The Toronto Argonauts drafted three new players to their roster in this afternoon’s 2022 CFL Global Draft. Just hours before, the Boatmen get back on the clock for tonight’s CFL Draft.
In a Global Draft, which saw four punters selected in round one. The Argos global draft class kicked off with the selection of Western Kentucky punter John Haggerty fourth overall. The Australian-born Hilltopper was a second-team All-Conference USA player.
The Argos do not have a traditional punter on their active roster, and CFL All-Star Boris Bede assumes kicking and punting duties for the Boatmen. But Haggerty could have a chance to stick in the long run as insurance. At worst, give Toronto an extra leg for camp and the preseason to help ease Bede’s workload.
In Round 2 of the Global Draft, Toronto selected UK Native DE Simeon Okonta-Wariso. The well-traveled 26-year-old stood out in front of CFL scouts at the Global combine. The 6’1 225lb pass rusher posted 24 reps of 225lbs on the bench press and a 32.5” vertical. Last year, the defensive lineman who played in Germany recorded 36 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one interception for the Lubeck Cougars.
Based on his traits, many feel that S-O-W projects as an undersized weakside linebacker and situational pass rusher who can contribute to special teams.
In round three of the Global draft, Toronto’s final pick was Brazillian Offensive Linemen Otavio Amorim. The 6’3 342lb was a standout at the Global Combine in March. Displaying great athleticism for a player his size, running an impressive 5.28-second 40-yard dash with 20 reps on the bench press and a seven-foot, six-inch broad jump. Amorim played for the Berlin Thunder last year in the European League of Football. Otavio was one of ELF’s best offensive linemen last year.
The Argos have certainly taken some unique global prospects that will be exciting players to monitor in camp and the preseason.
The Global Draft sets the stage for tonight’s league draft, which has already seen activity at the top, with Montreal trading up to one to select Syracuse LB Tyrell Richards presumably. The Argos will select 6th overall in round one, 10th to start round two, and then 15th overall. Presuming that there isn’t any trade activity by Double Blue beforehand or when they are on the clock.
In recent weeks, there has been plenty of speculation that the Argos could target the uber-talented Ontario-born Ford Brothers. QB Tre Ford, and DB Tyrell Ford. Neither of them was drafted by NFL teams this weekend. But they have been invited to NFL rookie camps, with a chance of impressing teams and earning contracts. However, The NFL workouts won’t deter CFL teams like Toronto, from taking a lottery ticket, on two of the more dynamic national prospects that have ever been draft eligible.
Below is today’s press release from the Toronto Argonauts football club on today’s global draft class.
TORONTO ARGONAUTS 2022 CFL GLOBAL DRAFT CLASS
TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts added three Global players to their roster Tuesday afternoon during the CFL’s 2022 Global Draft.
| ARGOS 2022 CFL GLOBAL DRAFT CLASS | ||||
| Round | Pick | Name | Position | College/Team |
| 1 | 4 | John Haggerty | P | Western Kentucky |
| 2 | 15 | Simeon Okonta-Wariso | DL | Lubeck Cougars |
| 3 | 22 | Otavio Amorim | OL | Berlin Thunder |
From Sydney, Australia, Haggerty played three seasons at the University of Western Kentucky (2019-2021). The 6’5, 225lb punter was a 2021 Conference USA Honourable Mention after averaging 48.7 yards per punt, the best in Hilltoppers history, with 16 punts over 50 yards. Hagerty’s career average of 46.5 yards per punt is the best in WKU history. The Australian was All-Conference USA Second Team in 2020 and 2019 All-Conference USA First Team.
Ok
onta-Wariso, 6’1 and 225lbs, had a stellar CFL combine in March, posting 24 reps of 225lbs on the bench press and a 32.5” vertical. The 26-year-old native of the UK played football at the University of Derby from 2016-to 2019 and on the British national team and the Premier League’s London Blitz in 2018 and 2019. The defensive lineman would move to Germany in 2021, where he would record 36 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one interception for the Lubeck Cougars.Amorim, who hails from Brazil, is a 6’3, 342lb offensive lineman who played with the Berlin Thunder of the European League of Football. In March, the Brazilian ran an impressive 5.28-second 40-yard dash with 20 reps on the bench press and a seven-foot, six-inch broad jump at the CFL Combine.
2022 CFL GLOBAL DRAFT TRACKER
ROUND 1
| PICK NO. | TEAM | PLAYER | POSITION | COUNTRY |
| 1 | Montreal Alouettes | Kingsley Jonathan | DE | Nigeria |
| 2 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (via EDM) | Bailey Flint | P | Australia |
| 3 | BC Lions | Karlis Brauns | DL | Latvia |
| 4 | Toronto Argonauts | John Haggerty | P | Australia |
| 5 | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Jordan Genmark Heath | LB | Sweden |
| 6 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | Tom Hackett | P | Australia |
| 7 | Calgary Stampeders | Bamidele Olaseni | OL | Great Britain |
| 8 | Ottawa REDBLACKS | Hector Zepeda | OL | Mexico |
| 9 | Edmonton Elks (via HAM) | Ben Griffiths | P | Australia |
ROUND 2
| PICK NO. | TEAM | PLAYER | POSITION | COUNTRY |
| 1 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Blake Hayes | P | Australia |
| 2 | Ottawa REDBLACKS | Edris Jean-Alphonse | DB | France |
| 3 | Calgary Stampeders | Ryan Gomes | LB | Brazil |
| 4 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | Souleymane Karamoko | DB | France |
| 5 | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Lukas Ruoss | LB | Switzerland |
| 6 | Toronto Argonauts | Simeon Okonta-Wariso | DL | Great Britain |
| 7 | BC Lions | Marcel Dabo | DB | Germany |
| 8 | Edmonton Elks | Rafael Gaglianone | K | Brazil |
| 9 | Montreal Alouettes | Thomas Odukoya | TE | Netherlands |
ROUND 3
| PICK NO. | TEAM | PLAYER | POSITION | COUNTRY |
| 1 | Montreal Alouettes | Kirk Christodoulou | P | Australia |
| 2 | Edmonton Elks | Corliss Waitman | P | Belgium |
| 3 | BC Lions | John Levi Krus | FB | Germany |
| 4 | Toronto Argonauts | Otavio Amorim | OL | Brazil |
| 5 | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Maceo Beard-Aigret | DB | France |
| 6 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | Michael Sleep-Dalton | P | Australia |
| 7 | Calgary Stampeders | Bailey Devine-Scott | DB | Australia |
| 8 | Ottawa REDBLACKS | Gabriel Ballinas | K | Mexico |
| 9 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Ralfs Rusins | DT | Latvia |
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