The Alouettes did not have the opportunity to draft Quebec linebacker Michael Brodrique, who was selected second overall on Tuesday night by the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League draft. The Montreal club was however able to choose David Dallaire, from the Laval University Rouge et Or, a little later.
“I knew that Edmonton was very interested, but honestly, I didn’t expect anything,” commented the former Carabins player from the University of Montreal, reached by telephone a few minutes after his name was called.
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It was an explosion of joy at the Brodriques as Michael was accompanied by his father Pierre, his mother Suzanne Beaumont and his older brother Samuel for this special evening. His agent Sasha Ghavami also quickly joined him on the sidelines of the announcement of the Elks’ choice.
“I’m happy and I’m ready to travel, it doesn’t scare me, I left home at 16 to play at Champlain College in Lennoxville,” added the 24-year-old athlete today. , originally from Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac. In Edmonton, I go back to where the combine took place at the end of March. And I must say that we were very well received.
Sutherland: 1st choice of the Alouettes
Holding the fifth overall pick, the Alouettes drafted another linebacker, Jonathan Sutherland, formerly of Penn State University. This is a certain bet for the Montreal club since Sutherland has signed an agreement with the Seattle Seahawks organization, as a free agent, following the recent NFL draft.
“It’s an honor, reacted Sutherland, by videoconference, mentioning in passing that his mother Sylvie Cloutier is a native of Montreal and that his father Everton also lived there. I am grateful to be in the position where I am with this opportunity in Seattle, but also this one in Montreal.
With a second selection in the first round, Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia then called up defensive lineman Lwal Uguak from Texas Christian University. In the case of the latter, he has a tryout in sight with the New York Giants.
A colossus in Ottawa
It was the Ottawa Redblacks who had the privilege of picking the first rung, taking the opportunity to draft offensive lineman, Dontae Bull. This 6 ft colossus. 6 in. and 324 pounds was attending Fresno State University, California.
Brodrique was the best positioned athlete among the hopefuls having evolved in a Quebec university. The one who is also a teacher in a primary school indeed arrived in 11th position in the final ranking. In seven games with the Carabins last season, he had 29 solo tackles and contributed six more. He also had 3.5 quarterback sacks.
Quebec’s Francis Bemiy of Southern Utah University was also drafted in the first round, ninth overall, by the BC Lions. The Alouettes chose fullback David Dallaire, from the Rouge et Or, in the second round (13th overall).
“We took a calculated risk with David because we thought we’d pick him with the seventh overall pick,” Maciocia said. In the end, we decided to be patient.
- In the morning, the Alouettes selected a Swede in the world draft. With the fifth overall pick, the Montreal club called up defensive lineman Simon Sandberg from the Oregon State University Beavers. In the second round, with the 14th selection, the Montreal club opted for Australian kicker Rhys Byrns (Louisiana State).