Alouettes select OL Tiger Shanks in first round of CFL's Canadian college draft
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The offensive tackle position in the CFL traditionally has been occupied by American-born players. Tiger Shanks eventually hopes to buck that trend with the Alouettes.
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The Als selected the 6-foot-5, 325-pound Shanks fifth overall Tuesday night as the CFL conducted its Canadian college draft. Originally from Vancouver, Shanks spent much of his childhood in China before his family relocated to Lake Oswego, Ore.
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He was a four-year starter at the right-tackle position at UNLV before deciding recently to make himself eligible for the CFL selection process. He's the only offensive lineman in the school's history to earn first-team all-Mountain West honours. But he chose not to proceed with speed or quickness testing at his pro day due to a nagging hamstring injury. He wasn't selected in the recent NFL draft, nor has he received a rookie mini-camp invitation.
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'He had 50 starts at UNLV. That's high-level competition,' Maciocia told The Gazette in a text message. 'He's a competitor with a high-level football IQ. He's a mature and confident young man.'
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Montreal-born Damien Alford, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound wide receiver who transferred from Syracuse to Utah last season, went first overall in the draft to the Calgary Stampeders. Alford has accepted a rookie mini-camp invitation from the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Université de Montréal defensive-lineman Jeremiah Ojo, 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds, went seventh overall to the Toronto Argonauts, the defending Grey Cup champions. Ojo first will be attending rookie mini-camp with the New York Giants.
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And Christopher Fortin, an offensive lineman who went to the University of Connecticut, completed the first round (eighth overall), going to Calgary. The 6-foot-5, 300 pounder is a native of St-René, Que.
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The Als selected University of Calgary safety Nate Beauchemin in the second round (14th overall). Beauchemin, 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, is a native of Kelowna, B.C., and should make an immediate impact on special teams. He was a playmaker last season for the Dinos, intercepting four passes along with forcing one fumble. He had 39 tackles.
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