2023-05-03 03:28:00
The Montreal Alouettes used the first of their two first-round picks to select defensive back Jonathan Sutherland fifth overall in Tuesday’s CFL Draft.
A 24-year-old Canadian athlete, Sutherland has played the past six seasons with the Penn State University Nittany Lions in the NCAA.
Sutherland, who is 5-foot-11 and weighs 202 lbs, has totaled 58 college games in the United States, including eleven as a starting defensive unit.
He recently signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent within hours of the NFL auction.
We can thus deduce that Sutherland still aspires to a career south of the border.
“I’m grateful to be in this position,” he said. I take nothing lightly; I have been practicing this sport since I was 8 years old and I put a lot of effort into it. To see that it pays off today is an honor. »
“There is a part of the unknown, that’s for sure. I’m going to Seattle to start, but it’s still unpredictable at this point (…) All I know is that I will be at the Seahawks rookie mini-camp next week, “said he added when asked regarding the likelihood of seeing him around the Birds in 2023.
Originally from the Ottawa region, Sutherland was certainly in consideration for the Rouge et Noir, holder of the very first selection.
“My mother spent most of her life in Montreal,” Sutherland said. Several members of his family are still there. My father came from Jamaica and settled in Montreal. It was there that he met my mother. (…) I go there regularly to visit the family. »
After the initial choice of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the sixth echelon, the Als were able to add a second prospect to their roster, and the Montreal general staff drew once more on the American side by choosing the tackle Lwal Uguak, a product of TCU.
An Edmonton native, Uguak joined TCU following a stint at the University of Connecticut.
The Alouettes then went there with a choice with a local flavor, in 13th place, by drafting fullback David Dallaire, from the Rouge et Or of Laval University. Dallaire helped the team lift the Vanier Cup last fall, catching four passes for 23 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter in Laval’s 30-24 win over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
The 23-year-old athlete from Saint-Georges was elected to the RSEQ all-star team in 2022, having scored seven touchdowns, including five on the ground, during the regular season, good for the second rank in the conference. He caught 18 passes for 279 yards and added 86 yards on 22 carries.
In the fourth round, the Alouettes selected with the 32e overall draft pick lineman Theo Grant.
Danny Maciocia had two fifth-round picks in his bank, including the one at 39e rank thanks to a trade with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He opted for McMaster centre-back Jacob Mason. Two selections later, the Alouettes added Shedler Fervius, a receiver from Saint Mary’s, to their ranks.
Running back Chase Brown, who was drafted in the fifth round by the Cincinnati Bengals, was selected by the Alouettes in the 59e draft level.
Concluding their draft with another player from the Laval program, the Birds used the 68th overall pick to claim cornerback Maxym Lavallée.
Monday, Maciocia had admitted that it was not a great vintage, but that there will nevertheless be “good players available in the first rounds”.
Ottawa opts for Bull
In the very first row of the auction, the Rouge et Noir chose to add to its offensive line by claiming tackle Dontae Bull, who played with the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Ottawa hadn’t gotten the first round since the 2015 draft. The team then turned to a homegrown product, offensive lineman Alex Mateas.
In the next row, a first Quebecer found a taker, as the Edmonton Elks set their sights on linebacker Michael Brodrique, originally from Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac.
Brodrique completed his university career with the UdeM Carabins. He is the earliest selected athlete in the history of the Montreal program.
A graduate in elementary school education, Brodrique stood out with one of the most impressive performances during recent physical evaluation tests.
Moments later, the Saskatchewan Roughriders completed the top-3 by drafting defensive lineman Lake Korte-Moore from UBC.
Fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots, Quebecer and lineman Sidy Sow was selected by the Saskatchewan Roughriders with the 48e draft pick.
The CFL draft comes a week following the NFL draft in which five Canadians – Matthew Bergeron, Sidy Sow, Sydney Brown, Chase Brown and Tavius Robinson – were selected.
Jared Wayne and Sutherland have signed contracts as undrafted free agents.
Bergeron, the Browns, Robinson, Sow and Wayne were also considered the top six prospects according to the CFL Scouting Office.
Choice of Alouettes Round
1 (5) Jonathan Sutherland, SEC, Penn State
1 (7) Lwal Uguak, LD, TCU
2 (13) David Dallaire, CA, Laval
4 (32) Theo Grant, LO, Queen’s
5 (39) Jacob Mason, CA, McMaster
5 (41) Shedler Fervius, RE, Saint Mary’s
7 (59) Chase Brown, D, Illinois
8 (68) Maxym Lavallée, DD, Laval
Rang Crew Player Position 1. Ottawa Dontae Bull Blocker 2. Edmonton Michael Brodrick linebacker 3. Saskatchewan Lake Korte-Moore defensive lineman 4. Calgary Cole Tucker pass receiver 5. Montréal Jonathan Sutherland defensive back 6. Hamilton Dayton Black Blocker 7. Montréal Lwal Uguak Blocker 8. Winnipeg Anthony Bennett defensive lineman 9. British Columbia Francis Bemiy defensive lineman
1683100879
#CFL #Draft #Jonathan #Sutherland #Alouettes #Michael #Brodrique #2nd #Elks
