VANCOUVER – Four members of the UBC Thunderbirds football team were selected in the 2018 CFL draft Thursday night.
Fourth-year offensive lineman
Dakoda Shepley was selected with the fifth overall pick by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, just five days after signing a three-year undrafted free agent contract with the National Football League's New York Jets.
"I'm very honoured to be selected so high in the draft by the Roughriders despite my current NFL opportunity," said the six-foot-five, 315-pound right tackle. "I couldn't be happier to call Saskatchewan home should the NFL not work out in my favour. Regardless of what happens from here forward I'm very proud to now be a part of Rider Nation."
In his four years at UBC, Shepley has seen both his impact and profile increase on the national stage as a dominant lineman who also spent time at guard and centre with the Thunderbirds. The Windsor, Ont. native helped the Thunderbirds claim the 2015 Vanier Cup championship under head coach
Blake Nill while also being recognized as a Canada West all-star in 2017.
Shepley is the highest drafted Thunderbird since running back Julian Radlein was chosen third overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2003. He's also the first opening round selection since Shea Emry was taken seventh overall by the Montreal Alouettes in 2008.
Nill couldn't be happier that Shepley's tremendous work ethic, progress, and talent has been recognized.
"Dakoda going to the Riders is not a surprise," said Nill. "Coach Chris Jones prides himself on bringing in elite athletes, and there is no better at the offensive line position this year then UBC's number 64."
Fourth-year wide receiver
Marcus Davis was the second Thunderbird to be selected, going in the fourth round, 31
st overall to Hamilton. A native of Victoria, B.C., Davis was limited to just two regular season games in 2017 due to injury but still managed two touchdowns and nearly 200 all-purpose yards.
Defensive back
Will Maxwell was chosen by the Calgary Stampeders in the fifth round with the 42
nd overall selection. The second team All-Canadian and Canada West All-Star finished the 2017 regular season with 35 solo tackles, eighth most in the conference. The fourth-year also racked up 155 kick return yards and a touchdown in a UBC victory over the Alberta Golden Bears in late September.
The BC Lions also got into the Thunderbird action selecting local product
Will Watson. The fourth-year wide receiver from Surrey was taken in the seventh round, 54
th overall.
Since joining UBC in 2015, Nill has seen a total of ten Thunderbirds drafted to the CFL.
"It's a good indication that the program is starting to be recognized as elite. The professional people are starting to realize that the athletes we're developing have the capabilities to play at the next level and that's exactly the direction we want. A lot of the credit for the success you saw at the draft goes to (strength and conditioning head coach)
Joe McCullum and his team. You're seeing our guys become bigger, faster, and stronger which means they're able to compete better at the next level."
