Sterling, Ukwuoma, and Carter selected in CFL draft

5/2/2009 11:35:27 PM | By: Posted by: Michael Grobe (Communications & Sports Information Officer)

Kingston, Ont. (May 2, 2009) Dee Sterling of Kingston, Ont., was selected in the second round (No. 12th overall) by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2009 Canadian Football League draft on Saturday.

Also drafted from Queen's were defensive lineman Osie Ukwuoma of Mississauga, Ont. and linebacker Thaine Carter of Nanaimo, B.C. Ukwuoma was selected 40h in the fifth round by the Calgary Stampeders while Carter was picked 45th in the sixth round by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Sterling, a defensive lineman, had an impressive season ranking fourth in the nation in sacks (7.5) and tallying 27.5 total tackles. Heading into Saturday's draft he was ranked seventh by the CFL scouting bureau and was one of top athletes at the CFL Evaluation Camp held in early March.

Ukwuoma also had solid season registering 9.5 sacks which tied him with UBC's Scott Mccuaig for most in the country. He also recorded 25 total tackles including 21 solo. Carter was the Gaels defensive captain in 2008 leading the team with 42 total tackles including 33 solo. He registered three quarterback sacks playing in all eight regular season contests.

Queen's was one of three universities who had three or more athletes selected in the 2009 draft. Regina led the way with five selections while Calgary also had three selections.

In all 38 players of the 48 drafted were from Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) affiliated schools including the first seven picks to open the draft – both records for CIS football since 1970. A previous high of 35 CIS student-athletes had been chosen in 2004 while the first six selections in 1983 were from CIS schools.

The seven players picked in the opening round rank third on the CIS list since 1970. Eight CIS athletes were drafted in the first round in both 1970 and 1972, when nine players were selected in every round.

The three Gaels drafted Saturday were the most selected since the 1993. That draft saw Brad Elberg chosen by Saskatchewan in the first round (second overall) followed by Jason Moller by Ottawa in the fifth round and Eric Dell by Hamilton in the seventh round.

As the 12th pick overall, Sterling is the highest Gael selected since Elberg was chosen second in the 1993 draft.

Under the tutelage of Head Coach Pat Sheahan, 11 Queen's football players have been selected in the CFL draft. Prior to today's draftees, the most recent was Mike Giffin of Kingston, Ont. who garnered the 17th selection by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2008.

With the addition of Sterling, Ukwuoma and Carter, the Gaels will have representation at all but three CFL training camps this spring. Presently only the BC Lions do not have a former Gael on their training camp roster. (Sterling – Edmonton; Ukwuoma – Calgary; Carter – Winnipeg; Giffin – Montreal; Rob Bagg – Saskatchewan, Kevin Scott – Saskatchewan; Matt Kirk – Hamilton; and Bryan Crawford – Toronto).

For all the information on the CFL Canadian Draft visit: www.cfl.ca

CIS players selected in 2009 CFL Canadian Draft (38):

First round (8 total selections)
1. Simeon Rottier, Alberta, OT (by Hamilton)
2. Étienne Légaré, Laval, DT (by Toronto)
3. Jamall Lee, Bishop's, RB (by B.C.)
4. James Yurichuk, Bishop's, LB (by B.C.)
5. Matt Carter, Acadia, SB (by B.C.)
6. Darcy Brown, Saint Mary's, WR (by Hamilton)
7. Dylan Steenbergen, Calgary, OL (by Montreal)

Second Round (8 total selections)
1. (9 total) Tamon George, Regina, DB (by Saskatchewan)
3. (11 total) Gordon Hinse, Alberta, OL (by Edmonton)
4. (12 total) Dedrick Sterling, Queen's, DL (by Edmonton)
7. (15 total) Matt Singer, Manitoba, OL (by Montreal)

Third Round (8 total selections)
1. (17 total) Nick Hutchins, Regina, OL (by Saskatchewan)
2. (18 total) James Green, Calgary, DB (by Toronto)
3. (19 total) Mike Morris, UBC, OL (by Winnipeg)
4. (20 total) Andrea Bonaventura, Calgary, LB (by Edmonton)
5. (21 total) Matt Morencie, Windsor, OL (by B.C.)
6. (22 total) Scott McCuaig, UBC, DE (by Hamilton)
7. (23 total) Nickolas Morin-Soucy, Montreal, DL (by Montreal)
8. (24 total) John Hashem, Regina, OT (by Calgary)

Fourth Round (8 total selections)
1. (25 total) Stan Van Sichem, Regina, DL (by Montreal)
2. (26 total) Zachary Pollari, Western Ontario, OT (by Toronto)
3. (27 total) Adam Bestard, Wilfrid Laurier, OL (by Winnipeg)
6. (30 total) Steve Myddelton, St. Francis Xavier, DE (by Calgary)
7. (31 total) Ivan Brown, Saskatchewan, DL (by Montreal)
8. (32 total) Scott McHenry, Saskatchewan, SB (by Calgary)

Fifth Round (8 total selections)
1. (33 total) Guillaume Allard-Caméus, Laval, RB (by Hamilton)
2. (34 total) Gordon Sawler, St. Francis Xavier, DL (by Toronto)
3. (35 total) Peter Quinney, Wilfrid Laurier, FB (by Winnipeg)
5. (37 total) Jonathan Pierre-Étienne, Montreal, DE (by B.C.)
6. (38 total) Raymond Wladichuk, Simon Fraser, DB (by Hamilton)
7. (39 total) Benoit Boulanger, Sherbrooke, RB (by Montreal)
8. (40 total) Osie Ukwuoma, Queen's, DL (by Calgary)

Sixth Round (8 total selections)
2. (42 total) Anthony Deslauriers, Simon Fraser, DB (by Toronto)
3. (43 total) Brad Crawford, Guelph, DB (by Toronto)
4. (44 total) Jason Kosec, Western Ontario, LB (by Edmonton)
5. (45 total) Thaine Carter, Queen's, LB (by Winnipeg)
7. (47 total) Ryan Mousseau, Ottawa, OL (by Montreal)
8. (48 total) John Kanaroski, Regina, WR (by Calgary)

CIS players selected by round (38):

First round: 7
Second round: 4
Third round: 8
Fourth round: 6
Fifth round: 7
Sixth round: 6

CIS players selected by regional associations (38):

Canada West: 17
OUA: 10
QSSF: 7
AUS: 4

CIS players selected by universities (38):

Regina: 5
Calgary: 3
Queen's: 3
Alberta: 2
Laval: 2
Bishop's: 2
StFX: 2
Western Ontario: 2
Saskatchewan: 2
UBC: 2
Montreal: 2
Wilfrid Laurier: 2
Simon Fraser: 2
Acadia: 1
Saint Mary's: 1
Manitoba: 1
Windsor: 1
Sherbrooke: 1
Guelph: 1
Ottawa: 1

CIS players selected by positions (38):

Offensive linemen: 11
Defensive linemen: 10
Defensive backs: 5
Receivers: 4
Linebackers: 4
Running backs: 3
Fullbacks: 1

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