The Montreal Alouettes made linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku their first round pick in the Canadian Football League (CFL) draft on Tuesday evening.
The reigning Gray Cup champions held the ninth and final pick of the first round. They have set their sights on the Quebecer from the Memphis University Tigers.
Standing six-foot-four and weighing 235 pounds, Cantin-Arku had 79 tackles, one sack and one interception this season, in addition to forcing two fumbles, recovering one and blocking a punt.
Cantin-Arku, who began his college career with the Syracuse University Orange, was invited to the Miami Dolphins rookie mini-camp.
The Alouettes also selected defensive back Arthur Hamlin (29e), defensive lineman Micah Roane (38e), receiver Frédérik Antoine (47e), running back Michael Herzog (56e), receiver Mohsen Jamal (65e) and defensive back Vincent Delisle (74e).
A little over an hour before Cantin-Arku was selected, the Edmonton Elks selected linebacker Joel Dublanko first overall in the draft.
The Elks held the top pick after finishing last season with a 4-14 record.
At six feet, three inches tall and 240 pounds, Dublanko was considered the most ready-to-play prospect in the pros.
After finishing his college career at Cincinnati, Dublanko spent time in the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks organizations before playing for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League in 2023.
Dublanko, an American, is eligible for the CFL draft because one of his parents is Canadian.
This was the Elks’ first of six potential picks in the top 31 overall.
At the fourth level, the Calgary Stampeders got their hands on defensive back Benjamin Labrosse, from the McGill University Redbirds. The Quebecer was part of the first all-star team in Canada at the cornerback position in 2022.
The Toronto Argonauts followed by setting their sights on receiver Kevin Mital, of the Laval University Rouge et Or. Mital won the Hec Crighton Trophy in 2023, given to the MVP of Canadian university football.
At seventh overall, the Tiger-Cats chose offensive lineman Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay, also from the Rouge et Or. He was part of the all-star team on two occasions.