The Winnipeg Blue Bombers acquired a total of five players through the 2012 CFL Draft on Thursday, beginning with third overall selection Tyson Pencer.
The Blue Bombers sent both their second round selections (8th and 13th overall) to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in exchange for the third overall pick which they used to select the offensive lineman out of Washington State.
“We are very happy with the results of our draft,” said Vice-President and General Manager Joe Mack. “All five players have the chance to be difference makers on our team and we’re looking forward to having them earn spots on our roster. In the case of Christo, we feel as though we drafted a quality defensive lineman who will be a great player for the Blue Bombers should he return to Canada.”
Pencer (6-8, 330, Washington State, DOB: February 10, 1989 in North Delta, British Columbia) spent two years with the Washington State Cougars making a number of starts at tackle before leaving for the Okanagan Sun last season. He was one of 14 Cougar freshman to start a game in 2009 and appeared in seven games that season, starting four at left tackle.
With four picks remaining, two each in the third and fourth rounds, the Blue Bombers then selected receiver Johnny Aprile 16th overall.
Aprile (6-2, 208, Queen’s, DOB: June 12, 1989 in Toronto, Ontario) registered 594 yards and four touchdowns on 31 receptions last season, averaging 84.9 yards per game which was good enough for seventh in the CIS. Aprile also developed into a premier kick returner, averaging a nation-best 36.5 yards per return with two touchdowns, also a CIS best.
With the 21st overall selection, the Blue Bombers picked defensive lineman Christo Bilukidi.
Bilukidi (6-5, 290, Georgia State, DOB: December 13, 1989 in Angola) was a two-year starter and the Panthers’ top defensive lineman in his first two seasons at Georgia State. He had 10 career sacks – a GSU record – and 16 tackles for loss during his collegiate career. Bilukidi played one year at Eastern Arizona Junior College before joining Georgia State. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
In the fourth round, the Blue Bombers selected linebacker Rene Stephan (23rd overall) and defensive lineman Jake Thomas (29th overall).
Stephan (6-1, 225, Harding, DOB: May 7, 1988 in San Jose, California) attended Harding University after transferring from De Anza Junior College in 2009. He recorded 145 total tackles between the two schools as well as 4.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss. Stephan was named a First Team All Conference linebacker while at De Anza College.
Thomas (6-2, 270, Acadia, DOB: December 16, 1990 in Douglas, New Brunswick) played in all eight games last season and finished second in the AUS conference with nine sacks and was named a second-team All Canadian for his efforts. The two-time AUS All-Star played for Team Canada at the 2011 IFAF World Championship in Austria and won a silver medal.
