UConn
CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO – Alex Mateas is coming home. The Ottawa, Ontario native and UConn graduate was selected first overall by the REDBLACKS in the 2015 CFL Draft on Tuesday.
CFL Commissioner Jeffrey L. Orridge made the first overall selection announcement live during the CFL Draft, which is currently being broadcast on TSN2 and RDS2.
Growing up in Ottawa, Ont., Mateas played for the Ottawa Sooners of the Canadian Junior Football League. During his four year career with the Huskies, the Ottawa, Ontario native played in 32 games at Connecticut after transferring from Penn State.
“He’s a player with plenty of experience at the collegiate level, starting all 12 games for UConn in 2013 and 2014,” said CFL.ca Insider Justin Dunk. “Mateas is said to be the most pro-ready offensive lineman in the 2015 class.”
The 6-4, 309 lbs. lineman anchored the offensive line, especially during his final two seasons, when he started every game at centre. In total, Mateas started 29 games in his collegiate career and was invited to play in the College Gridiron Showcase All-Star Game in Texas in his final season.
Playing for his hometown team is a big deal for any prospect and during his media call on draft night, Mateas echoed that.
“It’s a great honour to be drafted number one in my home city. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
REDBLACKS’ general manager, Marcel Desjardins saw the UCONN product as the perfect fit from a football side as well as a community side.
“For us on the football side, our decisions are strictly base on football. But when it comes to being able to add the element of community feel, it’s a big bonus.”
It didn’t take long for the REDBLACKS to lock up their prized prospect. During Desjardins’ media availanility he metioned that the team has signed the number one selection to a three-year contract.
Mateas started the offensive linemen trend in round one of the CFL Draft. It marked the first time in CFL history that all top-3 selections were offensive lineman. Additionally, the six offensive linemen drafted in the first round broke a record for most in the opening round. The previous mark was set in 1987 with five.
He was the second-best offensive lineman available in the draft according to the CFL Scouting Bureau, third overall.
In total, seven University of Connecticut players have been selected in the CFL Draft since 2000. The last Connecticut player selected was defensive end Jesse Joseph by the Montreal Alouettes (3rd round, 23rd overall) in the 2013 draft.
