Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
VANCOUVER — The BC Lions will have both of their 2017 first round draft picks in the fold at rookie camp this week, announcing deals for Danny Vandervoort and Junior Luke.
Vandervoort, a receiver out of McMaster, was picked third overall while Luke, a defensive lineman out of Montreal, dropped to the Lions at seventh.
The club also announced that international kicker/punter Ty Long and international offensive lineman Aaron Epps have signed with the team.
Long (6’2”, 205) joins the Lions after stints in the NFL with the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers. Originally signed by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in May 2015, he also spent some time with the Steelers in 2016.
The Georgia native enjoyed a successful college career at Alabama-Birmingham appearing in 48 career games while making 59 of his 77 career field goal attempts along with 145 of 149 conversion attempts for 322 points with the Blazers. He departed the program as the all-time leader in successful field goal attempts (59) as well as with the longest field goal in school history which came from 54 yards against Ohio State in 2012.
Epps (6’6”, 305) began his professional career as an undrafted free agent signing of the Cincinnati Bengals in May of 2016 and attended training camp with the club. After being released as part of the Bengals’ final roster cut-down in September, he was signed to the practice roster of the Arizona Cardinals where he spent the remainder of the season.
He attended the University of Louisville and appeared in 26 games for the Cardinals, the majority of which came in his final two years. A five-game starter as a senior who had 14 starts for his collegiate career, Epps was also a team captain during the 2015 season.
