WINNIPEG – Eight months after he was traded quarterback Drew Willy is still paying dividends for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Bombers used the first overall pick in the CFL Draft they acquired from the Toronto Argonauts to select defensive tackle Faith Ekakitie. Immediately after making the selection the Bombers announced he had already signed a three year contract with the club.
“It’s great to finally realize my dream, so I’m excited to get there and get things rolling.” Ekakitie said.
Ekakitie, 24, played four seasons for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. He amassed 54 tackles for the Hawkeyes but 39 of them came in his senior season to garner the Hawkeyes’ Finish Strong Award in December. He stands at six foot three and tips the scales at 290 pounds.
“Faith Ekakitie is the player that, quite honestly, we had our eyes on for some time now,” said Winnipeg General Manager Kyle Walters in a statement. “He’s athletic, physical inside, and has the character which we covet in this organization. We’re very pleased to call Faith’s name first overall in 2017.”
The Brampton native was the fifth ranked prospect in the final CFL Scouting Bureau rankings, but he jumped nine places since September when he was ranked as the 14th best prospect. While a number of other prospects are headed to NFL camps, Ekakitie is expected to be available for Bombers training camp.
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The Bombers will hope he can contribute immediately after the departure of defensive tackle Keith Shologan. The club will probably look to use Ekakitie in a rotation with fellow Canadian defensive tackle Jake Thomas. But he’ll have a steep learning curve as he didn’t start playing football until high school as something to do in the basketball off-season.
“I’m still young to the game, so if development is an issue, I’m going to have to ask fans to be patient with me, but at the same time I think I’m capable of very much coming in right away and being able to contribute and help the team whichever way I can.” said Ekakitie.
“I know there’s still a whole lot to the game that hasn’t been discovered by myself. I know I have a lot of untapped potential and I feel, just as much as the fans are excited to see how my career pans out, I’m just as excited to kinda figure out just how good of a player I can eventually be.”
It’s the first time the Bombers had the top pick in the CFL Draft since 2011 when they selected linebacker Henoc Muamba first overall.
LISTEN: Faith Ekakitie Conference Call
The Bombers then traded their own first round pick at sixth overall to the Calgary Stampeders. In return the Bombers received the Stamps eighth overall selection and their fourth round draft pick.
With the eighth pick the Bombers grabbed hometown boy and Manitoba Bisons offensive lineman Geoff Gray. Gray is at the Green Bay Packers mini-camp this weekend after signing a contract following the NFL Draft but in a statement thanked the Bombers for taking him so high in the draft.
“That in itself is truly an honour, and to be taken by my hometown team is really special to me.” said Gray in a statement.
“Obviously, right now my focus must be on being a Green Bay Packer, and continuing to work on my craft as we get closer to our training camp. Having said that, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were my favourite team growing up, and if my football path brings me back to Winnipeg, I would be extremely grateful to be a member of the Blue Bombers.”
“Geoff Gray is a fantastic athlete who can play multiple position on the offensive line,” said Walters.
“Understandably, there is some risk involved with taking a player in his situation, however we feel with the status of our roster in terms of Canadian depth and Geoff’s talents, it’s something we feel comfortable with.”
With their third selection of the draft the Bombers picked up another offensive lineman. The Bombers drafted Qadr Spooner out of McGill with the 15th pick. Spooner was a first team conference all-star in 2016.
In the third round the Bombers made a move to add depth to their secondary. The club selected Abubakkar Conteh who is originally from Winnipeg. The Bombers used the 23rd selection to take the Grambling State University defensive back.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2017 Draft Picks
Three Manitobans were selected in the seventh round. Winnipeg’s Justin Herdman of Simon Fraser University went to the Argos with the 54th pick. His twin brother Jordan Herdman went just six picks later to the B.C. Lions at 60th overall. Both are former members of the Sturgeon Heights Huskies. Former St. Paul’s Crusaders defensive back Ty Cranston went to the Montreal Alouettes with the 56th pick.
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