CFL draft: Redblacks take offensive lineman Mateas first overall

Alex Mateas reaches up for a vertical jump during Connecticut's NFL football pro day, on March 31, 2015n. (AP / Jessica Hill)

TORONTO -- Alex Mateas began an unprecedented run on offensive lineman Tuesday night in the CFL draft.

The six-foot-four, 309-pound UConn centre went No. 1 to his hometown Ottawa Redblacks and was the first of a record three straight selected to open the first round. And when the Grey Cup-champion Calgary Stampeders completed the opening selections, a total of six were taken.

"This draft was packed with offensive linemen and good offensive linemen so it could've gone either way. It's a great honour to be No. 1 and to be drafted to my home city, you couldn't ask for anything better," said Mateas.

"Canada develops some great football players and offensive lineman at that. To be labelled a Canadian offensive linemen is awesome."

Last year, Ottawa GM Marcel Desjardins dealt the first overall pick to Calgary for all-star offensive lineman Jon Gott. But on Tuesday, Desjardins, looking to improve a club that posted a league-worst 2-16 record in its inaugural season, used it on a player who started 29 games over three seasons at UConn.

"When you take into account Alex's abilities on the field, his durability, the level of competition that he played against as well as his integrity and intelligence, the selection of Alex was an easy decision," Desjardins said. "Add the fact that Ottawa is home and this is where he wants to be makes this the perfect selection."

Mateas began his college career at Penn State in 2010 before transferring to UConn. Mateas recently attended the New York Jets rookie mini-camp as a free agent but didn't sign an NFL contract.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers followed by taking Calgary offensive lineman Sukh Chungh second overall. The six-foot-four, 300-pound native of Coquitlam, B.C., was a CanWest all-star and CIS All-Canadian in 2013-14.

The Toronto Argonauts then took Calgary centre Sean McEwen at No. 3. McEwen was a three-time conference all-star and two-time All-Canadian but said he's pondering a return to school this fall to get a math degree .

"That's something I have to sit down with my family and discuss," McEwen said. "I haven't spoken to (Argos GM Jim Barker) yet but I look forward to and it's something I hope to hear his opinion on."

This isn't anything new for Toronto. It waited a year for McMaster offensive lineman Matt Sewell when he decided to return to school after being a 2013 first-round pick.

"If we have to wait a year, then we wait a year," Barker said. "It's his choice."

The Edmonton Eskimos continued the run on offensive linemen at No. 7 taking six-foot-six, 325-pound Danny Groulx of Laval. The 25-year-old native of Gatineau, Que., won two Vanier Cups with the Rouge et Or and was ranked No. 5 by the CFL scouting bureau.

Montreal took Richmond tackle Jacob Ruby at No. 8. The six-foot-seven, 315-pound Ruby, a native of London, Ont., was a four-year college starter and performed well at the CFL combine in March.

Montreal landed Hamilton's first- (No. 8) and third-round picks (No. 24) by sending offensive lineman Ryan Bomben, a native of Burlington, Ont., to the Ticats before the draft.

Calgary ended the first selecting Laval's Karl Lavoie at No. 9. The six-foot-four, 285-pound Lavoie was two-time all-Canadian and is best friends with Stampeders centre Pierre Lavertu, a former Laval player the Stamps took first overall last year.

Montreal raised eyebrows at No. 4, taking Wilfrid Laurier defensive back Chris Ackie. The athletic Ackie can play both in the secondary and at linebacker but was ranked No. 11 by the CFL scouting bureau.

The B.C. Lions then selected Ese Mrabure-Ajufo, an athletic defensive lineman at Wilfrid Laurier who was a second-team OUA all-star last season. He's also going to be able to contribute on special teams.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders took Manitoba Bisons receiver Nic Demski at No. 6. The six-foot, 215-pound Demski, a four-time CIS all-star, offers big-play ability both on offence and special teams.