HIGH HOPES: Redblacks take large receiver with second total choose

Breadcrumb Path Hyperlinks

SportsFootballCFL

After Edmonton Elks kicked off the proceedings by taking Cincinnati linebacker Joel Dublanko with the primary choose, the Redblacks stepped up and chosen Nick Mardner, a 6-foot-6, 208- pound large receiver from Oakville.

Printed Apr 30, 2024 • Final up to date 11 minutes in the past • 6 minute learn

It can save you this text by registering free of charge right here. Or sign-in when you have an account.

Cincinnati receiver Nick Mardner (84) makes a landing catch in entrance of Arkansas defensive again LaDarrius Bishop (11) through the second half of an NCAA school soccer sport Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Fayetteville, Ark. Picture by Michael Woods /AP

The Ottawa Redblacks helped their quarterbacks with the second total choose within the CFL draft on Tuesday.

They took a move catcher who needs to be tough to overthrow.

Article content material

Commercial 2

This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues beneath.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to learn the newest information in your metropolis and throughout Canada.

Unique articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, meals critiques and occasion listings within the weekly publication, Ottawa, Out of Workplace.Limitless on-line entry to Ottawa Citizen and 15 information websites with one account.Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an digital duplicate of the print version to view on any machine, share and touch upon.Every day puzzles, together with the New York Instances Crossword.Assist native journalism.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to learn the newest information in your metropolis and throughout Canada.

Create an account or register to proceed along with your studying expertise.

Entry articles from throughout Canada with one account.Share your ideas and be a part of the dialog within the feedback.Take pleasure in further articles per 30 days.Get e mail updates out of your favorite authors.

Signal In or Create an Account

Article content material

Mardner, who performed in simply 4 video games with Auburn final season, was neglected in final weekend’s NFL draft, however has accepted an invitation to attend the New York Giants mini-camp.

“He’s an incredible prospect in our eyes,” mentioned Redblacks GM Shawn Burke. “He has dimension, physicality and pace. He checks all of the bins.”

Mardner was ranked seventh total, and the No. 1 receiver, by the CFL Scouting Bureau this spring.

Earlier than transferring to Auburn, he had 19 receptions for 218 yards and three touchdowns in 2022 with Cincinnati.

He beforehand suited up for Hawaii from 2018-2021 the place he made 62 catches for 1,270 yards and 9 touchdowns.

In complete, Mardner caught 81 passes for 1,488 yards and 11 majors throughout his collegiate profession.

“I’m grateful and blessed with alternative, man,” Mardner mentioned on a video name. “I’m blessed for any alternative with regards to soccer. I’m humbled and honoured.

“I wish to show to myself I’m who I say I’m,” he added. “No matter the place it’s, I want to indicate all people what I’m actually able to.”

Mardner ran a 4.60-second forty-yard sprint, 4.62-second quick shuttle, and seven.43-second three-cone drill at his professional day in March, whereas recording 11, 225-pound bench press reps, a 35-inch vertical and a 129-inch broad leap.

Commercial 3

This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues beneath.

Article content material

“There have been harm issues at Auburn and he by no means hit his stride,” mentioned Burke, who mentioned Mardner was coping with a foot challenge and a brand new system. “Within the NCAA proper now, it’s a little bit of a unique journey due to the switch portal. Whenever you have a look at his stops at Cincinnati and Hawaii and the massive performs he made, it simply made sense for us (to select him) with how we had him ranked on our (draft) board.

“You all the time stability your board along with your wants. After they match up collectively, it’s an incredible alternative. We’re giving some younger guys a possibility at receiver this yr; this isn’t a slight to Keaton (Bruggeling), Daniel (Oladejo) or Daniel Perry, however when you may get this kind of playmaker with a draft choose, that’s what you finally wish to do.

“He might be particular on this league. It begins with getting him right here first, we notice he’s going to (an NFL) mini camp. There’s a risk-reward issue, however we felt it was one thing we couldn’t move on.”

Far too typically final season the Redblacks needed to accept a subject objective when their offence stalled contained in the 20-yard-line. Mardner has the potential to assist them repair that.

Commercial 4

This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues beneath.

Article content material

“He’s a giant goal,” mentioned Burke. “We wish to be higher within the pink zone. It’s robust for guys to protect 6-foot-6 in that small area.

“The CFL is clearly distinctive. I’m not going to say he was on the high of our board; a few the fellows on the high of our board went Saturday (within the NFL draft). However the want matched the place we had him ranked on our board.”

Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce mentioned “there’s a number of issues to love about Nick” past his dimension and the actual fact he runs and jumps nicely.

“Most likely the largest factor for me, as a former receiver coach, I all the time speaking about having violent arms,” mentioned Dyce. “When the ball is up there, he’s an enormous pink zone goal, and he goes up and performs with the mentality that the ball is his. He has the chance to be an actual distinction maker on this league … plus he provides you the pliability that he can play into the boundary and, as he progresses and performs the sport extra, he’s going to have the ability to transfer into the slot. So I feel as he continues to develop in our sport, when he will get right here, he’s received a extremely, actually excessive ceiling.”

As joyful as they have been to get Mardner, the Redblacks have been downright giddy after deciding on defensive lineman Daniel Okpoko with their second spherical (eleventh total) selection.

Commercial 5

This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues beneath.

Article content material

The 6-foot-4, 275-pounder was born in Lagos, Nigeria however grew up in Saskatoon. From there, he headed to California, the place he performed 37 video games over 5 seasons with the San Diego Aztecs.

“You guys know I’ve a reasonably critical face more often than not and I’m out right here smiling,” Burke mentioned to media members within the hallway at TD Place. “We appreciated Daniel Okpoko quite a bit and we didn’t assume we have been going to get the chance to pick out him at this spot. We now have an excited conflict room in there.”

The Redblacks anticipate Okpoko will profit from the steerage of revered veteran defensive lineman Cleyon Laing.

“Clearly I can’t say sufficient about Cleyon, and for him to study underneath a man like Cleyon and have that chance … (and to) add some depth to our rotation,” mentioned Burke. “We see him as a possible CFL starter in the future, not at present, however in the future. He was very productive final yr at San Diego State. Athletic traits, massive, bodily has performed some finish as nicely however we most likely see him extra as an inside man. However we’re ust excited to get him within the constructing.”

In rounding out their draft, the Redblacks chosen massive (6-foot-2, 220-pound) defensive again Dawson Pierre (third spherical, twenty second total), Nepean-born large receiver Jahquan Bloomfield (fourth spherical, thirty fifth total), defensive again Yani Gouadfel (sixth spherical, forty ninth total), linebacker Zachary Philion (seventh spherical, 58th total) and tight finish Russell Dixon (eighth spherical, 67th total).

Commercial 6

This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues beneath.

Article content material

Philion is the son of Ed Philion, a former first spherical of the Calgary Stampeders who went on to play eight CFL seasons after which embark on a profession as a coach within the league.

With their first choose (second total) within the World draft held Tuesday morning, the Redblacks chosen punter Matthew Hayball, a local of West Adelaide, Australia, who has spent the previous two season with Vanderbilt.

Hayball, who averaged 47.6 yards per punt in 2023, signed a contract with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints on Monday.
“We anticipate Matt to go to the primary (NFL) camp so it’s extra of a long-term play,” mentioned Burke. “What long run means, I don’t know. If one thing occurs and he doesn’t earn (an NFL) job, he’s talked about his willingness and openness to taking part in within the CFL. It’s to not take something away from Richie Leone; he’s the very best punter within the league. However you’re going to listen to it day in and day trip in coaching camp — compete, compete, compete. When the time comes, if he does come up right here, we anticipate Richie and him will compete.”

Their second choose was linebacker Heston Lameta, a 25-year previous product of Pago Pago, American Samoa, who final season began 11 video games at North Arizona.

Commercial 7

This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues beneath.

Article content material

A 6-foot-1, 230-pounder, Lameta had 56 complete tackles, 16 solo tackles, a deal with for a loss and a compelled fumble in 2023.
“(Lameta) type of suits the a few of the related traits of men we have now right here from a worldwide program,” mentioned Burke. “He can backup if we needed to maintain a worldwide on the roster as a linebacker, particular groups, bodily, aggressive runs nicely. to try him. He’ll most likely be a little bit extra of a mission, however you need to be ready in soccer to make selections, and finally that linebacking group was one we needed to determine in each drafts most likely, and he was the very best man out there.”

[email protected]

Advisable from Editorial