RedBlacks Add Six Canadian Prospects in 2021 CFL Draft
May 4, 2021 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Ottawa RedBlacks News Release
OTTAWA - With an eye towards the future, the Ottawa REDBLACKS stocked their prospect cupboard with six new Canadian faces on Tuesday night as the 2021 CFL Draft brought with it a brief taste of football normalcy.
The REDBLACKS started the night off by selecting Canadian linebacker Deshawn Stevens with their first-round pick, sixth-overall selection. Overall, GM Marcel Desjardins was pleased with his group's draft night, crediting his strong football operations staff for much of the heavy lifting.
"We have a process in place that started a while ago and It's really a group effort," said Desjardins. "We came up with who we felt was best suited to play for the REDBLACKS ."
Here is a recap of the REDBLACKS' 2021 draft:
Round 1, 6th overall
Deshawn Stevens, Canadian linebacker
The Toronto native had an incredible 2018 season for the University of Maine. He recorded 120 tackles (17 for a loss), nine sacks and two fumble recoveries. Stevens was named Maine's top defensive player and helped the Black Bears capture a CAA title. During a 2020 season cut short because of the pandemic, Stevens had a team-high 36 tackles this spring for Maine in four games.
HEIGHT: 6-2 |WEIGHT: 255 lbs
HOMETOWN: Toronto, ON |SCHOOL: Maine
Round 2, 13th overall
Alonzo Addae, Canadian defensive back
After transferring from New Hampshire to West Virgina, Addae became one of the most consistent players in the Mountaineers' secondary and earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors at the end of last season. In only 10 games, he finished the season with 61 tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and five pass deflected.
HEIGHT: 5-11 |WEIGHT: 192 lbs
HOMETOWN: Pickering, ON |SCHOOL: West Virginia
Round 3, 24th overall
Connor Berglof, Canadian offensive lineman
Berglof, a Saskatoon native, was named on the 2019 U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian.
HEIGHT: 6-3 |WEIGHT: 300 lbs
HOMETOWN: Saskatoon, SK |SCHOOL: Saskatchewan
Round 4, 31st overall
Jake Julien, Canadian Kicker/Punter
Julien tied the Eastern Michigan University record with a 43.4 career punting average and he ranks eighth in EMU history with 7,383 yards punting. He is the only punter in Eastern Michigan history to record two 70+ yard punts during his time at the school. In 2020, Julien led the MAC conference in punting while ranking eighth in the nation.
HEIGHT: 6-2 |WEIGHT: 210 lbs
HOMETOWN: Barrie, ON |SCHOOL: Eastern Michigan
Round 5, 42nd overall
Keegan Markgraf, Canadian long Snapper
In 2020, Markgraf was a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, awarded to the best college football long snapper in the nation. He was also on the Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention for the 2020 season. In 33 career games played with Utah, Markgraf recorded 160 career snaps (65 punt, 23 FG, 72 PAT).
HEIGHT: 6-3 |WEIGHT: 225 lbs
HOMETOWN: Hamilton, ON |SCHOOL: Utah
Round 6, 49th overall
Matthew Derks, Canadian offenisive lineman
In 2019, Derks appeared in every games for Delaware and helped the offense rank fourth in the MEAC with 1689 yards, including nine games with 100 or more yards rushing and 100 or more yards in seven straight games to end the season.
HEIGHT: 6-3 |WEIGHT: 315 lbs
HOMETOWN: Brantford, Ontario |SCHOOL: Delaware State
Canadian Football League Stories from May 4, 2021
- RedBlacks Add Six Canadian Prospects in 2021 CFL Draft - Ottawa RedBlacks
- Tiger-Cats Select Seven Players in 2021 CFL Draft - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- EE Football Team Drafts Six in 2021 CFL Draft - Edmonton Elks
- Lions Select Five Players in Tuesday's 2021 CFL Draft - B.C. Lions
- Stamps Select Six Players in CFL Draft - Calgary Stampeders
- Double Blue Add Seven Canadians During 2021 CFL Draft - Toronto Argonauts
- Blue Bombers Select Six Players in 2021 CFL Draft - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- With the First Selection in the 2021 CFL Draft Hamilton Selects Jake Burt - CFL
- Alouettes Claim Pier-Olivier Lestage - Montreal Alouettes
- RedBlacks Select LB Deshawn Stevens with Sixth Overall Pick in 2021 CFL Draft - Ottawa RedBlacks
- Lions Select Defensive Lineman Daniel Joseph 4th Overall - B.C. Lions
- Stamps Select Ogbongbemiga in First Round - Calgary Stampeders
- EE Football Team Select DL Cole Nelson with Fifth Overall Pick in 2021 CFL Draft - Edmonton Elks
- Riders Select Defensive Back Nelson Lokombo 2nd Overall - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Blue Bombers Select Offensive Lineman Liam Dobson with 3rd Overall Selection in 2021 CFL Draft - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Tiger-Cats Select Tight End Jake Burt First Overall in 2021 CFL Draft - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- 2021 CFL Draft Takes Place Tonight with Hamilton Holding the First Pick - CFL
- The CFL 2021 Draft Is Tonight - Edmonton Elks
- Ottawa RedBlacks Set for Tonight's CFL Draft - Ottawa RedBlacks
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