July 14, 2010

Als sign first round draft choice Matte

MontrealAlouettes.com Staff

MONTREAL — Montreal Alouettes’ Vice President and General Manager Jim Popp announced today that Quebec-born tackle and 2010 CFL Draft first-round pick Kristian Matte has signed a two-year contract plus an option year with the team.

“I’m very excited and honoured to join the Alouettes and I can’t wait to be on the field with my new teammates,” said Matte, 24. “I’m a physical and versatile player and I will do everything I can to help this team.”

Popp explained the process of picking Matte.

“We took a calculated risk when drafting Kristian. We hoped that calculated risk would pay off someday and today, we are smiling and the second guessing can be put to rest,” Popp said. “Kristian meets our measurables of an offensive lineman. Today, he will begin his journey to find the way onto the active roster, in hopes that he can continue the tradition of great O-linemen that have donned the Alouettes jersey over the past 14 years.”

The 6-foot, 4-inch, 296-pound Matte joins the Alouettes after recently attending mini-camps with the Houston Texans. The St-Hubert native played eight games with the Concordia Stingers in 2009, garnering CIS second-team All-Star and Quebec Conference All-Star honours.

He becomes the 13th Quebec-born player to wear the Alouettes’ colours in 2010. He was the second-consecutive offensive lineman to be selected in the first round by the Alouettes, following Dylan Steenbergen in 2009.