Vice-President and General Manager Joe Mack along with the rest of the management and coaching staff of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, are extremely pleased with the players they selected in the 2013 CFL Draft.
“This was a very good day for the Blue Bomber organization as we were able to add six quality players to our roster through the draft,” said Mack. “We’re looking forward to getting them signed so that they can compete for spots on our team as we feel we have greatly improved our non-import talent with these draft picks.”
The Blue Bombers began the day by selecting defensive lineman Andy Mulumba with the second overall pick.
Mulumba (6-4, 263, Eastern Michigan, DOB: January 31, 1990 in DR Congo, Hometown: Montreal, Québec) was a two-year starter who was voted All-Conference as a senior after posting 73 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one sack. In his junior year and his first as a full-time starter, Mulumba recorded 51 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks along with two forced fumbles. He finished his collegiate career having seen action in four seasons with the Eagles and accumulating 156 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three pass knockdowns and three forced fumbles and signed a contract with the Green Bay Packers following this year’s NFL Draft.
With the 11th overall pick, Winnipeg selected defensive back Kris Robertson out of Concordia.
Robertson (5-9, 185, Concordia, DOB: November 23, 1990 in Pickering, Ontario) was named a second team All-Canadian last season as a returner one year after being named a first team All-Canadian at the same position, becoming the first Stinger in school history to earn the national all-star recognition as a return specialist. This past season, Robertson averaged 115.8 all-purpose yards per game and also started in the secondary, leading the conference in interceptions with four, returning two of them for touchdowns.
In the third round, 20th overall, the Blue Bombers selected their first of three receivers on the day, Carl Fitzgerald, who can also long-snap.
Fitzgerald (6-5, 240, Saint Mary’s, DOB: January 13, 1990 in Peterborough, Ontario) finished second on the team in receiving last season with 14 receptions for 184 yards and one touchdown lining up as both a slotback and at the tight end position. In three seasons of playing time, Fitzgerald recorded 28 receptions for 435 yards and three touchdowns.
With the 29th overall pick in the fourth round, Winnipeg selected former Hec Creighton Trophy finalist, Michael DiCroce from McMaster.
DiCroce (5-11, 190, McMaster, DOB: August 28, 1989 in Hamilton, Ontario) was a first team All-Canadian in 2011 after leading the CIS in receiving with 48 receptions for 904 yards and six touchdowns. He was named the OUA’s MVP and was a finalist for the Hec Crighton Award after winning the Vanier Cup with the McMaster Marauders that season. DiCroce missed most of last season with an injury but did return in time for the playoffs, catching 26 passes for 384 yards and three touchdowns during the postseason. He caught a team-high nine passes in the Marauders’ Vanier Cup loss to Laval.
With no picks in the fifth round, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers rounded out their draft by selecting receiver Stephen Alli in the sixth round, 46th overall, and punter Billy Pavlopoulos with the 54th overall pick in the seventh round.
Alli (6-6, 221, Florida, DOB: April 19, 1991 in Toronto, Ontario) played in 33 games over three seasons with the Gators primarily on special teams and had three catches for 17 yards in his career. He also recovered the game-sealing onside kick in the Gator Bowl win over Ohio State in 2011.
Pavlopoulos (6-3, 200, UBC, DOB: August 4, 1991 in Georgetown, Ontario) averaged 43-yards per punt in 2011 – the second best average in the country – after punting 70 times for 3,007 yards. He also served as the Thunderbirds’ kicker and converted 13 of 19 field goal attempts that season.
