Kevin Mital, Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay, Geoffroy Cantin-Arku, Benjamin Labrosse, as well as Christy Nkanu, Kevens Clercius and Cristophe Beaulieu, among many others. This is a very large crop of Quebecers for the Canadian Football League draft on Tuesday evening, so much so that half of the nine first-round choices could come from La Belle Province.
Three Quebecers among the first five selections? A total of seven Fleurdelisés chosen in the first two rounds? Anything seems possible, although some players could slip after receiving an invite from an NFL club in recent days.
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Among them, Cantin-Arku was passed over in the NFL draft, but the linebacker from the University of Memphis, in the NCAA, will get a tryout with the Miami Dolphins at the rookie mini-camp, from 10 to May 12.
Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, in the Memphis University Tigers uniform, December 2023.
Archive photo, AFP
“If he ever finds himself in the Canadian League, he is a player who would possibly be able to dominate on special teams and have a certain impact at the defensive level,” said general manager Danny Maciocia, about Cantin. -Arku. He’s a very, very good football player and he’s someone who expresses himself well. He has a good football head.
Labrosse, who wore the colors of McGill University in 2022, for his part obtained an invitation to the New York Giants rookie mini-camp at the defensive back position.
Benjamin Labrosse (#24) defended the colors of McGill University in 2022.
Archive photo, QMI Agency
The Red and Gold in the spotlight
Two players from the Laval University Rouge et Or should normally be chosen in the first round, namely pass catcher Kevin Mital and offensive lineman Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay. A third representative, defensive back Cristophe Beaulieu, could also find himself among the first 18 selections.
Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay, from the Rouge et Or of Laval University
Archive photo
Kicker Vincent Blanchard, who is a hidden card in this draft, could also benefit from a surprising selection rank even if, in his case, he was invited to the New England Patriots’ rookie camp.
Nkanu and Clercius: from the NCAA to the CFL
Still little known in Quebec despite having played south of the border in recent years, Montrealers Christy Nkanu and Kevens Clercius are also ones to watch during the first two rounds.
Defending the colors of the University of Connecticut Huskies, Kevens Clercius (left) faced the powerful Michigan Wolverines on September 17, 2022, in Ann Arbor.
Archive photo, AFP
Nkanu started playing football late at Louis-Joseph-Papineau high school, in the Saint-Michel district, before ending up in California. The offensive lineman, who could add depth to the Alouettes at this position, played the most recent season with the Washington State Cougars in the NCAA.
As for Clercius, he is a pass catcher who played for the University of Connecticut Huskies. When he was younger, he attended Henri-Bourassa secondary school in Montreal North.
Quebec candidates from the third round? Frédérik Antoine (Laval), Jason Janvier-Messier (York), Paul-Antoine Ouellette (Montreal), Zach Philion (Concordia), Dawson Pierre (Concordia), Kaylyn St-Cyr (Montreal) and Ezechiel Tieide (Concordia), among others .
- The Edmonton Elks hold the first overall pick in the CFL draft, ahead of the Ottawa Redblacks and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Barring a trade, the Montreal Alouettes, reigning Gray Cup champions, will be ranked ninth.
