Matt Smith/CFL.ca
HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Wednesday that all seven of the team’s 2017 Canadian Football League Draft selections from earlier this month have been signed to a contract, including defensive linemen Connor McGough, Kay Okafor and Justin Vaughn, offensive linemen Braden Schram and Brett Golding, wide receiver Jacob Scarfone and running back Sean Thomas-Erlington.
McGough, 21, was selected fourth overall in the first round of the 2017 CFL Draft. He played 26 games for the University of Calgary Dinos from 2013 to 2016, registering 67 total tackles, nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss. The 6-foot-2, 251-pound native of Medicine Hat, Alberta, played one season (2013) at running back before converting to defensive end in 2014. For his efforts, McGough was named a Canada West All-Star twice (2014, 2016).
Schram, 24, was selected by the Tiger-Cats in the second round, 13th overall. He played four seasons at the University of Calgary from 2013 to 2016, starting 31 games for the Dinos. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound native of Manning, Alberta, was named a Canada West all-star twice (2014, 2015) and earned U Sports First Team All-Canadian honours in 2015.
Okafor, 24, was selected in the third round, 21st overall. He played 27 games for St. Francis Xavier University over four seasons 2013 to 2016, collecting 53 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and three pass knock downs. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound native of Enugu, Nigeria, was part of the X-Men AUS championship-winning team in 2016.
Vaughn, 22, was a fifth-round pick, 38th overall, and Hamilton’s fourth selection in the Draft. He played 41 games, starting 21 times, over four seasons at Fordham University from 2013 to 2016. The 6-foot-5, 287-pound native of Hamilton, Ontario, recorded 82 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and one pass defended for the Rams. Vaughn earned First Team All-Patriot League honours and was named Fordham’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
Scarfone, 23, was selected in the sixth round, 47th overall. He missed the entire 2016 season due to injury. In 2015, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound wide receiver played eight games for the University of Guelph, registering 57 receptions for 940 yards and 10 touchdowns. The native of London, Ontario, played 19 career collegiate games for the Gryphons from 2013 to 2015, posting 65 receptions for 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Golding, 23, was selected in the seventh round, 58th overall. He also missed the entire 2016 season due to injury. In 2015, the 6-foot-5, 280-pound offensive lineman appeared in five regular season games at Wilfrid Laurier University. The native of Dunnville, Ontario, appeared in 15 career games over three seasons (2013-15) for the Golden Hawks.
Thomas-Erlington, 24, was an eighth-round pick, 66th overall, and Hamilton’s seventh and final selection in the 2017 CFL Draft. He played 28 games over four seasons from 2013 to 2016 for the University of Montreal, recording 253 carries for 1,405 yards and 16 touchdowns. The 5-foot-9, 214-pound native of Montreal, Quebec, won the Vanier Cup with the Carabins in 2014 and ranked first in RSEQ rushing touchdowns with five in 2015.
