Three Stingers in top echelon of CFL draft

With three players selected in the top 10, the Concordia Stingers stole the show at the CFL draft on Sunday.

Linebacker Cory Greenwood was picked third overall by the Toronto Argonauts, offensive tackle Kristian Matte was selected seventh by the hometown Montreal Alouettes and slotback Cory Watson was drafted ninth by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The last time the Stingers had three players selected in the draft was 1999. However, only wide receiver Sylvain Girard was a first round pick. Chosen by the Alouettes, he went on to play eight seasons with Montreal.

Greenwood of Kingston, Ont., was a highly touted and highly sought-after player. In the week heading into the Canadian draft, there were discussions with the Kansas City Chiefs about a potential NFL tryout.

The fourth-year Stinger was the top tackler in Quebec with 52 solos and 20 assists in the 2009 season. He was a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) first team all-Canadian and the Presidents Trophy recipient as the outstanding defensive player in Canada.

Matte of St. Hubert, Que., has his dance card filled. The second team CIS all-Canadian signed a free agent contract with the NFL’s Houston Texans on April 24. Now he also has the opportunity to play in front of his family and friends in Montreal.

Finally, Watson was selected in the second round by the Blue Bombers with their first pick of the day. A physical receiver, he has the ability to make an immediate impact on both offence and special teams.
In 2009, Watson caught 52 passes for 821 yards and six touchdowns. He led the Quebec conference in passing and was second in the CIS in yards receiving. He was a second team all-Canadian.

He will join a couple of Stingers alumni at Winnipeg’s training camp – punter Mike Renaud and long snap Chris Cvetkovic.

The extensive Concordia media coverage on TSN prompted CFL columnist Matt Cauz to make the following comment in his Monday Morning Quarterback column (www.cfl.ca/article/cauz-s-mmqb-thoughts-from-the-draft).

“The two biggest winners from the draft were Tim Hortons and Concordia. Every time TSN cut to a War Room there were always multiple shots of some head scout's double-double. I hope TSN was collecting some sort of royalties. Meanwhile the 2010 draft was basically a recruiting video for Concordia. Three of the top nine picks were Stingers.”

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