who has a good knowledge of the game. My intensity and my aggressiveness make the player that I am, ”described the native of Quebec.
Disappointing, but not talent-poor
Attention, warns Maciocia: that this vintage is below its expectations does not mean that the eligible players are devoid of talent, particularly in the case of the three Quebecers.
“They are all excellent football players. We agree that they will all be drafted, now it remains to be seen in which round, explained the GM They all have the potential to play at the next level. I don’t know the needs of all the teams, but I can assure you that these are players whose names appear on our table. These are players we have already interviewed. They are sharps. They are ready. »
That only one player developed in a Quebec university finds himself among the first 20 hopefuls does not mean that the players of the Quebec Student Sports Network will be shunned by the nine formations of the CFL. “Does that mean that there will only be one Quebecer drafted? No, according to Maciocia. But the quality that we saw in the past is not there this year. I hope this will be an exception and that it will change in the next few years. […] We’ve never had that in the last 10 or 15 years. I hope it won’t become the norm. »
“We have good players who may not be in the 20 hopefuls who will come out a little later,” said Hogan-Saindon.
Ontario wide receiver John Metchie III of the University of Alabama leads the rankings, followed by linebackers Jesse Luketa (Penn State) and Tyrell Richards (Syracuse University), three first positions with which Maciocia agrees. “These are three players who stand out. I would be in shock if we saw Metchie or Luketa in the CFL in the next few years. They are NFL labeled players. »
The 2022 CFL Draft will take place on Tuesday, May 3. The league’s scouting office is made up of scouts, player personnel managers and general managers from the league’s nine teams. It publishes three rankings during the year: one in the fall, one in the winter and one in the spring.