Johany Jutras/CFL
CFL.ca Staff
With files from MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – The Montreal Alouettes raised a few eyebrows by choosing defensive back Chris Ackie fourth overall in the CFL Draft.
Even Ackie’s, no matter how excited he may be.
It may not have been a shock that Ackie was the first defensive player selected. However, his draft slot came as a surprise to him.
“I didn’t expect to go this early, so when I saw my name I was really shocked,” said Ackie. “I’m happy and excited to be able to go to a great organization in Montreal. Now I’ll be able to come in right away, get a head start with my teammates and try to contribute on specials.”
There are some who think that Ackie’s selection could be considered a reach by Montreal. Als General Manager Jim Popp said that his trade with Hamilton minutes before the draft to acquire another first-round pick allowed for the flexibility to pick Ackie.
“He fits our defensive system well, he’s very versatile and can play multiple positions,” said Popp to Alouettes.com. “We knew probably there was going to be one or two other guys taken that were not offensive linemen which kicked other linemen to us by the time we got to the eighth pick.”
The Alouettes would use the eighth pick on offensive lineman Jacob Ruby of Richmond. Popp believes that there were teams in the back half of the first round who would have taken Ackie and did not want to risk losing him. He was the first defensive player taken in the draft.
There is little reason to doubt why Ackie was the highest-ranked defensive back by the CFL’s Scouting Bureau.
Ackie finished first overall in both the vertical jump and broad jump at the CFL Combine. He also beat out all defensive backs in the 3-cone drill and placed third overall in the event. His athleticism can’t be questioned.
“I think we kind of shifted the draft in a number of other team’s eyes when we took Ackie with the fourth pick,” said Popp.
Ackie hopes to reward the Als’ faith in him.
“I’m honoured that a team would take me that high and trust me. I’m just glad I can come in and start learning the system. I’m excited just to be in Montreal.
“They are going to get a beast on special teams, for one. A hard worker. I’m dedicated, and they are getting a leader as well.”
Ackie recorded 48.5 tackles, a sack and an interception in eight regular season games at Wilfrid Laurier last season. He was named an OUA first-team all-star, a CIS first-team all-Canadian and appeared as a member of Team East in the East-West Bowl.
He joins a Montreal defence that ranked fifth in the league last season but had the highest sack total in the East.
Typically when a player is drafted, he receives a phone call from the organization informing them of the upcoming good news before it is announced. Ackie missed that special moment with Montreal.
“They called me but I missed the first call. When I picked it up, I didn’t hear anyone so I hung up,” said Ackie, who was watching the draft at a campus restaurant with a teammates-turned-fellow draftees Ese Mrabure-Ajufo and Dillon Campbell. “So after, I was sitting down watching (the draft) and I heard my name called. So I found out the same time everyone else found out.”
This marks the second time in three years that the Als have taken a defensive back in the first round. Armed with the third selection in 2013, Montreal chose Mike Edem, who remains an important member of Montreal’s secondary.
