CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Ticats Strengthen Canadian Content with Seven Picks in 2012 CFL Draft

Published on May 3, 2012 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Hamilton Tiger-Cats News Release


Hamilton, Ontario - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats added to their Canadian content today with seven selections in the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft.

The Ticats began the draft by dealing the third overall pick to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in exchange for the 8th and 13th overall selections.

With three selections in the second round, the Ticats took Northern Illinois defensive back Courtney Stephen with the 8th pick, Laval linebacker Frederic Plesius with the 10th pick and Calgary offensive lineman Carson Rockhill at 13th overall.

Stephen played two seasons at Laurier, earning first-team OUA All-Star status, before transferring to Northern Illinois. He made 59 tackles, two interceptions, forced two fumbles, recovered three fumbles and broke up five passes in 2008.

Plesius, the 5th ranked player by the CFL's Scouting Bureau, was named a CIS All-Canadian, RESQ All-Star and the RESQ Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. He registered 70 tackles, 5.5 sacks and four interceptions in his two seasons with the Rouge et Or after transferring from Baylor.

Rockhill, a 6-6, 285-pound has played four seasons with the Dinos (2008-11) and was named to Team Canada at the IFAF World Junior Championships in 2008.

In the third round, the Tiger-Cats chose a pair of defensive linemen, Laval's Arnaud Gascon-Nadon with and Boise State's Michael Atkinson.

Gascon-Nadon is a two-time winner of the J.P. Metras Trophy, presented annually to the top down lineman in Canadian university football. He made 15 quarterback sacks and 26 tackles for losses over the last two seasons with Laval. He was named a C-USA All-Freshman at Rice in 2008 before transferring to Laval in 2009.

Atkinson, a 6-0, 312-pound native of Windsor, has registered 49 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and one quarterback sack with the Broncos. He has also seen action as a fullback.

Sherbrooke receiver Simon Charbonneau-Campeau was the team's fourth-round selection. He is a two-time RESQ MVP, an All-Canadian in 2011, and owns school records for receptions (138) and receiving yards (2,477). His 1,121 receiving yards in 2010 are second-highest single-season total in CIS history, trailing only Andy Fantuz's record of 1,300 in 2002. The CFL's Scouting Bureau had Charbonneau-Campeau ranked as the ninth-best prospect in this year's draft.

The Black and Gold took Simon Fraser's Daronn "Bo" Palmer with the 33rd overall pick in the fifth round. Palmer, a 5-9, 185-pound running back was named a first-team GNAC All-Star in 2011 after rushing for 1,219 yards and eight touchdowns.

Stephen, Atkinson and Palmer are expected to return to their respective schools in 2012 for their final season of eligibility.

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