It was a big Thursday night for Huskie football at the C-F-L Draft.
Five players from the U of S were picked, including Matt Riley who was taken in the first round by the Saskatchewan Roughriders…seventh overall. Riley said that within 30 minutes of the pick, he had been contacted by Green and White head coach Craig Dickenson, offensive coordinator Jason Maas and offensive line coach Stephen Sorrells to welcome him.
Dogs’ defensive lineman Nick Dheilly was taken by Winnipeg in the fifth round, receiver Sam Baker went to Toronto in the sixth round, offensive lineman Nick Summach went to Edmonton in the seventh round and slotback Colton Klassen was taken by Montreal in the eighth round. Following are news releases from the Huskies and the Riders with their activity from Thursday’s C-F-L Draft…..
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2020
Riley leads record-setting draft night for Huskies
Huskie Athletics
SASKATOON – For the first time in the modern draft era and only second time since 1978, five members of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team heard their name called in the Canadian Football League draft in what was an historic night for the program on Thursday. “I’m so proud of all of them, they’ve put in the work and I’m so happy because this is another step in the journey for them,” said Huskies head coach Scott Flory. “To have five players drafted speaks to the coaches, the program and what we’re doing. It was a great night for Huskie football.” First off the board was offensive lineman Mattland Riley, originally from Melfort the engineering student didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called. Chosen seventh overall by the hometown Saskatchewan Roughriders, the two-time All-Canadian that paved the way for one of the top running games in the nation last season, became the highest drafted Huskie since Ben Heenan went first overall in 2012.
“He’s smart, tough, athletic and a leader. He checks a lot of boxes,” said Flory. “There was interest from every team going into tonight and I’m not surprised that he got taken as highly as he did.” After leading the team with six sacks and being named a Canada West All-Star, defensive end Nicholas Dheilly was next up. Selected in the fifth round by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the product of Regina also had a team-high 9.5 tackles for loss.
“Winnipeg is getting a long, lean, athletic and versatile player,” said Flory. Despite playing in just five games over the last two years due to injury, receiver Sam Baker made more than enough of an impact in his time on the field to get selected in the sixth round by the Toronto Argonauts. In just three regular season games in 2019 the product of Esterhazy was everywhere, reeling in 15 catches for 236 yards and team-high four touchdowns.
“He finished the season as one of the best players in the conference, has a ton of potential and Toronto just got a hidden gem,” said Flory. Another integral part of a unit that allowed the least sacks and led the conference in rushing yards was next up. Nick Summach, a 6-8 offensive lineman from Saskatoon, was selected with the 57th pick in the seventh round of the draft by the Edmonton Eskimos.
“They just got a great player who has a ton of potential,” said Flory. “He’s big, athletic and a student of the game with a lot of potential to be a good pro.” Rounding out the night was Colton Klassen, a slotback who can also be an asset in the ground game that was taken in the eighth round. An integral part of the Huskies’ 2018 Hardy Cup championship, the Holy Cross High School product was just as explosive in 2019, leading the team with 37 receptions and 456 receiving yards.
“Colton is the toughest, hardest working guy around,” said Flory. “Montreal is getting one of the most versatile athletes around. He can do it all and will do it all.” Coming off back-to-back trips to the Hardy Cup, including wining the Canada West title for the first time since 2006 in 2018, this group of athletes will go down in the Huskie history book. Only once before have more than four Huskies been selected in the same draft and tonight marks the first time since the CFL Draft rules changes in 1985. “They just have to go in, take advantage of the limited time they have to prove their value,” said Flory. “They’re all high character, hardworking, great athletes and will make the most of this experience.”
DATE: April 30, 2020
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR20-041
RIDERS SELECT SASKATCHEWAN’S OWN MATTLAND RILEY 7TH OVERALL
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have selected Saskatchewan native and offensive lineman Mattland Riley in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2020 CFL Draft.
Riley (6’3 – 300lbs) spent four seasons at the University of Saskatchewan playing in 31 games for the Huskies, spending his final season at left guard. The Melfort product had an impressive collegiate career that included being named a two-time Canada West All-Star and a U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian. He also played for the West Team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl in 2018. In 2017, Riley helped the Huskies win the Hardy Cup bringing it back to the University of Saskatchewan for the first time in 10 years.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have six remaining picks in the 2020 CFL Draft including two in the fourth round (30th and 35th overall), and one each in the fifth (44th overall), sixth (53rd overall), seventh (62nd overall) and eighth round (71st overall).
DATE: April 30, 2020
RELEASE TIME:IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR19-042
RIDERS SELECT SEVEN PROSPECTS IN 2020 CFL DRAFT
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have selected seven talented football players in the 2020 CFL Draft:
- Mattland Riley (OL – University of Saskatchewan) – first round, seventh overall
- Kian Schaffer-Baker (WR – Guelph) – fourth round, 30thoverall
- A.J. Allen (LB – Guelph) – fourth round, 35thoverall
- Vincent Dethier(DB – McGill) – fifth round, 44th overall
- Jonathan Femi-Cole (RB – Western) – sixth round, 53rdoverall
- Jesse Lawson (OL – Carleton) – seventh round, 62ndoverall
- Neville Gallimore (DL – Oklahoma) – eighth round, 71stoverall
Riley (6’3 – 300lbs) spent four seasons at the University of Saskatchewan playing in 31 games for the Huskies, spending his final season at left guard. The Melfort product had an impressive collegiate career that included being named a two-time Canada West All-Star and a U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian. He also played for the West Team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl in 2018.
In 2017, Riley helped the Huskies win the Hardy Cup bringing it back to the University of Saskatchewan for the first time in 10 years.
Schaffer-Baker (6’4 – 195lbs) spent four collegiate seasons at the University of Guelph. The Mississauga native played in 28 games recording 95 receptions for 1,544 yards and eight touchdowns. He impressed at the 2019 East-West Bowl where he led all receivers with five catches for 126 yards and a touchdown.
Allen (6’1 – 210lbs) finished his fourth year of eligibility at Guelph University this year playing in 31 games at defensive lineman. The Burlington native made 63.5 tackles, five and a half sacks,12 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
Dethier (5’11 – 196lbs) completed his fourth year as a defensive back for McGill University. The 24-year-old recorded 104.5 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four quarterback sacks, four interceptions, eight knockdowns, six fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in 34 games played.
Femi-Cole (5’10 – 218lbs) finished his first season at Western University. The Ontario native played in eight games for the Mustangs recording 40 carries for 174 yards and five touchdowns while adding four tackles. Prior to playing at Western, Femi-Cole attended the University of Minnesota where he played in 13 games, making one reception for 13 yards and 15 carries for 67 yards.
Lawson (6’6 – 285lbs) spent two years with the Carleton Ravens playing in nine games as an offensive lineman. Prior to attending Carleton, the BC native spent time with the Langley Rams and the White Rock Titans of the Canadian Junior Football League.
Gallimore (6’2 – 330lbs) was drafted in the third round, 82nd overall, by the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Ottawa native spent four collegiate seasons at the University of Oklahoma playing in 46 games and recording 147 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, eight and a half sacks, two pass deflections and five forced fumbles.
