By: Barre Campbell
OTTAWA – The Ottawa REDBLACKS completed an incredible 2014 CFL Draft, making three transactions in the first round.
The evening began with a surprise move, with the REDBLACKS trading the first overall pick to the Calgary Stampeders along with the rights to centre Marwan Hage for five-year Canadian and all-star centre Jon Gott.
Ottawa’s newest entry into the Canadian Football League continued to deal in the opening round, sending quarterback Kevin Glenn to the B.C. Lions in exchange for the Lions’ fifth overall pick.
The REDBLACKS then swapped picks with the Montreal Alouettes to select fourth overall, a chose safety and versatile defender Antoine Pruneau, a 6-foot, 200-pound native of Montreal from the University of Montreal Carabins.
“Antoine runs 4.3 in the 40 (meters) and those guys are hard to find at any level of football – major NCAA football, CIS, CFL and even the NFL,” said REDBLACKS GM Marcel Desjardins. “He’s highly versatile and is capable of playing free safety, field corner, SAM linebacker, and even WILL linebacker if needed.
“On top of this, he’s a top-notch kick returner who can change the field every time he touches the ball, showing the capability to return them for touchdowns,” said Desjardins. “There’s track guys who play football and football players who are very fast and Pruneau is a hard-nosed football player who plays as fast as he times.”
Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell also had rave reviews for Pruneau.
“He’s a player who athletically can come in and compete right away,” said Campbell. “He strikes me as a kid who, whatever you tell him to do, he’s going to be thrilled to do it. He has one of those infectious attitudes where he’s just thrilled to be on a football field.”
The REDBLACKS also made the following selections:
Round Two (10th overall): Scott MacDonnell (6-5, 227), wide receiver from Queen’s.
Round Three (23rd overall): Nigel Romick (6-5, 245), defensive lineman from Saint Mary’s.
Round Four (28th overall): Aaron Wheaton (6-5, 295), offensive lineman from Toronto.
Round Five (37th overall): Hugo Desmarais (6-6, 305), offensive lineman from Laval.
Round Six (46th overall): Stephon Miller (6-3, 235), defensive lineman from Windsor.
Round Seven (55th overall): Vincent Desloges (6-1, 235), defensive lineman from Laval.
Round Seven (64th overall): Alexandre Bernard (6-0, 215), linebacker from McGill.
Round Seven (65th overall): Kevin Malcolm (5-11, 230), long snapper from McMaster.
