WINNIPEG, MB., May 7, 2017 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have selected Iowa Hawkeyes defensive tackle Faith Ekakitie (ee-KACK-uh-tee) with the first overall selection in the 2017 CFL Draft. The club also announces Ekakitie has signed a three-year agreement with Winnipeg.
Ekakitie (6-3, 290, Iowa, April 5, 1993 in Brampton, ON) played in a career-high 13 games for the Hawkeyes during his senior season of 2016, recording 39 tackles, two tackles for loss, two knock downs and one fumble recovery. He was named the Hawkeyes’ Finish Strong award winner in 2016. Ekakitie saw action in 34 games during his time at Iowa.
Ekakitie was ranked fifth in the CFL Scouting Bureau’s final prospect rankings, behind Mississippi State offensive lineman Justin Senior (drafted by the Seattle Seahawks), UCLA defensive tackle Eli Ankou (signed with the Houston Texans) and Manitoba guard Geoff Gray (Green Bay Packers) as well as McMaster receiver Danny Vandervoort.
“Faith Ekakitie is the player that, quite honestly, we had our eyes on for some time now,” said Winnipeg Blue Bombers General Manager Kyle Walters. “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.”
