On Tuesday night, the Toronto Argonauts came into the CFL Draft with nine overall selections and three out of the top 15 picks. The Boatmen entered the draft with very few glaring needs, so the team was able to operate from a position of luxury.

Toronto Argonauts First Round Selection, Sixth Overall: OL Gregor MacKellar, St. Francis Xavier

The Boatmen surprised some prognosticators by selecting St. Francis Xavier’s OL Gregor MacKellar and bypassing highly touted prospects at the position like Zach Kerr. However, MacKellar was rated a top 20 prospect by the CFL Scouting Bureau. MacKellar was named an Atlantic University Sport all-star in 2019. The 6’5 311lb, MacKellar is known for his aggressiveness and mean streak.

MacKellar, who has played three years of U Sports football, is a six-foot-four, 312-pound left tackle whose collegiate career began south of the border in NCAA Division 1.

After playing at St. Andrew’s College in Ontario, MacKellar landed a U.S college scholarship with the University of Rice in Houston, Texas, and spent a year as a redshirt. He decided to return to Canada after the Rice Owls changed coaches and landed at St. F.X.

The Argos skew American at OT with projected starters Isaiah Cage and Dejon Allen. Selecting MacKellar could help the team’s ratio upfront in the future. But Gregor could be headed toward playing guard exclusively in the CFL. The Boatmen’s brass is hoping they have the same success with MacKellar, that they had with Nicastro last year.

Toronto Argonauts Second Round selection, 10th overall: DL, Deionte Knight, Western

The 6’3 280lb Ajax, Ont. native, Deionte Knight, is arguably the best defensive linemen in this draft. Knight recorded 52 total tackles (including 13 tackles for loss), ten sacks, and two fumble recoveries in his fourth year at Western University.
 
Knight won the J. P. Metras Trophy, awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Down Lineman in U Sports.

Knight may have slid to ten because there is a real possibility that he could sign an NFL contract in the coming days. Knight was a standout in the East-West Shrine Bowl early in 2022.

Deionte Knight is not currently on an NFL roster. But he was invited to rookie minicamp with the NFL’s Washington Commanders, and it remains to be seen if Knight lands a spot on an NFL roster.

But Toronto is willing to take a lottery pick on the ultra-talented Ontario native. The Argos have plenty of talent on the defensive line. But they could use a national player on the interior next to All-CFL American sensation Shawn Oakman.

Toronto Argonauts Second Round Selection, 15th overall: RB, Daniel Adeboboye, Bryant University

The 5’9 220lb Daniel Adeboboye is considered by many to be the best running back prospect in this draft class. The Toronto-born Adeboboye was a standout on the FCS level, amassing over 2,000 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns during his career at Bryant University. His bowling ball style of running could perfectly complement Andrew Harris.

Adeboboye was named to the All-NEC First team in his Junior year, becoming the first Bryant RB to average over 100 yards per game since 2015.

Adeboboye doesn’t have great timed speed in the 4.6 area. But his shuttle time of 4.36 at the CFL combine was the best at his respective position. Adeboboye is also ridiculously strong; he led the combine with 28 reps in the bench press.

The Argonauts’ drafting of Daniel Adeboboye comes as no surprise to many observers of the team, who have predicted that the Boatmen would be looking to flip the RB position Canadian moving forward.

Toronto Argonauts Third Round Selection, 26th overall: LB, Enoch Penney-Laryea, McMaster

Enoch Penney-Laryea, at 6’1 225, was graded out at the combine as one of the most impressive athletes in this entire draft class. Penney-Laryea ran an impressive 4.58-second forty-yard dash, 39.5-inch vertical, 10-foot, seven-and-a-quarter-inch broad jump, and 27 reps on the bench.

Enoch Penney-Laryea has played at DE, but he projects to weakside linebacker in the CFL. EPL has a shot to stick early on as a special teams player because of his dynamic physical traits.

The McMaster standout has a unique upbringing and personal backstory. He hails from Ghana, where he spent several of his formative years before eventually picking up the sport of football after moving to New York City.

The newly implemented rule in the last collective bargaining agreement allows any graduating player who played four years in a U Sports program to enter the CFL as a National. The 2022 draft class will be the first affected by the new rule.

Toronto Argonauts Fourth Round Selection, 35th overall: OL Braydon Noll, Wilfrid Laurier

The Argos once again addressed the offensive line in this draft, selecting T/G Braydon Noll. The versatility to play multiple spots, combined with the ratio benefit, make Noll a worthwhile project down the road. Toronto Assistant GM Vince Magri, a former Canadian offensive lineman himself, has developed a habit of targeting linemen with versatility in recent years, and Noll certainly fits that profile.

Toronto Argonauts Fifth Round Selection, 44th overall: LB, Daniel Kwamou, UBC

Daniel Kwamou, at just under 6 feet and 225lbs, is a bit undersized. But because of his hard-nosed playing style and strength, he projects as someone who can play on the inside as well as on the outside at linebacker.

Toronto Argonauts Sixth Round Selection, 53rd overall: DB, Eric Sutton, Texas State

The Argos waited till the sixth round to bring a DB to the Six.

Eric Sutton, ‘Eazy E’ is a DB from Texas State. The 5’9 175lb cornerback/safety was a three-star recruit from Cedar Hill, Texas, who originally played at SMU before transferring to the Bobcats. Sutton can play safety or cornerback and has value as well on special teams. Sutton has superstar potential as a willing tackler in the open field. In the CFL, Sutton can play a multitude of positions. The SAM backer spot is not out of the question despite his size. Injuries caused Sutton’s draft stock to take a hit, and Toronto might have gotten themselves a steal as a result.

Toronto Argonauts Seventh Round Selection, 62nd overall: TE, Chase Arseneau, McMaster

The Boatmen bring another Marauder from McMaster on board. Drafting TE/FB Chase Arseneau. The 6’4 237lb tweener has excellent speed for his size. But he is noted more for his blocking ability, particularly in space and on the move. Arseneau has a lot of tools in his arsenal. And could find a role on special teams early on in his CFL career.

Toronto Argonauts Eight Round Selection, 71st overall: DL, Michael Pezzuto, Ottawa

Michael Pezzuto, an East-West bowl selection out of Ottawa, is another versatile player drafted by Double Blue. Pezzuto is a 6’3 edge rusher who can play on the interior at 265lbs, and DT is a likely landing spot for this project.

Final Analysis:

Toronto came into the 2022 CFL Draft with one of the best rosters, top to bottom in the league. Particularly on the Canadian side. The team got stronger tonight. Deionte Knight, provided that he is not a part of an NFL roster, could be the breakout player from this class. The other players selected will likely be in backup roles to start their CFL careers. But based on Toronto’s success with their rookie classes the last few drafts, don’t be surprised if some real gems come out of this class in the foreseeable future.

Below is the Argos football club’s press release for Tuesday night’s draft.

ARGOS ADD TO THEIR CANADIAN CONTINGENT DURING THE 2022 CFL DRAFT

TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts added nine Canadians to their roster this evening during the 2022 CFL Draft.

MacKellar, 6’5 and 311lbs, was named U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian and AUS All-Star in 2021 and 2019 with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men. The Nova Scotia native, who went to high school in Ontario, played three seasons of U SPORTS football at the east coast school after initially landing a scholarship with the University of Rice in Houston, Texas, in 2017, where he redshirted.

Knight, 6’4 and 275lbs, tallied 52 tackles, 13 for loss, ten sacks, and two forced fumbles in his fourth year at Western University, helping the Mustangs win the Vanier Cup. The Ajax, ON native, won the J.P. Metras Trophy last season, awarded to the Most Outstanding Down Lineman in U SPORTS. Knight finished his collegiate career with 96 tackles and 13.5 sacks (2018-2021).

Adeboboye, 5’9 and 218lbs, rushed for 507 yards and six touchdowns in his senior season at Bryant University in 2021. The Toronto native was First Team All-NEC during his junior season when he rushed for 445 yards and two touchdowns while becoming the first Bryant RB to average over 100 yards per game since 2015. Adeboboye rushed for 1,816 yards (seventh all-time in Bryant history) and 16 touchdowns over 34 career games for the Bulldogs.

Penney-Laryea, 6’1 and 230lbs, played 21 games for McMaster over three seasons totaling 55 tackles, 15.5 for loss, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception for the Marauders. Penney-Laryea, who was born in Jamaica, played two seasons at Division III Union College in New York before coming to Canada.

Noll, 6’6 and 295lbs, spent five seasons at Wilfrid Laurier, where he played every position along the offensive line and was part of a team that won the OUA in 2016.

Kwamou, 6’1 and 224lbs, spent four years at the University of British Columbia (2018-2021), where he tallied 51 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one interception in 17 career games.

Sutton, 5’9, 175lbs, played ten games for Texas State in 2021 and tallied 22 tackles for the Bobcats. Born in Texas, Sutton played at Southern Methodist University (2016-2019) before Texas State, where he recorded 45 tackles in 37 games played for the Mustangs.

Arseneau, 6’4 and 225lbs, was selected to the 2021 East-West Bowl and helped the Marauders won the Yates Cup in 2019. He is from Whitby, Ontario.

Pezzuto, 6’3 and 245lbs, played four seasons at the University of Ottawa (2017-2021). He added 37 tackles, 10 for loss, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one interception in 21 games played for the Gee-Gees.