REDBLACKS sign their 2022 Draft class
OTTAWA — The Ottawa REDBLACKS on Tuesday announced the signings of seven rookies from this year’s CFL Draft and two players from the Global Draft.
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Round 1, second overall: Zack Pelehos (OL) – University of Ottawa
Pelehos, 22, won’t have to stray far from his roots on his path to the CFL. The Gananoque, Ont. native starred for the Gee-Gees, earning First Team OUA All-Star honours, and being awarded Gee-Gees Team MVP in 2021.
Were his play not enough, Pelehos starred at the 2022 Regional Combine. The six-foot-six, 300-pound tackle finished first among offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash (5.34), three-cone drill (7.92), short shuttle (4.69), vertical jump (29.50in), and broad jump (8’ 9 ¾“), as well as tying for first place in the bench press (16 reps).
Round 2, 11th overall: Cyrille Hogan-Saindon (OL) – Laval
“Cyrille is big, athletic, and can move,” said head coach Paul LaPolice. “He’s one of most physical guys in the draft, and I think a lot of teams had their eye on him.”
Hogan-Saindon, six-foot-five and 300 pounds, suited up for his first full season with Laval in 2021, earning a First Team RSEQ All-Star nod. At the CFL Draft Combine, the 24-year-old hit 26 reps of the 225lbs bench press: the most among offensive linemen.
Round 3, 22nd overall: Keaton Bruggeling (WR) – Carleton
Bruggeling, 23, starred for the Ravens through six games in 2021, racking up 17 receptions for 225 yards, and three touchdowns. At the draft combine, he ran a 4.55 40-yard dash, with a 37.5in vertical jump, 7.12 three-cone drill, and 4.33 shuttle.
Round 4, 31st overall: Daniel Valente (DB) – Western
Valente, 22, recorded 17 tackles in five games with the Mustangs, en route to a Vanier Cup victory in 2021.
Round 6, 49th overall: Subomi Oyesoro (LB) – Calgary
Oyesoro, 20, is a Calgary native, and recorded 33 tackles in 2021 playing for the Dinos.
Round 7, 58th overall: Connor Ross (TE/FB) – St. Francis Xavier
Ross, 23, of Coldbrook, Nova Scotia played a total of 30 games with the X-Men. The six-foot-one, 250-pounder hauled in 24 receptions for 207 yards.
Round 8, 67th overall: Luca Perrier (RB) – Laval
Perrier, 26, was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. He rushed for 284 yards on 29 attempts, scoring three touchdowns, in 2021 for the Rouge et Or.
The REDBLACKS also signed a pair of their Global Draft picks, in 11th overall selection, Edris Jean-Alphonse, a defensive back that played at Laval and 26th overall pick Gabriel Ballinas, a kicker out of Albany State.
Later on Tuesday, the REDBLACKS announced the signings of defensive lineman Ja’Von Rolland-Jones and defensive back Tenny Adewusi. Both players are Americans.
Rolland-Jones, 27, spent the 2018 training camp with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals before spending some time on the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad. In 2019, he made the move north, suiting up for four games with the Montreal Alouettes. Rolland-Jones played four seasons for the Arkansas State Red Wolves, recording 179 total tackles, 42 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in 48 games.
Adewusi, 24, joins the REDBLACKS following a successful season at Delaware, where had 31 tackles and a forced fumble in his final season. He was drafted into the XFL in 2019 and joined the Dallas Renegades.
