2024 College Draft Results

Frankensteining reports and commentary on last night's draft results. The Chad Hudson quotes are from this Ottawa Citizen article. 

Round 1, pick 2: Nick Mardner, WR

The 6-foot-6, 208-pound playmaker from Oakville was ranked seventh overall, and the top-ranked receiver, by the CFL Scouting Bureau this spring after suiting up for four games with the Auburn Tigers in 2023. Before transferring to Auburn, Mardner had 19 receptions for 218 yards and three touchdowns in 2022 with Cincinnati. He previously suited up for Hawaii from 2018-2021 where he made 62 catches for 1,270 yards and nine touchdowns. In total, Mardner caught 81 passes for 1,488 yards and 11 majors during his collegiate career. 

"We are excited to add Nick Mardner to our organization with our first pick in this year’s draft. Nick is an athletic receiver with a big body, who has played at very high level in the NCAA,” said REDBLACKS General Manager Shawn Burke. “His size, speed and tenacity have the potential to be a big addition to our football club.”

Mardner ran a 4.60-second forty-yard dash, 4.62-second short shuttle, and 7.43-second three-cone drill at his pro day in March, while recording 11 225lbs bench press reps, a 35-inch vertical and a 129-inch broad jump.

Ottawa Sun: “There were injury concerns at Auburn and he never hit his stride,” said Burke, who said Mardner was dealing with a foot issue and a new system. “In the NCAA right now, it’s a bit of a different journey because of the transfer portal. When you look at his stops at Cincinnati and Hawaii and the big plays he made, it just made sense for us (to pick him) with how we had him ranked on our (draft) board.

“You always balance your board with your needs. When they match up together, it’s a great opportunity. We’re giving some young guys an opportunity at receiver this year; this isn’t a slight to Keaton (Bruggeling), Daniel (Oladejo) or Daniel Perry, but when you can get this type of playmaker with a draft pick, that’s what you ultimately want to do.

“He could be special in this league. It starts with getting him here first, we realize he’s going to (an NFL) mini camp. There’s a risk-reward factor, but we felt it was something we couldn’t pass on.”

Far too often last season the Redblacks had to settle for a field goal when their offence stalled inside the 20-yard-line. Mardner has the potential to help them fix that.

“He’s a big target,” said Burke. “We want to be better in the red zone. It’s tough for guys to guard 6-foot-6 in that small space.

“The CFL is obviously unique. I’m not going to say he was at the top of our board; a couple of the guys at the top of our board went Saturday (in the NFL draft). But the need matched where we had him ranked on our board.”

Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce said “there’s lots of things to like about Nick” beyond his size and the fact he runs and jumps well.

“Probably the biggest thing for me, as a former receiver coach, I always talking about having violent hands,” said Dyce. “When the ball is up there, he’s a huge red zone target, and he goes up and plays with the mentality that the ball is his. He has the opportunity to be a real difference maker in this league …  plus he gives you the flexibility that he can play into the boundary and, as he progresses and plays the game more, he’s going to be able to move into the slot. So I think as he continues to grow in our game, when he gets here, he’s got a really, really high ceiling.”

Round 2, pick 11: Daniel Okpoko

Ottawa Sun: The 6-foot-4, 275-pounder was born in Lagos, Nigeria but grew up in Saskatoon. From there, he headed to California, where he played 37 games over five seasons with the San Diego Aztecs.

“You guys know I have a pretty serious face most of the time and I’m out here smiling,” Burke said to media members in the hallway at TD Place. “We liked Daniel Okpoko a lot and we did not think we were going to get the opportunity to select him at this spot. We have an excited war room in there.”

The Redblacks expect Okpoko will benefit from the guidance of respected veteran defensive lineman Cleyon Laing.

“Obviously I can’t say enough about Cleyon,  and for him to learn under a guy like Cleyon and have that opportunity … (and to) add some depth to our rotation,” said Burke. “We see him as a potential CFL starter one day, not today, but one day. He was very productive last year at San Diego State. Athletic traits, big, physical has played some end as well but we probably see him more as an inside guy.  But we’re ust excited to get him in the building.”

Round 3, pick 22: LB Dawson Pierre

HEIGHT: 6'2 | WEIGHT: 219lbs | BIRTH DATE: 2000-05-29

HOMETOWN: Longueuil, QC | SCHOOL: Concordia

Hudson: “He was playing a lot of different positions, halfback and safety, in university. We see him more as a linebacker, we’ll try him out there first. He’s another big kid. He’s fast, he’s strong and he loves to hit.”

Round 4, pick 35: Jahquan Bloomfield

HEIGHT: 6'0 | WEIGHT: 188lbs | BIRTH DATE: 1999-12-03

HOMETOWN: Ottawa, ON | SCHOOL: Prairie View A&M

Hudson: “He was brought to our attention by (former Ottawa Gee-Gees coach) Nate Taylor, our running back coach who tried to recruit him. He did great (in the NCAA) on special teams and was a deep threat. It gives us a little more depth at the receiver position. He’s another guy who can play special teams and receiver for us.”

Round 6, pick 49: Yani Gouadfel

HEIGHT: 6'3 | WEIGHT: 200lbs | BIRTH DATE: 1999-11-24

HOMETOWN: Mitry-Mory, France | SCHOOL: Bishop's

Hudson: “He was a punter, but he was also the starting free safety. He’s from France, but (he qualifies as) Canadian through going to school and getting his degree; he’s one of the first kids to get his degree and become a national that way. He’s another big, strong kid. He likes to hit and he’s a good tackler. He gives us more depth at the position.”

Round 7, pick 58: Zachary Philion

HEIGHT: 6'1 | WEIGHT: 221lbs | BIRTH DATE: 1999-03-19

HOMETOWN: Buffalo, NY | SCHOOL: Concordia

Hudson: “He’s a tenacious kid, great on special teams. The kid loves to be in the gym – he’s really fit, he’s an absolute specimen that way. I worked with his dad in Saskatchewan and Montreal and I got to know Zach a bit. He loves football. Some of these kids love to eat, breathe and sleep football and he’s a guy that does that.”

Round 8, pick: Russell Dixon

HEIGHT: 6'3 | WEIGHT: 230lbs | BIRTH DATE: 2001-03-10

HOMETOWN: Edmonton, AB | SCHOOL: UConn

Hudson: “He’s got an injury (shoulder/neck). He’s committed to Carleton so we’re going to see him whenever he gets (to Ottawa) for fall ball because he missed spring ball. He’s a future player for us. He played at Connecticut and was a great (special) teamer and also a tight end. The kid can block. He’s a strong, hard-nosed kid who plays very hard and has a great attitude even though he’s injured.”

2024, April 10th: "REDBLACKS hire Greg Marshall as Defensive Line Coach"

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced, today, that they have hired longtime CFL coach, and Ottawa Rough Riders great Greg Marshall as the team's Defensive Line Coach, ahead of the 2024 season. 

A native of Beverly, Massachusetts, Marshall most recently served as Head Coach at the University of Toronto from 2018 to 2023, and in 2021, guided the team to the postseason for the first time since 1995. Prior to his time with the Varsity Blues, the 67-year-old spent three years as Defensive Coordinator at Queen's.

Marshall is no stranger to the CFL coaching ranks, breaking into the league in 1994 as Defensive Line Coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He added a Defensive Coordinator title in 1996, before moving on to occupy the same two posts for Edmonton from 2000 to 2004. In 2005, Marshall served as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator of the Ottawa Renegades, before running the defence and linebackers for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 2006 to 2008. He made his way to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2009, working as Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, and Linebackers Coach for two seasons, before being hired as Head Coach of the Roughriders ahead of the the 2011 season.

As a player, Marshall enjoyed a decorated nine-season career as a defensive end in the CFL, after suiting up in two games with the NFL's Baltimore Colts. He spent his entire career north of the border in the nation's capital, earning CFL East All-Star honours from 1981 to 1984, and was named a CFL All-Star in 1981, and 1983, winning Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the latter year. He was honoured with a spot on the RNation Legacy Wall at TD Place in 2023.

Marshall was drafted in the seventh round, 186th overall, by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1978 NFL Draft, after playing his collegiate football at Oregon State.

Marshall was on radio the night he was hired and during the interview casually wondered if he was the first person to be involved with all three Ottawa pro football teams. 

It kind of brought a chuckle because he played with Joe Paopao in 1987 and was on Paopao's coaching staff with the Renegades. Paopao was also with the REDBLACKS in 2019. Goes to show that as fans, we sometimes have better recollection of these matters than players/coaches do. 

I'd actually meant to share content about Marshall's playing days last year when he was added to the stadium's wall of fame, but admittedly it fell off my radar.

I did find the image below from a November 1983 Ottawa Citizen. Neat to see some other familiar faces on there.  

Unless I have yet to locate it, the reaction to Marshall winning the Most Outstanding Defensive Player award was rather subdued. It seemed to consist of a paragraph or two in articles celebrating the group as whole.

Since we're talking about coaches, let's look at a couple of new faces added to the staff when it was  announces in mid-February.

Pat Perles (OL) returns to the CFL, after having previously worked as the Offensive Line Coach in Saskatchewan (1994-96), Winnipeg (1997), and Hamilton (1998-1999), winning a Grey Cup in his final year with the Ti-Cats. Perles was also a Defensive Assistant with the Los Angeles Rams from 1992-1993, and in 2009 joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a Defensive Quality Control Coach, before working as their Assistant Offensive Line Coach in 2010, and 2011. He has also spent time on the NCAA circuit, previously coaching at Toledo, North Dakota State, Syracuse, and Michigan State. 

Deion Melvin (LBs) joins the REDBLACKS for his first season with the club after spending the last four years as Linebackers Coach with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Prior to coming north of the border, Melvin’s coaching career began at East Aurora where he worked as a graduate assistant in the early 1990s. He would go on to coach at Western Illinois (1993 to 1998), Missouri State (1999 to 2005), Georgia Southern (2006), Bowling Green (2007 and 2008), Ball State (2009 and 2010) and Lindenwood University (2011 to 2016), before returning for a second stint at Western Illinois (2017 to 2019). In a coaching career that spans 30 years, Melvin has gained experience working with players in all three phases of the game.

Alex Suber also returns to the fold. 

Alex Suber is back for his fourth season with the REDBLACKS, but first since 2022, after spending the 2023 season as Cornerbacks Coach at Middle Tennessee State. The move followed four years in the nation's capital, where Suber served as Defensive Backs Coach from 2019 until 2022, when he took on the role of Receivers Coach. Before joining the REDBLACKS, Suber coached receivers at Murray State University, after spending time as Lyon College’s defensive coordinator. Suber wrapped-up his CFL playing career with 65 games played and 254 defensive tackles.

This, of course, is in addition to naming Tommy Condell offensive coordinator.

2014, Oct 4th: Toronto 32 @ Carleton 53

Capturing the summary of one of Carleton's first wins following the return of the school's football program. They were winless in 2013 but recorded four wins in 2014, including the one below.

The cropped text is from the football team's website, which was uncredited. Oddly, it focused on Toronto quarterback Simon Nassar's accomplishments rather than that of the Ravens.

The statistical data is from the USports website from when it was referred to as CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sports). 

...Carleton pivot Nick Gorgichuk was 21-of-28 for 302 yards, two touchdown and no interceptions, while Jesse Mills was 3-of-4 for 91 yards and Kyle Van Wynsberghe was 1-of-1 for 76 yards and one touchdown.

The Blues, playing their 1,000th game, had little reason to celebrate with the exception of quarterback Simon Nassar who set a single-game Canadian Interuniversity Sport record with 49 completions.

The fourth-year pivot from Toronto was 49-of-62 for 547 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He easily shattered the CIS mark of 41 completions set in 1981 by Varsity Blues pivot Dan Feraday and tied in 2012 by current Sherbrooke quarterback Jeremi Roch.

....

The Ravens jumped out to a 16-0 first quarter lead and made it 23-0 early in the second quarter.

The Blues finally managed to get on the board late in the second, but the Ravens responded with Van Wynsberghe connecting with Nathaniel Behar for a 76-yard touchdown pass. Carleton extended its lead as Emilio Galotta had a 13-yard fumble return to make it 37-7.

Michael Domagala added 24 and 26 yard field goals in the third quarter, while Nassar had a 24-yard touchdown pass making it 43-17 at the end of three quarters.

Nassar added two more touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, but the Ravens responded with a touchdown and field goal of their own to keep the game out of reach.

The 1974 Sooners' Two-Game Playoff Series Against Hamilton

As mentioned in yesterday's post, here are the summaries of the 1974 Ottawa Sooners' two-game series against Hamilton.

November 2nd

November 2nd

The 1974 Sooners' Two-Game Playoff Series Against Niagara

This post comes on the heels of the announcement that the 1974 Ottawa Sooners are being inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.  

In looking at this site's content about that specific edition of the team, I was surprised at how thin it was. They're mentioned very little here.

Seeking to remedy that, I began to look for content from newspapers archives. I was quickly reminded why I've recorded so little. While there is plenty of information available, its quality is quite poor, as you'll see below.

Nevertheless...I added the team's first playoff game summary to the Sooners (Junior 1960-1980) page. That game was followed by a two-game series against Niagara. The first game's recap is directly below, from the Citizen. 

Chiarelli wasn't dicking around. The Sooners were far more dominant in the second game. Here's the summary of that one from the Ottawa Journal. 

This led to another two-game series, this time against Hamilton. I'll see what I can dig up about those two games. 

1943, Nov 6th: "Early Lead Wins For Celts"

St. Patrick's College won the Senior Interscholastic championship in 1943 behind the guidance of former Ottawa Rough Rider Bunny Wadsworth. The article below, from the Ottawa Citizen, summarized the victory against Ottawa Tech that put the team in the finals against Glebe.   

1931, Oct 5th: "Gladstones Surprise Rough Riders To Win, 13-6"

Not THOSE Rough Riders. 

This partial article from the Ottawa Citizen summarizes one of three junior games played that day. It was the first weekend of action for the league as a whole, as it launched that year. 

I'll have summaries of the other two games played that day in separate posts. 

A portion of this article was used in a post on this blog a couple of years back in which I attempted to nail down the guy who threw the first-ever forward pass for an Ottawa team. Since this was the league's first year of operation, this Art Crain dude is likely the first to do it at the junior level.

There were two other games played that day, including St. Patrick's College vs Rangers, which started at the same time as the Gladstone / Ottawas match. Crain still seems likely to be the man, as his passing prowess appears to have taken place during the first quarter. We'll likely never know for sure, but a strong argument can be made for him.

1926, Oct 11th: "Senators Set Sail For Big Four Title Win By 8-6"

Aside from the championship game summary on the Grey Cup page, there is very little content about the 1926 Ottawa Rough Riders / Senators team. We're going to remedy that a little bit today.

The following cut outs are from the Ottawa Journal and recap the team's first game that season. Ottawa were launching the defense of their 1925 championship and doing so in style, winning on a field that had been nothing but trouble for them going back to 1912. 

As a sidenote, the article also mentions that Eddie Emerson was the only player on the field to be present when Ottawa last won in Hamilton. 

He wasn't anywhere near done. According to his Canada Sports Hall of Fame biography, he would play until 1937 and in 22 seasons overall. Upon retiring from the playing field, he held the record the longest playing career, which held until 2000. 

1925, Oct. 5th: "Senators Smother Montreal In Opening Game; Score 17-1"

The game summary below is a joint effort between the Ottawa Citizen and the Ottawa Journal. The lineup and scoring recap came from the former, while the unfortunately blurry game details are from the Journal.  

Let's take a moment to properly highlight the top performers.

Connell's first name was Charlie. He is a member of the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame for his success in lacrosse, but also recognized for his ability in football and boxing.

Mulroney is Edgar Mulroney, who also played lacrosse. He played hockey as well, and became a referee following his playing days.

Tubman is Joe, a Canadian Football Hall of Fame member, class of 1968. He played from 1919 to 1931 and was the team's captain for this championship season as well as the next.   

Nov 8th, 1947, Ottawa Citizen: "Carleton College Crew Stops Queen's Team, 11-6"