CFL.ca Staff
REGINA — After trading out of the first round of the 2011 draft, the Saskatchewan Roughriders selected defensive back Craig Butler out of Western University with the 12th overall pick.
The Riders traded their first round selection (7th overall) to Toronto in exchange for the 12th and 27th overall picks in the draft.
Butler played the last four seasons for the Mustangs and was named an All-Canadian in his senior year. In 2010, he was tied for the OUA lead with five interceptions and led Western Ontario with 46.5 defensive tackles. The 22-year-old hails from London, Ontario.
He also attended the 2011 CFL Evaluation Camp presented by Reebok and impressed scouts during the on-field drills. During the drills Butler shut down every receiver he faced and made two interceptions.
The Riders then selected towering offensive lineman Matt O’Donnell out of Queen’s with the 15th overall selection. O’Donnell won the Gaels’ Justin Schwieg Trophy as most improved player in 2008 before being named the team’s top lineman in 2009. He was also named a first-team All-Canadian in both 2009 and 2010, and took home the OUA award for best lineman this past season.
Though he has outstanding size, the one knock on Matt O’Donnell is that he may not have the bend and quickness to deal with smaller faster defensive linemen.
The Roughriders stuck to the offensive line with their next pick selecting Alexander Krausnick-Groh out of Calgary with the 27th overall pick in the fourth round. The 22-year-old spent the last four seasons with the Dinos and the last two as the starting centre. In both 2009 and 2010, Krausnick-Groh played in the Vanier Cup and was named a Canada West All-Star.
The Riders also selected Laval kicker Christopher Milo (30th overall) in the fourth round. The 23-year-old spent four seasons with the Rouge et Or, and holds the QUFL record for the most career points (385), which places him 3rd in Canada. He also ranks first in Quebec for field goals (69), which once again puts him in third place nationally. In 2008, he set the Canadian record for the most field goals in a single season (25). He was a Quebec All-Star for each of his university seasons, Christopher also earned himself a spot on the CIS First All-Canadian Team in 2008 and 2010 as well as the Second All-Canadian Team in 2009.
Saskatchewan used their final selection of the draft (40th overall) to select running back Kyle Exume out of Bishop’s. The Brooklin, Ont. played four seasons at Bishop’s and has shown his greatest strengths on special teams with 29.5 special teams tackles and 3 blocked kicks since 2008.
The Riders actually held the 46th overall pick as well but sent that selection to Edmonton in exchange for Saskatchewan born fullback Graeme Bell.
