The Hamilton Tiger-Cats opened the Canadian Football League draft Thursday night by selecting Central Michigan receiver Mark Chapman first overall.
Chapman, 23, led the Chippewas with 54 receptions and 805 receiving yards in his senior season in 2017 while scoring five touchdowns.
He is just the sixth receiver to be selected first overall in CFL history and the first since 2007 when the Ticats made Chris Bauman the No. 1 selection.
The Port Huron, Michigan native is deemed a Canadian in the CFL because his mother is a native of Sarnia, Ont., which gives Chapman dual Canadian-American status.
He has, however, committed to attending the New York Giants mini-camp.
With the sixth overall selection the Cats took University of Calgary’s Darius Ciraco, a 6’0″, 292 pound offensive lineman from Burlington.
Ciraco, 22, played 28 regular season games with the Dino’s from 2014 to 2017 and was one of a record seven offensive lineman to be selected in the opening round.
Hamilton selected Ottawa Gee-Gee’s defensive back Jackson Bennett with the 11th overall pick, and took University of Calgary defensive lineman Brett Wade 15th overall.
At No. 31, Hamilton selected UBC receiver Marcus Davis and followed up by taking receiver Justin Buren from Simon Fraser 37th overall. Queen’s linebacker Mike Moore went to the Ticats at No. 44. Hamilton chose defensive lineman Joel Van Pelt from Calgary 62nd overall and Guelph defensive back Nicholas Parisotto with their final draft selection at No. 66.
CLICK HERE for all the CFL draft picks.
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