The Toronto Argonauts have signed nine players from this year’s draft class, including Laval receiver Kevin Mital.
The three-time RSEQ all-star had one of the most prolific careers of any receiver in U Sports history after transferring to the Rouge et Or in 2020, catching 125 passes for 1,585 yards and 22 touchdowns over only 20 regular season games. He was twice named a second-team U Sports All-Canadian and once named a first-team U Sports All-Canadian.
The native of Saint-Hubert, Que. won the Hec Crighton Trophy in 2022 as the Most Valuable Player in all of U Sports and was named Vanier Cup MVP after helping Laval win a national title. He faced questions about his athleticism heading into the CFL Combine in Winnipeg and answered them, running 4.58 in the forty-yard dash and leaping 35 inches in the vertical jump at six-foot-one and 229 pounds.
The Argos have also signed third-round picks Tyson Hergott, John Bosse, and Tyshon Blackburn, fifth-round picks Jerrell Cummings and Ifenna Onyeka, sixth-round pick Justin Sambu, and eighth-round pick Daniel Shin.
Hergott was the OUA’s nominee for the J. P. Metras Trophy this past season after recording 38 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception at the University of Waterloo. The local product was named a first-team U Sports All-Canadian in 2023 and will compete in training camp at defensive end.
Bosse made only 12 career starts along the offensive line at the University of Calgary but has 36.5-inch arms, possibly the longest of any prospect in CFL draft history. The six-foot-five, 335-pound blocker won a Vanier Cup with the Dinos in 2019.
Blackburn made 25 tackles, three pass knockdowns, and one interception this past season at defensive back with the University of Alberta. The six-foot-two, 203-pound defender was named a first-team U Sports All-Canadian in 2021.
Cummings made 22 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss at the University of British Columbia this past season after transferring from Simon Fraser and was named a Canada West all-star. The Vancouver native made 106 total tackles, four interceptions, 35 pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery during his time with the Redbirds.
Onyeka made 94 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, three pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery over 40 career games with the Ravens at defensive end. The native of Brampton, Ont. is the younger brother of former CFL linebacker Nakas Onyeka and Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive back Kosi Onyeka and the cousin of Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive back Godfrey Onyeka and Ottawa Redblacks’ defensive lineman Kene Onyeka.
Sambu made 59 tackles, 10 for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery over four seasons at the University of Maine before transferring to Baylor University, where he made only two tackles.
Shin was a two-time Canada West all-star at centre at the University of Alberta as well as a one-time second-team U Sports All-Canadian and one-time first-team U Sports All-Canadian.
Toronto has also signed offensive lineman Owen Mueller, who went undrafted out of Windsor, punter Jeremy Edwards, who was selected in the first round of the 2024 Global Draft, and American linebacker Isaac Darkangelo.
The Argonauts will open rookie camp on Wednesday, May 8 at the University of Guelph with training camp commencing on May 12.
