A few hours after acquiring the first overall pick in the 2022 Canadian Football League Draft, the Montreal Alouettes selected former Syracuse University linebacker Tyrell Richards.
The six-foot-four, 218-pound Richards played three seasons with the Orange, where he amassed 54 tackles, nine-and-a-half tackles for loss and six sacks, on top of one interception, three pass knock downs, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
The 23-year-old Brampton, Ontario native played as a linebacker and defensive end, and excelled on special teams, as he was named the Orange’s 2019 special teams player of the year.
With their second pick of the first round, ninth overall, Montreal selected receiver Tyson Philpot from University of Calgary. The 21-year-old caught 41 passes for 746 yards and nine majors last season. In 2019, he helped the Dinos win the Vanier Cup, amassing 52 yards on four catches in the 27-13 win over the Université de Montréal Carabins.
In the third round, with the 18th pick overall, the Alouettes selected University of Alberta offensive lineman Rodeem Brown. The Halifax, Nova Scotia native helped the Golden Bears reach the Hardy Cup semi final in 2021.
The Alouettes then went local, drafting Laval Rouge et Or receiver Vincent Forbes-Mombleau in the third round, 24th overall. The 23-year-old Quebec City native was voted the Quebec conference rookie of the year in 2018. Last season, he caught 30 passes for 383 yards and one touchdown, good for fifth place in the conference.
In the fourth round, the club drafted Université de Montréal Carabins defensive back Tyson-Otis Copeland. In 2021, Copeland registered 13 tackles and one interception, on top of forcing a fumble and knocking down two passes in only four games.
The Alouettes made another selection on the other side of Mount-Royal in the fifth round, 42nd overall, by selecting running back Ryth-Jean Giraud. Giraud amassed 935 yards on 146 carries in 22 career games with the Carabins.
The team then selected a second offensive lineman from the Golden Bears in the sixth round, 51st overall, drafting six-foot-seven giant Peter Kozushka.
Maciocia selected a second Rouge et Or player in the following round, linebacker Yanis Chihat, who recorded 44 tackles and four-and-a-half sacks in 20 career collegiate games.
The Alouettes completed their 2022 draft by picking Western University linebacker Zach Lindley, who helped the Mustangs win the Vanier Cup last fall. He completed the year with 58 tackles, one sack and two interceptions in 10 games.
