CFL Draft: Could a Junior National Team alum go first overall for a 3rd consecutive year?

The CFL draft kicks-off tonight on TSN at 8 p.m. ET and for the third consecutive year a member of the 2009 Junior National Team could go first overall.

The Ottawa REDBLACKS have the first overall selection and have been rumored to be taking an offensive lineman. One of the players in contention to go first overall is 2009 Junior National Team alumnus, Danny Groulx out of Laval. Should Groulx be the REDBLACKS selection he would join Pierre Lavertu (2014 – Calgary Stampeders) and Linden Gaydosh (2013 – Hamilton Tiger-Cats) as the third consecutive 2009 Junior National Team alumnus selected first overall in the CFL draft.

The REDBLACKS could also lean towards a pair of Calgary Dino offensive lineman in Sean McEwen or Sukh Chungh, both of which played in the International Bowl in 2012 as members of the IFAF World Team – a squad that handed Team USA their first loss in international competition.

Other offensive linemen in consideration are Ottawa native Alex Mateas (UConn) or IFAF World Team alum, Jacob Ruby (Richmond). At the 2010 International Bowl, Ruby played alongside Ben Heenan (first overall CFL draft selection by Saskatchewan in 2012) as well as the aforementioned Danny Groulx and Pierre Lavertu in addition to current Argo Matt Sewell, making for one heck of an o-line.

Best of luck to all in tonight’s draft. For more on the CFL draft head to CFL.ca.

Seven draft eligible ’09 Junior National Team alumni

• Danny Groulx, OL, Laval [Below photo courtesy of USA Football]

• Byron Archambault, LB, Montreal [Below photo courtesy of USA Football]

• Ron Omara, LB, StFX
• Karl Lavoie, OL, Laval
• Jérémi Roch, QB, Sherbrooke
• Brandon Bridge, QB, S. Alabama

• Jean-Samuel Blanc, DL, Montreal

Draft eligible International Bowl alumni

• 2010 – Byron Archambault, LB, Montreal
• 2010 – Danny Groulx, OL, Laval
• 2010 – Jacob Ruby, OL, Richmond
• 2010, ’12 – Sukh Chungh, OL, Calgary
• 2010 – Karl Lavoie, OL, Laval
• 2010 – Jérémi Roch, Sherbrooke
• 2011 – Jake Hardy, REC, Calgary
• 2012 – Sean McEwen, OL, Calgary
• 2012 – Daryl Waud, DL, Western
• 2012 – Chris Ackie, DB, Laurier

Draft eligible Football Canada Cup alumni include:

• Danny Groulx, OL, Laval: 2007 & 2008 U19 QC
• Karl Lavoie, OL, Laval: 2008 U17 QC
• Daryl Waud, DL, Western: 2010 ON. W
• Rory Connop, DL, Western: 2008 U19 AB
• Jean-Samuel Blanc, DL, Montreal: 2008 U19 QC
• Ettore Lattanzio, DL, Ottawa: 2007 U17 ON. E
• Ricky Osei-Kusi: 2010 U18 ON. W
• Brandon Tennant: 2008 & 2009 U19 QC
• Tyler Varga, RB, Yale: 2010 U18 ON. W
• Nic Demski, RB, Manitoba: 2008 U17 MB
• Addison Richards, REC, Regina: 2010 U18 SK
• Jake Hardy, REC, Calgary: 2007 U17 S. AB, 2009 U19 AB
• Dexter Janke, DB, Okanaghan Sun: 2008 U17 N. AB
• Anthony Coady, DB, Montreal: 2007 U17 & 2008 U19 QC
• Byron Archambault, LB, Montreal: 2007 U17 & 2008 U19 QC
• Jordan Yantz, QB, Manitoba: 2008 U19 SK

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