Looking back at the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft picks.
By Josh Bell-Webster,
CFL.ca
It just may turn out to be one of the top CFL Canadian Draft classes in recent history.
No. 1 overall selection Adam Braidwood looks to be a fixture on the Edmonton Eskimos’ defensive line for years to come. Etienne Boulay, selected late in the second round by his hometown Montreal Alouettes, earned the East Division’s top rookie award. Daniel Federkeil took home some significant hardware, albeit south of the border in the shape of a Super Bowl ring.
Here is a look at the 50 draft selections of 2006 and what they did last season:
1. Adam Braidwood, DE, Edmonton
The Washington State product had a strong rookie campaign with the Eskimos, starting 10 games on the defensive line. Braidwood earned 20 tackles including four sacks, and had one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
2. Jay Pottinger, LB, B.C.
Pottinger was a key component on the B.C. Lions’ special teams unit en route to a Grey Cup championship. The McMaster alumnus was second on the team with 19 special teams tackles in 2006.
3. Andy Fantuz, WR, Saskatchewan
The 2005 Hec Crighton Trophy winner had a strong finish in his rookie season. The Western Ontario great was fourth on the Roughriders with 408 receiving yards, and scored four TDs, including a game-winner in overtime against the Lions.
4. Ricky Foley, LB, B.C.
Foley attended Baltimore Ravens training camp before hooking up with the Lions in time for their third game. The York product contributed with nine special teams tackles and four defensive tackles and a fumble recovery.
5. Daniel Federkeil, DL, Toronto
Federkeil spent the majority of the 2006 season on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice roster and was active for two regular season NFL games. The Calgary product became just the second CIS grad to earn a Super Bowl ring.
6. Steve Valli, OL, B.C.
The Simon Fraser product was active for 12 regular season games with the Lions in 2006 in a back-up capacity. Valli could see more playing time in 2007 with the recent release of Bobby Singh.
7. Eric Deslauriers, WR, Montreal
Deslauriers played his senior season with Eastern Michigan, leading the team in receiving with 74 catches for 898 yards and five touchdowns. The Gatineau native was the only Eagles receiver to start all 12 games.
8. Cedric Gagne-Marcoux, OL, Hamilton
Gagne-Marcoux also played out his senior season at Central Florida. The Sherbrooke native started 40 games during his career with the Golden Knights. He was named to the 2006 Preseason All-Conference USA team.
9. Jermaine Reid, DL, Hamilton
Reid made 47 tackles with the Akron Zips (23 solo, 24 assisted), including eight tackles for losses. The Pickering native also had three sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 12 starts.
10. Leron Mitchell, DB, Toronto
Mitchell was active for 14 regular season games with the Argonauts. The second Western Ontario product to be selected in 2006 was second on the Boatmen with 18 special teams tackles.
11. Peter Dyakowski, OL, Hamilton
Dyakowski started at right tackle in all 12 of LSU’s regular season games this season, despite breaking his right hand in a game against Arizona. Dyakowski was named to the ESPN.com All-Bowl Team following LSU’s Sugar Bowl victory.
12. Luca Congi, K, Saskatchewan
The Simon Fraser product was named Saskatchewan’s top rookie in 2006. Congi set an all-time CFL record for rookies kicking 21 consecutive field goals. He finished the year third in the league with 38 field goals.
13. Jon Cornish, RB, Calgary
Cornish played his senior season with Kansas, leading the Jayhawks in rushing with 1,528 yards on 250 carries. The New Westminster native also reached the end zone eight times. He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team.
14. Aaron Wagner, LB, Toronto
Wagner was second-leading tackler at Brigham Young in 2006 with 75 tackles. The Lethbridge, Alberta native made 4.5 tackles for losses, and intercepted one pass. Wagner ended his college career with a win at the Las Vegas Bowl.
15. John Hameister-Ries, OL, B.C.
Hameister-Ries was named to the 2006 Conference USA Coaches All-Conference Second Team. The Edmonton native played and started in 25 career games, all coming consecutively in the last two years.
16. Etienne Boulay, DB, Montreal
Boulay proved you can come home again. Voted the East Division’s top rookie in 2006, the New Hampshire product made 13 defensive tackles, 20 special teams tackles, one fumble recovery and intercepted two passes.
17. Jason Nugent, DB, Edmonton
Nugent appeared in just one game with the Eskimos last season. The Rutgers product was recently traded to Winnipeg along with a 2007 fifth-round pick in exchange for defensive lineman Ron Warner and a 2007 fourth-round pick.
18. Shawn Mayne, DE, Hamilton
Mayne participated in Tiger-Cats’ training camp in 2006. He remained on the team’s practice roster before his release in July. He then joined the Blue Bombers where he was active for two games. He was subsequently released.
19. Arjei Franklin, WR, Winnipeg
The Windsor product was voted the top rookie on the Blue Bombers in 2006 after making 16 receptions for 161 yards. Franklin also took part on special teams, return three punts for 25 yards and one kickoff for three yards.
20. Chris Cowan, OL, Saskatchewan
Cowan spent the majority of the 2006 season on Saskatchewan’s practice roster after joining the club for training camp. He later signed on with Calgary and is expected to compete at this spring’s training camp.
21. Dwayne Mundle, LB, Edmonton
The West Virginia product participated in Eskimos’ training camp where he was subsequently released. He is currently a free agent.
22. Tristan Clovis, LB, Saskatchewan
The McMaster alumnus had a stellar debut season in the CFL, starting 14 regular season and two playoff games. Clovis made 25 tackles and 11 special teams tackles. He also returned one interception for 14 yards and had one sack.
23. Dominic Picard, OL, Winnipeg
Picard was active for just one regular season game in 2006 as he spent the majority of the year on reserve learning the tools of the trade at the professional level. He will likely see more playing time in 2007.
24. Jeff Perrett, OT, Montreal
The second Tulsa offensive lineman to be drafted in 2006, Perrett was named to the 2006 Conference USA Coaches All-Conference First Team. The Taber, Alberta native played in 49 career games for the Golden Hurricane, starting each one.
25. Mike Williams, DE, Edmonton
Williams returned to Boise State where he started 10 of 13 games. The Lethbridge, Alberta native made one solo and 10 assisted tackles.
26. Andrew Brown, LB, Edmonton
The Lafayette College product participated in Eskimos’ training camp when he was subsequently released. He is currently a free agent.
27. Riley Clayton, OL, Calgary
The former Manitoba Bison was activated for Calgary’s final regular season game after spending most of the year on the practice roster.
28. Chris Sutherland, OL, Hamilton
Sutherland played out his senior season with the Saskatchewan Huskies after attending Tiger-Cats’ training camp in the spring. Sutherland signed contract with the Ticats on January 9.
29. Peter Hogarth, OL, Saskatchewan
The McMaster product participated in Roughriders’ training camp following which he was released. Hogarth has since signed on with Hamilton.
30. Gerald Commissiong, RB, Calgary
The Montreal native played for the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in 2006 after spending most of his college career with Stanford. Commissiong played six games, starting one, and rushed for 92 yards on 27 carries.
31. Obed Cetoute, WR, Toronto
The Montreal native played his senior season with the Central Michigan Chippewas, catching 36 passes for 529 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 14 games. He had one catch for 20 yards in a Motor City Bowl victory.
32. Ivan Birungi, WR, Montreal
After attending Alouettes training camp, Birungi returned to the Acadia Axemen where he led the team in receiving with 47 catches for 759 yards and seven touchdowns. Birungi was named to the All-CIS Second Team.
33. Adrian Davis, DL, Montreal
Davis has yet to sign with the Montreal Alouettes.
34. Jean Philippe Abraham, LB, Edmonton
The Laval product was active for nine games with the Eskimos in 2006 where he recorded one special teams tackle.
35. Michael Roberts, CB, Hamilton
Roberts has yet to sign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
36. David Stevens, RB, Winnipeg
The Saskatchewan Huskies project attended Blue Bombers’ training camp when he was subsequently released. He is currently a free agent.
37. Jesse Alexander, LB, Saskatchewan
The Kitchener, Ontario native returned to Wilfrid Laurier for his fifth season where he accumulated 81 tackles in 10 games. Alexander was named to the All-CIS and OUA First Team.
38. Derek Armstrong, OL, Calgary
The St. Francis Xavier product was active for eight games with the Stampeders in 2006, including the West Semi-Final.
39. Brian Ramsay, OL, Toronto
The Victoria native spent the 2006 season with the New Mexico Lobos as a junior redshirt. Ramsay has only been playing competitive football for three years after being a member of the Canadian national rugby team.
40. Mike Lindstrom, SB, B.C.
The UBC product spent the 2006 season on the Lions’ practice roster, and is expected at training camp in June.
41. Joel Wright, DB, Montreal
The Wilfrid Laurier product spent the majority of the 2006 season on the Alouettes’ practice roster, but was active for the first and last games of the regular season.
42. Nicolas Bisaillon, RB, Edmonton
Bisaillon returned to the Laval Rouge et Or where he caught 38 passes for 674 yards and three touchdowns. He also accumulated 146 rushing yards on 15 carries, including one for a TD.
43. Danny Desriveaux, WR, Montreal
Desriveaux returned for his final season with the Richmond Spiders where he caught 17 passes for 192 yards and one touchdown in 11 games. The Laval, Quebec product recently signed with the Als and is expected at training camp in June.
44. Andre Knights, DB, Calgary
Knights played with the Saint Mary’s Huskies in 2006. In seven games the Brampton, Ontario native intercepted three passes and made 18 tackles, good for sixth on the team.
45. Stephen Hughes, RB, Saskatchewan
The Calgary Dinos product attended Roughriders’ training camp when he was subsequently released. He is currently a free agent.
46. Marc Trepanier, LB, Calgary
The Montreal Carabins product attended Stampeders’ training camp when he was subsequently released. He is currently a free agent.
47. Clifton Dawson, RB, Toronto
In 10 starts with Harvard in 2006, Dawson led the Crimson with 1,277 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. The Scarborough native became the first offensive player in history to be named to the All-Ivy First Team four times.
48. Jason Ward, DL, B.C.
Ward, who played his final year of eligibility with the UConn Huskies, broke a bone in his foot during training camp. He has signed with B.C. and is expected at Lions’ training camp this June.
49. Dexter Ross, DE, Winnipeg
The Minot State product participated in Blue Bombers’ training camp in 2006 where he was subsequently released. He is currently a free agent.
50. Greig Longchamps, OL, Edmonton
After participating in Eskimos’ training camp, Longchamps played out his final year of CIS eligibility with the Montreal Carabins in 2006.
