The Montreal Alouettes kicked off the CFL draft by turning to Syracuse Ontario linebacker Tyrell Richards on Tuesday.
A six-foot-three, 232-pound athlete, Richards had 24 tackles and two sacks in 2020, in eight games with the Orangemen.
“We are very happy to have taken the necessary steps to select Tyrell,” general manager Danny Maciocia said of the Brampton native.
“When we saw him at the CFL evaluation camp, we knew that we were going to try to get the first choice to ensure that he puts on the Alouettes uniform. Tyrell is fast, strong, and smart. We are convinced that he will contribute to our success this season. »
Maciocia had traded with the Edmonton Elks to get the first-ever draft pick.
In return, the Alberta squad got offensive lineman Carter O’Donnell — originally from Red Deer, but plays for the Indianapolis Colts — and the fourth overall pick in the draft.
In second place, the Ottawa Redblacks stayed in their court by going there with Zack Pelehos, offensive lineman of the Gee Gees, from the University of Ottawa.
The BC Lions rounded out the top three with University of Saskatchewan defensive lineman Nathan Cherry.
With the fourth pick, Edmonton bet on Enock Makonzo of Lachine, who played as a safety and linebacker with Coastal Carolina.
The Alouettes completed the first round by drafting Tyson Philpot, wide receiver from the University of Calgary.
His twin brother and teammate with the Dinos (also as a catcher), Jalen, was picked fifth by the Stampeders.
Earlier Tuesday, the Alouettes acquired the ninth and 18th picks from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Alouettes then had two first-round picks: the fourth and ninth.
In return, the Montrealers traded tackle Cameron Lawson and their 13th pick to the Manitobans.
Lawson, a six-foot-three, 285-pound Ontario native, played four games with the Birds last season. He cut his teeth with Queen’s University, recording 74 tackles (19.5 for a loss) and 11 quarterback sacks. He was also named to the U Sports All-Star Team in 2019, and the Most Outstanding Lineman on the Ontario College Tour.
World Draft
With the first selection of the CFL World Draft, the Alouettes selected defensive end Kingsley Jonathan from Nigeria.
In the second round, with the 18th selection, they opted for Dutchman Thomas Odukoya, another defensive end. Eventually, in the 19th echelon, they selected Australian kicker Kirk Christodoulou.
A total of 27 hopefuls from 12 countries were drafted. This was the third edition of this CFL World Draft.