Lions select McMaster’s Vandervoort 3rd overall

TORONTO — The BC Lions have selected McMaster receiver Danny Vandervoort with the third overall pick in the 2017 CFL Draft.

Vandervoort impressed at the 2017 CFL Combine presented by adidas, especially in the one-on-one drills, helping to improve his stock and move him up the CFL Scouting Bureau ranking from seventh to fourth in April.

The 6-foot-1, 203-pound receiver collected 831 yards and five touchdowns in his final season with the Mauraders. Over four years with Mac, Vandervoort, a Barrie, Ont. native, hauled in 148 receptions and 2,572 receiving yards. His 29 career receiving touchdowns are also third all-time in USPORTS history.

At the Combine in March, Vandervoort recorded 13 reps on the bench press, ran a 4.734 second 40-yard dash, jumped 31.5 inches in the vertical jump and 9’6” in the broad, while also running the 3-cone drill in 7.20 seconds and the shuttle in 4.35 seconds.

After a strong showing in Regina, CFL.ca’s Marshall Ferguson says Vandervoort cemented his status as the draft’s top receiver.

“Danny did what Danny does,” said the CFL Draft insider. “He complemented all of his athletic tests with exactly what I thought I’d see from him on the field: Smooth route-running, exceptional top-end speed, strong hands and a competitive nature in special teams drills that I don’t think a lot of people will know about until he makes a roster.”