Next Step Taken: Prospects celebrate as they hear name called on Draft Day
TORONTO — Sunday night was a big night for the nine CFL clubs across the country but the evening held even more significance for the 71 prospects that heard their names called to make the leap from college and university star to professional athlete.
For some, it was the next logical step. For others, it was the culmination of a lifetime of training along a journey that likely saw some doubt along the way.
The Draft itself was held in Toronto but prospects were scattered around Canada and the United States anxiously waiting to get the call as they hosted draft parties with family, friends and teammates.
McMaster receiver Danny Vandervoort was selected third overall by the BC Lions and was hosting a party in his hometown of Barrie, ON. Moments after he was selected he spoke with CFL.ca’s Brodie Lawson and already had a new cap to wear when he spoke about being the newest Lion.
Receivers going early was the story in the first round of the Draft and along with taking over the CFL’s Snapchat, Nate Behar checked in from his draft party at Carleton University after learning he was headed to the Edmonton Eskimos.
Dariusz Bladek could barely get the smile off his face when he found out he was taken 11th overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. All evident in his interview with Lawson remotely from his draft party with his family. Points also go to a prospect that was dressed to the nines on his big day.
The Toronto Argonauts didn’t have a first round selection but they went big in the second round, taking 6-foot-9 offensive lineman Mason Woods. Despite playing his university ball at Idaho, there is no mistaking where he is from as seen in the Canadian flag he has draped behind him in his post-draft interview.
And finally, Braden Schram was more relieved than anything else when he found out that he was the second round selection of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Not unlike Vandervoort, he too was rockin’ a hat representing his new club when he checked in with CFL.ca.
