VANCOUVER – For the second straight year, three UBC Thunderbirds heard their names called at the CFL Draft as the 2022 version was held Tuesday night.
Offensive lineman
Diego Alatorre was taken in the third round, 27
th overall, by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, linebacker
Daniel Kwamou was selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the fifth round, 44
th overall, and
Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown was drafted by his hometown Hamilton Tiger-Cats with their eighth round pick.
"It's important for the program to enable our athletes to hit their potential," said UBC Head Coach
Blake Nill who's now had 25 players selected to the CFL in his seven seasons with the T-Birds. "There's no question that when we go out and recruit guys to come to UBC we're doing our best to see they're going to be at their academic potential but also their athletic potential and that means winning football games and getting opportunities at the next level. Any time that happens you get a smile on your face."
A terrific teammate and leader, Alatorre started on the offensive line in each of his four years with the T-Birds and just last month was named the 2021-22 Bobby Gaul Award winner as UBC's top male graduating athlete.
The 6-foot-3, 305 pound native of Mexico was named a Canada West All-Star in 2021 and is a three-time Academic All Canadian.
"Once people learn about Diego, they're going to realize how impressive this young man is," explained Nill. "When they understand he came to one of the top schools in the world and studied in English, which was not his first language, they're going to be impressed. But it's when he's on the field they'll see he's an old school type of athlete with an old school mentality and I think they'll be very impressed with his character on and off the field and I'm very excited to see him develop."
At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, Kwamou had one of his best performances as a Thunderbird when it mattered most with six total tackles in the 2021 Hardy Cup semifinal in Saskatchewan against the eventual Vanier Cup finalist Huskies. A product of Calgary's Notre Dame High School, the linebacker will now get set to take his talents to the next level with a team on the rise in the Argonauts.
"I've always said Kwamou is a late bloomer and I think where you've really seen Dan improve in the last couple years is he's been a little healthier than when he came out of high school. He's started to become a man and make grown up decisions and you're seeing it reflected all throughout his character in his school, his work ethic, his on field play. I've never seen him as motivated as he has been in the last year and I think he's going to surprise a lot of people with the Argos."
No CFL team has selected more T-Birds in recent years than Hamilton as
Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown becomes the latest, set to join his hometown Tiger-Cats after being selected with their final pick in the 2022 Draft, 73
rd overall. The 6-foot, 200 pound linebacker graduated from Hamilton's Cathedral High School and played with the Varsity Tiger-Cats program.
"I've always thought Jaxon was an incredible football player, he just needs a little momentum. Going home to Hamilton and playing in front of the people he played for in high school I think is going to give him a chance. I've already had people from Hamilton texting me, excited Jaxon is coming back home."
All told, the Canada West conference had a total of 19 players selected Tuesday night, two from Manitoba, three each from UBC, Saskatchewan, and Regina, and four from both Alberta and Calgary.
Alatorre, Kwamou, and Ciarolo-Brown will quickly get their opportunity to showcase their talents further with their respective teams as CFL training camps are set to get under way later this month.
