TORONTO — Joel Dublanko did not have to wait long to find out where he will begin his CFL career. The Edmonton Elks selected the tough linebacker first overall in the CFL draft on Tuesday night.
TORONTO — Joel Dublanko did not have to wait long to find out where he will begin his CFL career.
The Edmonton Elks selected the tough linebacker first overall in the CFL draft on Tuesday night. The six-foot-three, 240-pound Dublanko was considered the most pro-ready draft prospect.
Following his college career at Cincinnati, he played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks before joining the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League in 2023. Dublanko, an American, was eligible for the CFL draft because his father is from Edmonton.
Dublanko was in Edmonton on Tuesday night, but he was nervous as he waited to hear his name called. In total, 74 competitors were eliminated over eight rounds.
“I had a good feeling about it,” he told reporters Tuesday night at a CFL video conference. “It’s an exciting time for me and my family.”
Dublanko was the ninth Bearcat selected in the draft, but the first in the opening round. He joins an Edmonton squad that has not entered the CFL playoffs since 2019 and has won only 11 regular-season games in that time.
“My goal is to be a starter,” Dublanko explained. “I have to go in there and win my job (but) I hold myself to a very high standard, and I believe I can do it.
“I came from a winning program at Cincinnati, and I expect to win. I realize we haven’t won much here in the last several years, but I believe we have a strong chance of turning things around, which is what I’m all about.”
The Ottawa Redblacks then selected receiver Nick Mardner. The six-foot-six, 206-pound product of Oakville, Ont., competed in the NCAA at Hawaii, Clemson, and Auburn, but made no catches in four games with the Tigers last season.
Throughout his undergraduate career, Mardner had 81 receptions for 1,488 yards (18.4 yard average) and 11 touchdowns. Mardner was invited to the New York Giants’ rookie minicamp.
“I just want to prove to myself that I am who I say I am,” Mardner stated. “Regardless of where it is, I just need to put it on film and show everybody what I’m capable of.”
Mardner was the first Auburn player taken in the CFL draft. This was the first time the Redblacks had selected a receiver in the first round.
At No. 3, the Saskatchewan Roughriders tried to strengthen their offensive line by drafting Boston College guard Kyle Hergel. However, the six-foot-two, 300-pound Toronto native inked a free-agent contract with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.
“I didn’t have any expectations going into (CFL draft),” Hergel stated. “I’m looking forward to getting down to New Orleans, any opportunity is a great opportunity I’m just thankful.”
Hergel is the eleventh Boston College player selected in the draft. His selection marks the fourth consecutive year that at least one offensive lineman was drafted in the top three.
At number four, the Calgary Stampeders selected McGill defensive back Benjamin Labrosse. The six-foot, 190-pounder was a 2022 first-team All-Canadian who was also invited to the Giants’ rookie mini-camp.
The Toronto Argonauts, who traded Canadian receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. to Edmonton in the offseason, selected Laval’s Kevin Mital with the fifth pick. The ’22 Hec Crighton Trophy winner excelled at the CFL combine, running a 4.58-second 40-yard sprint and performing 20 reps on the 225-pound bench press.
Laval has had at least one player selected in the CFL Draft since 2002.
The British Columbia Lions then chose Windsor offensive lineman George Una. The six-foot-three, 300-pound Toronto native became only the second Lancer selected in the first round.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats followed suit by selecting Laval offensive lineman Nathaniel Dumoulin Duguay at No. 7. The Rimouski, Que. native, who stands six feet two and weighs 293 pounds, has two All-Canadian awards.
Calgary obtained the eighth pick from the Winnipeg Bombers, selecting Washington State offensive lineman Christy Nkanu. Nkanu, who stands six feet one and weighs 309 pounds, can play numerous front-court positions.
The Grey Cup winner Montreal Alouettes finished the first round by selecting Memphis linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku. Last season, the six-foot-four, 235-pound Levis, Quebec native had 79 tackles (41 solo, 4.5 for loss), a sack, an interception, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.
Cantin-Arku, who started his college career at Syracuse, was invited to the Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp.
Winnipeg’s first pick came in the second round, at No. 13 overall, with UConn receiver Kevens Clercius. The six-foot-two, 217-pound Montreal native recorded 49 catches for 604 yards and five touchdowns in 37 college games.
Winnipeg then drafted Delaware State running back Michael Chris-Ike at No. 14. The six-foot-one, 225-pound Hamilton native rushed for 754 yards on 162 runs (4.7-yard average) and five touchdowns in 27 career games, earning an invitation to the New York Jets’ rookie mini-camp.
Three choices later, Winnipeg chose Buffalo offensive tackle Gabe Wallace. The 6-foot-6, 344-pound Salmon Arm, B.C. native started 28 of 49 college games, playing left guard and both tackle positions.
That came after Hamilton selected Wilfrid Laurier defensive end Luke Brubacher. The six-foot-six, 255-pound Listowel, Ont. native began playing football with the Golden Hawks in 2021 and has 61 tackles (15.5 for loss) and 12 sacks in his career, including a team-high six last season.
Brubacher was invited to the Jets rookie minicamp.
At No. 15, B.C. selected UBC tackle Theo Benedet, Canadian university football’s finest lineman the previous two years. However, the towering six-foot-seven, 305-pound native of North Vancouver, B.C., signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bears of the NFL.
Three of the four Canadians drafted in last weekend’s NFL draft were chosen. Winnipeg selected UBC lineman Giovanni Manu (Detroit Lions) in the fifth round, Calgary picked Arizona tight end Tanner McLachlan (Cincinnati Bengals) in the sixth round, and British Columbia selected Penn State tight end Theo Johnson (New York Giants) in the eighth round.
Toronto also had a futures pick in the sixth round, selecting Howard tackle Anim Dankwah (free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles).
