RIDERS SELECT SIX PROSPECTS IN 2021 CFL DRAFT
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have selected six talented football players in the 202 CFL Draft:
- Nelson Lokombo (DB – Saskatchewan) – 1st round, 2nd overall
- Terrell Jana (WR – Virginia) – 2nd round, 17th overall
- Bruno Labelle (TE – Cincinnati) – 3rd round 20th overall
- Alain Cimankinda (DL – Guelph) – 4th round 35th overall
- Logan Bandy (OL – Calgary) – 5th round 38th overall
- Matt Watson (DB – Mount Allison) – 6th round 53rd overall
Lokombo (5’11-190lbs) comes off a sensational 2019 season, winning the Presidents’ Trophy as the country’s best stand-up defensive player. During that season he made 39 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, five interceptions, four pass breakups, and one forced fumble. He was also named Canada West’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, a Canada West All-Star and a U SPORTS First-Team All-Canadian.
In 30 career games with the Huskies, Lokombo has 115 tackles,10 interceptions, six tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. In 2017, the Abbotsford native was named the Huskies’ Rookie of the Year and helped the team win Hardy Cup, bringing it back to the University of Saskatchewan for the first time in 10 years.
Jana (6’0-190lbs) leaves the University of Virginia 12th all-time in career receptions and 17th in career receiving yards. During the 2020 campaign, Jana was named team captain and made in 36 passes for 423 yards and a touchdown while averaging 11.8 yards a catch.
The Vancouver native played 49 career games with the Cavaliers making 123 catches for 1,481 yards and five majors. He is the 23rd Cavalier to record 100+ career receptions and 1,000+ career receiving yards in UVA history.
Labelle (6’4-250lbs) spent five seasons at the University of Cincinnati as a tight end and special teamer. In his senior year, the Bearcats moved to two tight end sets, giving Labelle more time on offence where he made 10 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.
Over 46 games played, the Montreal native has a total 20 career receptions for 150 yards and two TDs.
Labelle signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent following the 2021 NFL Draft this past weekend.
Cimankinda (6’1-245lbs) spent three seasons with the Guelph Gryphons, finishing 2019 as a second-team OUA all-star. That year the Ottawa native made 36 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and one forced fumble.
Over 30 career games, the physical defensive lineman has made 81 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, with one year of eligibility left.
Prior to attending Guelph, Cimankinda spent one season at New Mexico Military Institute where he made 30 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Bandy (6’5-285lbs) played in 23 games over four seasons at the University of Calgary, starting his final two years at left tackle. The decorated offensive lineman was a Canada West All-Star in both 2018 and 2019 and was named a U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadian in 2019 as well. His strong play earned him an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl, which was unfortunately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Calgary native won the Vanier Cup with the Dinos in 2019, the program’s first national championship since 1995.
Watson (5’11-177lbs) spent four collegiate seasons at Mount Allison playing in 20 career games as a Mountie. His most productive season came in 2019 where he made 29 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, and three pass breakups.
Over his career at Mount Allison, the Brampton native compiled 51 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions, and four pass breakups
