By Tim Switzer,
Regina Leader-Post
Ryan Ackerman was decked out in a Saskatchewan Roughriders hat and shirt along with a pair of University of Regina Rams track pants Wednesday.
All that was missing for the Regina product was a pair of Thom Collegiate socks.
To this point, the 21-year-old offensive lineman has played all his football in the Queen City. He may get a chance to continue that after being selected by the Roughriders in the fourth round (28th overall) of Wednesday’s CFL Canadian Draft.
“This feels awesome, I’m really excited,” the 6-foot-4 and 288-pound Ackerman said during a media conference at Mosaic Stadium. “I’m kind of speechless right now. I’m really excited coming to this team. I’ve been here my whole life watching them and they’ve always been my favourite team, so to get a chance to play for them is amazing.”
Ackerman only started five games — the first of his career — for the Rams during the 2006 season, but that didn’t stop the Roughriders from looking at his potential. Ackerman joined the Rams in 2003 after graduating from Thom, where he won a pair of provincial 4A titles with the Trojans. He spent his first campaign at the U of R as a redshirt freshman before dressing for the last three seasons.
With two years of CIS eligibility left, he will likely find himself back on the Rams roster for the 2007 season, but isn’t going into Roughriders training camp thinking that way.
“I’d really like to stick on this team, but (it’s a) learning experience too,” said Ackerman. “I’ve only had one year of experience (playing in the CIS), but I’m going to give it my all. I’d really like to make the team and that’s my priority right now. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. If it does, it does.”
Roughriders general manager Eric Tillman knows that Ackerman may need to return to the Rams for another year or two, but still expects the left tackle to fight for a spot at camp.
“We expect Ryan to come in, bust his butt and compete,” said Tillman.
“We like that he’s a hard worker and all the information we’ve got from his coaches is that he’s a good character guy.”
Ackerman wasn’t the only big body from southern Saskatchewan selected in the draft. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats took University of Saskatchewan offensive lineman Jordan Rempel, a 6-foot-6 and 322-pound Caronport product, with the 12th overall pick.
Ackerman was never certain he would be drafted like teammates Chris Bauman and Chris Getzlaf (who went first and 33rd overall, respectively), but knew there was an outside chance of it happening.
“It’s tough when you’re in the draft and you’ve only played one year,” said Ackerman. “I was hoping, but I didn’t want to get my hopes too high. I just stayed on an even keel and it panned out in the best way for me.”
