The Saint Mary’s Huskies were a popular team on Canadian Football League draft day.
Free safety Saleem Borhot went in the second round, 12th overall, to the Edmonton Eskimos yesterday, leading a pack of four Huskies selected by CFL teams, the most taken from any school in the country.
“We’re pretty happy about that,” said Huskies head coach Steve Sumarah, who was also on national television yesterday as a TSN draft analyst.
Borhot, a six-foot-three, 195-pound native of Calgary, had two interceptions and 24 tackles in eight games and was ranked second among draft-eligible safeties by TSN.
“Good for him — he’s worked hard and he’ll get a good opportunity to go out there and make the club,” Sumarah said. “He’s a very good prospect.”
Kicker/punter Justin Palardy went in the fifth round, 36th overall, to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats; linebacker Karl McCartney went one spot later to the Calgary Stampeders; and offensive lineman Adam Baboulas went in the sixth round, 41st overall, to the B.C. Lions.
Palardy, a field-goal specialist who holds Atlantic University Sport records for scoring, converts and field goals, was the second kicker selected. But when Rob Maver of the Guelph Gryphons went fifth overall to the Stampeders —the team most in need of a field-goal kicker — it put a dent in Palardy’s chances of cracking a CFL roster this year.
“I still think Justin gets a look,” Sumarah said. “It will be interesting.”
McCartney is no longer attending Saint Mary’s but Sumarah said the Stampeders like his “athleticism.”
Sumarah said Baboulas “definitely has a chance” at playing for the Lions.
