Faith in No. 1: Bombers take Ekakitie first overall in 2017 CFL Draft
WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have taken a defensive lineman first overall in the 2017 CFL Draft, selecting Iowa defensive tackle Faith Ekakitie.
A native of Brampton, Ont., Ekakitie came into the draft as the fifth-ranked player on the third and final CFL Scouting Bureau ranking released in April.
A 6-foot-1, 304-pound interior lineman, Ekakitie is considered a pro-ready prospect with a strong chance of being in camp come the end of May.
“Faith Ekakitie is the player that, quite honestly, we had our eyes on for some time now,” said Winnipeg Blue Bombers General Manager Kyle Walters. “He’s athletic, physical inside, and has the character which we covet in this organization. We’re very pleased to call Faith’s name first overall in 2017.”
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CFL.ca draft insider Marshall Ferguson gave his take on Ekakitie, saying: “Faith Ekakitie is a CFL-ready NCAA product who fits multiple defensive schemes and is readily available after not testing the NFL like many others. I believe this profile fits what Winnipeg should want to do with the first pick while playing with house money collected from the Drew Willy trade.
“Ekakitie is not without flaws, but no player this year is. Not once to me, regardless of NFL dabbling, did a player scream ‘top pick’.”
The top pick in the draft was originally property of the Toronto Argonauts before going to Winnipeg in a trade involving Drew Willy last September.
Ekakitie did not attend the 2017 CFL Combine presented by adidas, instead attending an NFL Pro Day. He benched 24 reps, jumped 28.5 inches in the vertical and 8’5” in the broad while also running a 5.05 40-yard dash, a 4.50 shuttle and 7.54 3-cone.
The Iowa defensive lineman collected a career-high in tackles (21 solo and 18 assisted) in 2016, playing in all 13 games as the Hawkeyes went to the Outback Bowl.
