OL Drew Desjarlais (50) Windsor during the CFL combine at the Varsity Stadium in Toronto, ON, Sunday, March 24, 2019. (Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL)
WINNIPEG, MB., May 2, 2019 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers selected nine players in the 2019 CFL Draft held tonight.
The Blue Bombers began the night by selecting University of Windsor offensive lineman Drew Desjarlais with the 4th overall selection.
Desjarlais (6-2, 307, Windsor, April 24, 1997 in Belle River, ON) spent four seasons at Windsor, playing and starting 27 games over that time at both right and left guard. He played for the West Team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl last season and was named an OUA second-team all-star.
With their second first-round pick, 5th overall, Winnipeg selected Tennessee defensive end Jonathan Kongbo.
Kongbo (6-5, 255, Tennessee, March 19, 1996 in Surrey, BC) played 30 games, starting 17, over three seasons with the Volunteers as a linebacker and defensive lineman. He totalled 51 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions (including a 50-yarder returned for a touchdown), and two knockdowns. He won the 2018 John Stucky award as Tennessee’s best performer in the weight room.
In the second round, 14th overall, the Blue Bombers selected Winnipeg-born running back Brady Oliveira.
Oliveira (5-10, 228, North Dakota, August 15, 1997 in Winnipeg, MB) played 42 games at North Dakota, recording 2,822 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns over four seasons. He earned All-Big-Sky Honours in 2016 and 2017, and was a Jon Cornish Award Finalist in 2019, given to the most outstanding Canadian player in collegiate football. His best season came in his final one at UND, recording 980 rushing yards on 161 attempts, with eight touchdowns in just 11 games.
In the third round, 25th overall, Winnipeg selected University of British Columbia defensive lineman Connor Griffiths.
Griffiths (6-4, 290, UBC, July 6, 1997 in Langley, BC) played 42 games with the Thunderbirds, recording 48 tackles and six sacks over four seasons. Griffiths was named a Canada West All Star in his senior year and was named to the 2018 East-West Bowl after amassing 17.5 total tackles and two sacks, adding another 5.5 tackles and a sack in two playoff games. Griffiths was also named an All-Canadian in 2017.
In the fourth round, 34th overall, Winnipeg selected University of Hawai’i at Manoa offensive lineman Asotui Eli.
Eli (6-4, 315, University of Hawai’i, in Richmond, British Columbia) appeared in 36 games over three seasons with the Rainbow Warriors. A redshirt junior in 2018, Eli was a key member of the line that helped UH to its best rushing average (168.2) in 22 years in 2017 and recorded 22 knockdowns on the season. Eli was named to the pre-season Rimington Award watch list for the second straight year in 2017 and was also named the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List prior to the season.
In the fifth round, 43rd overall, Winnipeg selected Mount Allison receiver Malik Richards.
Richards (6-1, 195, Mount Allison University, in Brampton, ON) appeared in 24 games over four seasons with the Mounties. In 2018, Richards caught 48 passes for 531 yards and three touchdowns, adding 18 rushes for 195 yards and two touchdowns on his way to being named an AUS all-star. Richards also played for the East Team in the 2018 U SPORTS East-West Bowl.
In the sixth round, 52rd overall, the Blue Bombers selected Winnipeg-born defensive lineman Tariq LaChance.
LaChance (6-4, 260, University of Manitoba, November 11, 1993 in Winnipeg, MB) attended Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg and played for the Rifles before joining the University of Manitoba Bisons. He appeared in four games, recording four tackles, one sack, a tackle for a loss and two forced fumbles.
In the seventh round, 61st overall, the Blue Bombers selected Toronto defensive back Nick Hallett.
Hallett (6-0, 195, University of Toronto, February 12, 1994 in London, ON) played in 28 games with the Varsity Blues over six seasons. In three games in 2018, Hallett recorded 13 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one touchdown. In 2017, he led the Blues and ranked fourth in the OUA with 60 tackles, adding one sack, two fumble recoveries, one interception and five break ups.
In the eighth round, 70th overall, Winnipeg selected University of Montreal defensive back Kerfalla Emmanuel Exumé.
Exumé (5-11, 188, University of Montreal, February 24, 1994 in Montreal, QC) played in 22 games over four seasons with the Carabins. In 2018, he registered 11 tackles, two pass breakups and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
