**Story originally published prior to the 2018 CFL Draft. Matt Baker took a look at the top 10 BC Lions’ draft picks from the last two decades..
With the 2019 CFL Draft set for Thursday, May 2nd at 5:00 PM Pacific Time, bclions.com goes down memory lane to focus on some of the best Canadian players drafted by the club. Drafting in this league, not unlike other professional ones, doesn’t involve an exact science. The Lions made 124 selections in the previous 20 drafts before 2018. Like every other club, they have had their share of hits, misses and players they would become pleasantly surprised with. We now present you with our list of the top 10 BC Lions Canadian Draft picks from the last couple of decades.
# 1- Brent Johnson- 2000, Round 3, 20th Overall
This was perhaps the only no-brainer on this list. The 2018 Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee re-defined that of a dominant edge rusher. The former Ohio State Buckeye played 11 seasons in orange, racking up a franchise record 89 sacks. The two-time Grey Cup champion was also named the CFL Most Outstanding Canadian in 2005 and 2006 and also earned Most Outstanding Defensive Player honours in the memorable 2006 championship season. In addition, Johnson was a three-time CFL All-Star. Perhaps his most impressive feat? Johnson suited up in 184 games, only missing one to attend to the birth of his son Roman. He will officially be enshrined in the Hall in Hamilton in September.
# 2- Jason Clermont- 2002, Round 1, 4th Overall
The epitome of what a tough slotback should be, Clermont will be remembered as one of the club’s most important contributors during an important time of transition. He made an immediate impact, earning the nod for West Division Outstanding Rookie in 2002. Perhaps his most memorable catch came in the thrilling 2004 comeback victory over Saskatchewan in the Western Final. Needing a field goal to force overtime in the dying seconds, he hauled in a 36-yard pass from Dave Dickenson on second and long to put them in range for the tying points with no time on the clock. He would have to wait two years to earn his first Grey Cup ring and took home the Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 2007. Clermont is sixth in all-time receiving yards for the Lions and was inducted into the club’s Wall of Fame in 2016.
#3- Jason Arakgi- 2008, Round 3, 18th Overall
Arakgi was your classic Canadian unsung hero. A standout linebacker at McMaster University, he would carve out an impressive nine-year career in the den and became the CFL’s all-time leader in special teams tackles on August 19th, 2016. He retired with 194 special teams stops to go along with 26 defensive tackles and a pair of forced fumbles. He quickly established himself as one of the team’s most respected leaders and overall great ambassadors in the community.
#4- Rolly Lumbala– 2008, Round 2, 9th Overall
Nine selections before Arakgi brought about another central figure of the Lions’ Canadian content for years to come. Wally Buono and Neil McEvoy made somewhat of a risky draft day move, sending young linebacker Markieth Knowlton to Hamilton for this selection. It is now safe to say the deal paid off. Now the Lions’ longest-serving player and pride of Calgary’s St. Francis High School has evolved into one of the club’s all-time greatest fullbacks. Along with tallying 166 yards and five touchdowns on 42 carries, Lumbala has also proven to be a brilliant foot soldier in the blocking game and on special teams. You can bet he will also be one of the more competitive players when his 11th training camp begins later this month.
#5- Paris Jackson- 2003, Round 1, 6th Overall
‘P-Jack’ made his Lions debut in mid-2003 after a tryout with the Buffalo Bills. The pride of North Vancouver’s Carson Graham Secondary had back-t0-back seasons of over 1,000 yards (2008-09) and earned CFL Western Division All-Star Status in his best statistical season of 2008. In the back half of his Lions career, he graciously took on a reduced role on a star-studded receivers group and stuck around long enough to earn a second Grey Cup ring in 2011. In that victory over Winnipeg, he moved the chains early on their first scoring drive of the game with a big 30-yard reception.
#6-Â Ricky Foley- 2006, Round 1, 4th Overall
The club used its second pick in the top four (linebacker Jason Pottinger was taken second overall) to take the hulking defensive end out of York University. Foley played mostly special teams in his rookie campaign before coming a regular on the defensive line rotation. His best season came in orange was 2009 where he recorded 47 defensive tackles and 12 sacks, good enough to earn the CFL Most Outstanding Canadian Award. That season also resulted in some attention south of the border. Foley worked out with both the Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets before returning to Canada with his hometown Toronto Argonauts before the end of 2010. After two more Grey Cup titles with the Argos in 2012 and Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2013, Foley finished his career here in 2017, suiting up for 11 games.
#7- Kelly Bates- 2001, Round 5, 36th Overall
CFL teams that sustain long-term success, the Calgary Stampeders of late for instance, usually do it thanks in large part to the quality of their national offensive linemen. Bates came west from the University of Saskatchewan, where he helped the Huskies claim the Vanier Cup in 1998, and worked his way into a starting role for an offensive line that helped those dominant teams do great things on offence in the middle of the last decade, culminating in a Grey Cup victory in 2006. Bates earned both West Division and CFL All-Star nods a year later.
#8-Â Shawn Gore– 2010, Round 2, 10th Overall
Gore was drafted out of Bishop’s University and attended Green Bay Packers training camp before migrating back north for the remaining seven seasons of his career. The versatile wide receiver suited up in 113 games. His most productive season was the Grey Cup campaign of 2011 where he racked up 60 receptions for 836 yards and a touchdown. The following year, he became the first Lions’ receiver other than Geroy Simon since 2002 to lead his club in receiving yards. Only a late-season injury prevented his final season from being his best. He finished the 2016 regular season with 835 yards and three touchdowns before returning in the playoffs.
#9-Â Jabar Westerman- 2012, Round 1, 2nd Overall
A trade with Montreal for kicker Shaun Whyte landed Buono and company the second overall selection in 2012. It would pay immediate dividends as Westerman won the CFL Most Outstanding Rookie Award after recording four sacks, 12 defensive stops and a forced fumble in year one. His best year to date was 2015 where he totaled 21 defensive tackles to go along with three sacks. Throughout his five seasons in orange, the product of Eastern Michigan proved to be a valuable piece for the ratio on defence.
#10- Javier Glatt- 2003, Round 2, 15th Overall
The 2003 Canadian prospect haul also yielded a UBC Thunderbirds standout who would make a big impact on the defence in his seven years with the Lions. Glatt was also a CFL Western Division All-Star with Jackson in 2008 and finished his career in orange. Perhaps the most defining moment of his career came in the 2006 Grey Cup victory over Montreal where he flew overtop the line of scrimmage for a big goal-line stand against Anthony Calvillo. The turnover on downs proved to be a huge turning point and the Lions never surrendered any more points on the evening, save for a conceded safety by Paul McCallum in the dying minutes.
Epilogue
Updated with picks from 2016- 2018. There are definitely some examples of recent selections that can go on future lists. LB Jordan Herdman-Reed (Round 7, 60th overall in 2017) is on his way to being one of the more valuable Canadians on defence, while defensive linemen Junior Luke (Round 1, 7th overall in 2017) and Julien Laurent (Round 1, 7th overall in 2018) have proven they can play in the rotation. Wide receiver Shaq Johnson (Round 4, 32nd overall in 2016) returns for a fourth season, looking to take another positive step. You can follow all of our picks and analysis HERE!