By: OttawaREDBLACKS.com Staff
Photo: Pawel Dwulit – CFL.ca
OTTAWA — The Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League searched across the country for the top pick of the 2015 CFL Draft but stuck close to home in the end, selecting a player from just down the block.
Alex Mateas, an Ottawa native and offensive lineman who played high school for the Merivale Marauders and junior for the Ottawa Sooners, was selected first overall on Tuesday in the CFL Draft.
“When you take into account Alex’s abilities on the field, his durability, the level of competition that he played against as well as his integrity and intelligence, the selection of Alex was an easy decision,” said REDBLACKS general manager Marcel Desjardins. “Add the fact that Ottawa is home and this is where he wants to be makes this the perfect selection.”
The 24-year-old comes to the REDBLACKS from the University of Connecticut Huskies, with which he started 29 games over a three-year career, including consecutive seasons of 12 starts for UConn in 2013 and 2014.
The 6-foot-4, 309-pound Mateas entered the NCAA with Penn State in 2010 and was redshirted during the rookie season before transferring to UConn.
“It is a honour to be picked number one overall in the 2015 CFL Draft by the REDBLACKS. The opportunity to represent my home city and play football on the same field that I used to play soccer on as a kid is surreal,” said Mateas. “I look forward to contributing any way possible to the team and to bring a Grey Cup back to Ottawa.”
The REDBLACKS begin training camp at Carleton University (Keith Harris Stadium) on Wednesday, May 27 when rookies report. The team’s first full training camp practice will take place on Sunday, May 31 at Keith Harris.
The REDBLACKS play two pre-season games this season; the first in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats on June 8, followed by a match in Quebec City on June 13 against the Montreal Alouettes.
The team begins the regular season in Montreal on Thursday, June 25 before the home opener on Saturday, July 4 against the BC Lions.
REDBLACKS season tickets and Home Opener Ticket Packages are available at the REDBLACKS website or by calling 613-232-6767.
