Jim Mullin is the Sports Director at CKNW 980 AM in Vancouver and has offered us the chance to share his blog posts here on BCLionsDen.ca. We’re excited to have Jim’s opinions on the CFL and encourage you to follow his own blog on CKNW.com

By Jim Mullin (CKNW 980)

The BC Lions made a trade, took a gamble and got their wish list at the Canadian Draft, Sunday.

While conventional thinking had the Lions taking Bishop’s receiver Shawn Gore with the fourth overall pick, they instead chose highly touted offensive lineman Danny Watkins of Baylor University. The native of Kelowna will play out his NCAA eligibility this year before potentially arriving at the Lions 2011 camp.

Then, by the time the 10th overall pick rolled around, Gore was still available.

The Lions selected the Bishop’s grad in what Wally Buono described as triumph of “reverse psychology”.

The fact that Gore has signed with the Green Bay Packers as a free agent this afternoon may have send his draft value down to the second round. He is the third player from the Bishop’s program to be selected by the Leos in the past two drafts.

“Shawn is arguably the best receiver in the draft,” noted Buono. “He’s got some opportunities down south and we’ll wish him the best with those, but he’s too good to let slide by to another team.”

The Leos picked up a pair of defenders out of the University of Montreal as linebacker Joash Gesse and corner back Hamid Mahmoudi were selected 16th and 20th overall respectively.

“Joash has had a few injuries which didn’t’t help him at the Evaluation Camp this year,” admits Buono. “What we have seen on film however, tells us that he is a strong, physical playmaker with great football instincts.”

“Hamid will come in and compete for a wide side cornerback position with Davis Sanchez. He had 13 interceptions over a little over three years so he definitely has a knack for big plays.”

Two more receivers were drafted in the fourth round as the Lions grabbed Tusculum College’s Nate Binder and St.Francis Xavier’s Akeem Foster with the 24th and 25th selections.

The Lions had just a single selection in the fifth round and used it to pick up St. Francis Xavier defensive back Cauchy Muamba and then wrapped the 2010 Canadian Draft by choosing St. Mary’s offensive lineman Adam Baboulas and receiver Matt Chapdelaine, son of Lions offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine.

“Overall I’m not sure I have seen a better all-round draft not only for our club but all the teams in our league,” said Buono. “I think it speaks well of the players being developed in Canada and the future of our game.”

Welcome to our 2010 CFL Draft Live Blog page. On Sunday, May 2nd, at 9:00am Pacific I’ll be joined by Jann Shreve (BCLionsDen.ca, ProPlayers.ca) Kent Ridley (RidleyScouting.com) and Tyler Bieber and Michael Peltz (CFLDaily.com) to blog and discuss the draft as it unfolds. Make sure you join us to discuss some CFL football and in the meantime download our CFL Draft Primer from CFLDaily.com.

Spread the word on Twitter and to your CFL friends, and we’ll see you here Sunday morning!

Kent Ridley recently attended E-Camp in Toronto and was kind enough to send us a couple of interviews from top prospects Taurean Allen and Chima Ihekwoaba of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. Kent is a guest writer here at BCLionsDen.ca and is owns and operates Ridley Scouting Services which is based in Alberta.

Taurean Allen – CFL.ca	Chima Ihekwoaba – CFL.ca

Taurean Allen

1. When did you start playing football?

A: I started out playing football in my Grade 10 year of high school. My school didn’t have a team my grade 9 year so I had to settle for playing volleyball that fall semester which was a blast I might add.

2. How did you end up at Laurier?

A: After an extensive recruiting process I chose Laurier because they had everything I desired in a University and football program. Those criteria’s were a small community, a winning tradition, and an excellent academic reputation within the job force. Also helped that #5 was available!

3. What do you prefer to play – CB or S?

A: I would have to say CB. I feel I possess all the required tools (speed/instincts/aggression) which has made me a dominant CB in college and ultimately with some fine tuning, pro coaching and continued hard work, the same results should be actualized at the CFL level.

4. Favorite CIS highlight?

A: My favorite highlight hands down would be my diving interception against McMaster in our ’08 campaign. They stayed away from me the entire game and when they finally threw my way it looked like it was going to be overthrown, but I turned on the jets, dove, and hung on for dear life. I got up and started to pump up our fans which made that moment that much better.

5. Biggest achievement in football so far?

A: My biggest achievement in football thus far would be everything that has led me to this point in my football career. All the individual recognition and awards that I have garnered along with the three football championship teams I have played on has allowed me to stay hungry and keep driving to be the best, which has led me to where I am at today.

6. What do you expect to bring to a CFL team?

A: If I do have the privilege of being drafted into the CFL, I expect to bring my versatility, child like passion and superior knowledge of the game to the table. My athletic ability and overall football skills is a product of nature (god given) and nurture (hard work), but it is my passion and knowledge of the game that I feel will help me the most in my transition from college ball to the pros.

7. Any advice for the 2011 Draft Class now that you’ve been through the E-Camp?

A: My advice to the guys who are privileged enough to go through this process next year would be to make the necessary sacrifices. Whatever sacrifices that may be to ensure that each individual is at the peak of their game and athleticism is within each man. A wise man once said, ‘In the game of football there are only 2 types of pain: That of hard work and the pain of regret.’ The choice is yours!

Chima Ihekwoaba

1. When did you start playing football?

A: I started playing football in the 10th Grade at Notre Dame Secondary School Burlington Ontario. Played Defensive end, Defensive Tackle, Line Backer and Fullback, through my high school years.

2. How did you end up at Laurier?

A: I committed after visiting the school a few times. I knew that Laurier’s defensive system would be a great fit for me. Laurier’s system relies on athletic defenders across the board. Also in my prior to my freshman year I knew that there would be many 3 veteran defensive ends in their final years, so I knew prior to coming to Laurier I could learn a lot from these guys and my coaching to develop me into the player I’ve become.

3. What do you prefer to play – DE or DT?

A: Defensive End.

4. Favorite CIS highlight?

A: My first sack in my freshman year in my first series of play in CIS football against  University of Toronto.

5. Biggest achievement in football so far?

A: The honour of being invited to the CFL evaluation camp. It sums up all the hard work I’ve put in thus far and my dedication to the game.

6. What do you expect to bring to a CFL team?

A: A competitive hard worker, who is dedicated and loves the game of football. Also, a versatile and athletic football player who comes from a very intricate defensive system. I physically dominate offensive linemen with my strength and speed play after play. I take my pride in my “will to win” every down. Very good footwork and technique, again a versatile D-lineman who can rush from a four down line or up as a rush at the same time. Calm and collective off the field, but when the pads are on its all business.

7. Any advice for the 2011 Draft Class now that you’ve been through the E-Camp?

A: Start training now. The next year dictates your future in football, work to be the best every day. Keep in mind there’s someone out there trying to take your spot. The people that don’t believe in you is your motivation, prove them wrong. Eat or be eaten.

Kent Ridley is an athletic scout and owner of RidleyScouting.com. A service based in Alberta that identifies top athletes in football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer and hockey, helping them acheive their goals of getting noticed by pro scouts. They set up and distribute player profiles, organize scouting systems and do scouting of their own.They’ve recently stepped up their efforts to help bridge the gap between playing professionally and hiring an agent. We met Kent at Grey Cup in Calgary this year, and after following him on Twitter and seeing the knowledge he has about CFL prospects, we asked if he would like to do a piece for BCLionsDen.ca, and he graciously agreed. Hopefully he’ll check in from time to time offering his opinions on the top prospects to watch for possible careers in the CFL.

You can’t look ahead without first looking back. For BC that includes 3 draft picks in the first 5 picks of the 2009 CFL Draft. Those three picks turned into running back Jamall Lee, special teams leader/linebacker James Yurichuk and speedy receiver Matt Carter. The Leos followed that up in the third round with a coaches son in big Matt Morencie. In the fourth round they chose safety Tang Bacheyei from Kansas and in the fifth round the final BC pick was Jonathon Pierre-Etienne.

So walking out of the draft it looked like BC would be sitting pretty with the non-import talent. However this grouping of seven players only participated in 22 regular season games in Lion colours. Jamall Lee returned from his tryout with the Carolina Panthers to suit up in 4 games with his only scratch on the scoresheet being a 10 yard reception. Given a full training camp and time to learn the playbook completely he will contribute in a much bigger way this year. James Yurichuk suited up in all 18 games and it looks like it’ll be more of the same this year.

The next three picks however finished the year in different uniforms. Both Matts (Carter and Morencie) found a road that ended up in Hamilton, while Bacheyei also went to Ontario but into the SkyDome locker room. Finally Pierre-Etienne spent the year on the practice roster hoping to make a big impression on coaches this spring.

Now unlike the big spectacle that is the NFL Combine and NFL Draft that follows, which takes up hundreds of hours of programming on various sports networks and sees more folks sign up for NFL Network than any other stretch during the year, the CFL Draft is a different beast all together. Rather than spending a lot of time in analysis of your year ending roster the CFL draft is a lot more of bringing in top non-import talent regardless of need at a specific position.

This year you’ll see teams doing weird things based on some formula that they hold to in their war room and on their draft boards. For example last year Montreal drafted 8 players that combined for a total of 8 regular season CFL games and saw 4 of the players picked retire before the season.

That all said let’s look to the upcoming camps and see who the Lions might just be bringing to camp this spring.

The first round sees the Lions pick third overall. Of the first 7 picks (Hamilton forfeits their first round pick due to the Supplemental Draft last year) potentially 5 will come from the NCAA with all of those having another year of NCAA play available to them. The cream of the crop right now prior to the combines in no particular order are:

Joe Eppele (Washington State) a 6’8” 306 lb offensive left tackle with Vancouver ties already. Big body that has done well in a program that hasn’t done as well during that time. Has mentioned in previous interviews that he wouldn’t be returning to Washington State for a final season but that door is still open.

Danny Watkins (Baylor) a 6’4” 310 lb offensive left tackle that is also a BC native. His path is a little different as Danny played hockey growing up and his first game of organized football occurred at Butte Junior College in California while taking forest fire fighting courses. Since getting into the pads all he has done is become a regional all star and has started every game he’s played in 3 years (2 at Butte and 1 at Baylor).

John Bender (Nevada) a 6’8” 325 lb offensive right guard that has a knack of taking care of his quarterback. Nevada set an NCAA record with 3 thousand yard rushers this year. Big John was a key to that offensive line that simply pushed defenses around.

Shomari Williams (Queen’s) a 6’2” 245 lb defensive force. Spent time at University of Houston as a linebacker but lined up in Kingston mostly as a defensive end. Had a fantastic run through the OUA playoffs, bowl game and Vanier Cup.

Cory Greenwood (Concordia) a 6’2” 235 lb linebacker that earned the 2009 CIS Defensive Player of the Year award. Was in on 72 tackles (52 solo and 20 assists) in 8 games and added 2 sacks to the mix.

Brian Bulcke (Stanford) a 6’4” 273 lb defensive tackle that entered the 2009 NCAA season as the #1 prospect on the CFL Scouting Bureau Top 15. A broken wrist will send him back to Stanford for a 5th year as he earned a medical red shirt. Otherwise he was a strong bet to go first overall in the 2010 CFL Draft. As a junior he had 18 tackles and 4 sacks in the Pac-10.

What would the CFL Draft be without some top receivers. A pair of All-Canadians are leading the pack. Concordia’s other Cory. Cory Watson is an inside receiver coming in at 6’2” and 204 lbs. This second team All-Canadian pulled down 52 passes for 821 yards in only 8 games (1 of only 4 CIS players over 800 yards) with 6 touchdowns.

Akeem Foster (St. FX) a 6’5” 208 lb wide side receiver. Perhaps didn’t have the draft year season that grabbed the spotlight but Akeem did snag 37 catches for 595 yards over the 8 game CIS season to earn first team All-Canadian accolades.

Another receiver to toss into the mix is Jordan Sisco (Regina). A 6 foot 210 lb receiver that earned an invitation to the annual Shrine Bowl thanks to a 52 catch year for 700 yards. He is a between the 20s receiver though with only 2 touchdowns and a 13.5 yards per catch average for the Rams.

For those that need more names here’s an interesting list – Taurean Allen (Wilfrid Laurier, CB); Charlie Houghton (Georgetown, RB); Steven Hughes (Ottawa, WR) and speedy Steven Turner (Bishop’s, RB).

With 5 months to the first snap that matters things are very liquid at this point. Look to the National Invitational Combine and the CFL run E-Camp to change positions and no one is a lock. Between the one on one drills for the linemen and the famous 40 yard dash for the ball handlers and ball hawks things will shimmy and shake some more.

Ridley Scouting

Owner: Kent Ridley
Website: http://www.RidleyScouting.com
Twitter:  http://www.twitters.com/RidleyScouting
E-Mail: rids@ridleyscouting.com
Phone: (403) 863-8643