Grand Valley State Athletics
TORONTO — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats made the first big splash of the draft Tuesday night, trading up to third overall to select Grand Valley State offensive lineman Brandon Revenberg.
The Ticats send their first round pick (5th overall) and third round pick (23rd overall) in exchange for BC’s first round pick (3rd overall) and fourth round pick (30th overall).
Revenberg is a 6-foot-4, 295-pound offensive linemen from Essex, Ont. and adds some youth to the Ticats’ offensive line up front, one year after the Tabbies traded their first round pick to acquire Ryan Bomben.
Revenberg also brings much-coveted flexibility after having played every position on the O-line over during his time at Grand Valley State.
For Revenberg, the sudden climb up the draft board was hard-earned but not totally expected.
“I knew coming from a Division II school I wasn’t all that well-known,” he said. “I think the big thing for me was getting my name out there.
“I had a couple of scouts come visit me — from then on just kind of visiting different teams and just showing what I can do, and then them just watching the film on me.”
For a player with ties to the Windsor area, Revenberg is excited to play close to home and join Head Coach Kent Austin on the Ticats.
“I got a phone call a little bit before my pick was up because I saw it was the BC Lions, but it was from Hamilton and it was Coach Kent Austin,” he said. “He just told me how he traded up for me and how I was going to be a Tiger-Cat.
“I was overwhelmed, I’m ecstatic. I couldn’t be happier with the choice.”
