Riders start local, end with NFL pick in 2020 CFL draft

Photo courtesy: Huskies Athletics

The Saskatchewan Roughriders started with a prairie pick and ended with an NFL choice in the 2020 CFL draft.

First round, seventh overall: Mattland Riley (OL – Saskatchewan)
Fourth round, 30th overall:
 Kian Schaffer-Baker (REC – Guelph)
Fourth round, 35
th overallA.J. Allen (LB – Guelph)
Fifth round, 44th overall: Vincent Dethier (DB – McGill)
Sixth round, 53rd overall: Jonathan Femi-Cole (RB – Western)
Seventh round, 62nd overall: Jesse Lawson (OL – Carleton)
Eighth round, 71st overall: Neville Gallimore (DL – Oklahoma) 

The six-foot-three, 300-pound Riley spent four seasons at the University of Saskatchewan playing in 31 games for the Huskies, spending his final season at left guard. The Melfort product had an impressive collegiate career that included being named a two-time Canada West All-Star and a U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian. He also played for the West Team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl in 2018.

In 2017, Riley helped the Huskies win the Hardy Cup bringing it back to the University of Saskatchewan for the first time in 10 years.

Schaffer-Baker who checks in at six-foot-four, 195 pounds  spent four collegiate seasons at the University of Guelph. The Mississauga native played in 28 games recording 95 receptions for 1,544 yards and eight touchdowns. He impressed at the 2019 East-West Bowl where he led all receivers with five catches for 126 yards and a touchdown.

Allen finished his  fourth year of eligibility at Guelph University this year playing in 31 games at defensive lineman. The six-foot-one, 210-pound Burlington native made 63.5 tackles, five and a half sacks,12 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.

Dethier completed his fourth year as a defensive back for McGill University.  The 24-year-old  stands five-foot-11, 196 pounds recorded 104.5 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four quarterback sacks, four interceptions, eight knockdowns, six fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in 34 games played.

Femi-Cole finished his first season at Western University in 2019. The Ontario native who is five-foot-10, 218 pounds played in eight games for the Mustangs recording 40 carries for 174 yards and five touchdowns while adding four tackles.  Prior to playing at Western, Femi-Cole attended the University of Minnesota where he played in 13 games, making one reception for 13 yards and 15 carries for 67 yards.

Lawson spent two years with the Carleton Ravens playing in nine games as an offensive lineman.  Prior to attending Carleton, the six-foot-six, 285-pound BC native spent time with the Langley Rams and the White Rock Titans of the Canadian Junior Football League.

Gallimore was drafted in the third round, 82nd overall, by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Ottawa native who is six-foot-two, 305 pounds spent four collegiate seasons at the University of Oklahoma playing in 46 games and recording 147 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, eight and a half sacks, two pass deflections and five forced fumbles.