Foster & Muamba drafted to CFL's BC Lions

X-Men wide receiver Akeem Foster (Ajax, ON) and defensive back Cauchy Muamba (Mississauga, ON) were both drafted in Sunday afternoon's CFL draft to the BC Lions. Foster was selected 25th overall in the fourth round, while Muamba was chosen 34th overall in the fifth round.   

Huskies’ Borhot selected 12th overall by Edmonton
Seven AUS players taken in CFL draft

Courtesy Monty Mosher, The Chronicle Herald 

Saint Mary’s Huskies defensive back Saleem Borhot beat the numbers Sunday.

Unrated in the top 15 for Sunday’s CFL draft, Borhot became the top AUS player selected when the Edmonton Eskimos used their second-round pick, 12th overall, to snag the Calgary native.

The Eskimos showed a particular interest in Borhot by flying him in for a private workout last week.

Edmonton needed a free safety and there weren’t many available.

"I knew they were interested," Saint Mary’s head coach Steve Sumarah said after the draft. "There was a lot of talk they were looking for more depth at free safety. I talked to some of their coaches and they were pretty excited that he was out there and available."

Borhot had 24 tackles and two interceptions for the Huskies last season as Saint Mary’s won its third consecutive conference title.

The AUS finished with seven picks on Sunday, four from the Huskies — the most of any CIS school — and three current or former members of the St. Francis Xavier X-Men.

St. F.X. wide receiver Akeem Foster, once a projected first rounder, had to wait until the fourth round to hear his name. The B.C. Lions used the 25th pick to obtain the rights to the six-foot-five target from Ajax, Ont.

Foster is a two-time AUS all-star and made the CIS all-Canadian first team last November. He had 69 catches for 1,169 yards and seven touchdowns over the past two seasons.

"In the end I was very happy that he was drafted," said X-Men head coach Gary Waterman. "That was one of his goals. I’m sure he probably wishes he went a little higher … but I think he’ll do well and I’m confident he’ll impress when he gets there."

The AUS dominated the fifth round with St. F.X. defensive back/kick returner Cauchy Muamba (Mississauga, Ont) going 34th to the Lions.

A pair of Huskies went shortly after with Truro kicker Justin Palardy going with the 36th selection to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and linebacker Karl McCartney (Bahamas) on the move to the Calgary Stampeders with the next pick.

Muamba has shown flashes of pro speed and talent during his time in Antigonish despite some injury setbacks. He is strong in coverage and may become a safety.

"He had a tough year with a high-ankle sprain in the first game against Saint Mary’s," said Waterman. "That lingered throughout the season. But there’s no question he’s an outstanding athlete."

Palardy, a place-kicker and punter, became the all-time AUS scoring leader in 2009 and also broke the conference record for career field goals. He could become the all-time leader in CIS scoring and field goals if he returns to SMU for a fifth year in the fall.

He has been an AUS all-star in each of the past three seasons and the all-star punter and place kicker in 2008 and 2009.

Sumarah said Palardy’s prospects fell somewhat after Rob Maver went with the fifth pick of the first round to Calgary to fill the league’s most glaring kicking need.

"I think Hamilton is going to be a good fit for him," said Sumarah. "They were looking for a punter and if given the opportunity I really believe Justin could be that guy."

McCartney made the all-star team in 2008, when he had 25 tackles and five sacks. He left the Huskies at the end of the 2009 season and has returned home, Sumarah said.

Saint Mary’s offensive lineman Adam Baboulas (Oshawa, Ont.), an all star in 2009, went to B.C. in the sixth round with the 41st pick.

Edmonton grabbed former St. F.X. quarterback Corbin Sharun with the 43rd pick. He returned home two years ago due to an illness in his family and became a standout junior player at defensive back.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders made Queen’s linebacker Shomari Williams the first pick overall.

The Toronto Argonauts followed by selecting Joe Eppele, an offensive tackle from Washington State, and Concordia linebacker Cory Greenwood with the next two selections.

Baylor offensive tackle Danny Watkins (B.C.), Maver, Stanford defensive lineman Brian Bulcke (Edmonton) and Concordia offensive lineman Kristian Matte (Montreal) completed the first round.