May 13, 2013

Alouettes sign pair of local draft picks

MontrealAlouettes.com

MONTREAL – The Alouettes announced on Monday the signing of linebacker Nicolas Boulay and guard Simon Légaré to two-year deals with the club. Both local players were picked by Montreal in last week’s 2013 CFL Canadian Draft.

READ: GOING LOCAL »

Nicolas Boulay (left) and Simon Légaré.

Boulay (6’0”, 220 lbs.), joins Montreal after being selected in the fourth round with the 30th overall pick. The four-year veteran with the University of Sherbrooke Vert et Or was named the team’s defensive player of the year following a remarkable season in which his 58.5 tackles ranked fourth in the Quebec conference and sixth in the country. The 23-year-old also recorded two quarterback sacks in his nine games played last season and was voted defensive captain in 2012. The Magog, QC native is the second University of Sherbrooke product to join the Alouettes this offseason following kicker William Dion in January.

READ: ALOUETTES SIGN DION »

“Nicolas brings passion, toughness, and the ability to play special teams to camp,” explained Alouettes General Manager Jim Popp. “It will be fun to watch his progress during training camp.”

Légaré (6’4″, 275 lbs.), selected in the sixth round with the 47th overall pick, helped the Carabins finish the 2012 season with an 8-1 record and was a fixture on an offensive line which ranked second in the Quebec conference for points per game with 33.2. The 23-year-old Montreal native was named to the Quebec All-Star team in 2010. In his first season in the CIS, Légaré blocked for Marc-Olivier Brouillette, the team’s starting quarterback who now plays at linebacker for the Alouettes.

WATCH: SIMON LÉGARÉ LANDS IN MONTREAL »

“Simon has improved with every game he has played. He is a solid player, with a huge ceiling. It should be fun to see him progress during training camp as well,” added Popp.

The club also announced the signings of import defensive end Cody Brown and import cornerback Ben Wells to a pair of two-year deals.

Brown (6’3″, 252 lbs.) joins the Alouettes following a three-year stint in the NFL. Originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft (63rd overall), the Coral Springs, FL native has also been a member of the New York Jets and Detroit Lions. Brown spent four seasons as a linebacker with the University of Connecticut Huskies and was named a Big East All-Star in his senior year after recording 55 tackles, 10 sacks and four forced fumbles. The 26-year-old was also signed by the Calgary Stampeders in February 2012 before being released during training camp.

Wells (6’1″, 200 lbs.), signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2012. A transfer from the University of Texas, collegiately Wells took over as a starting defensive back upon his arrival at Stephen F. Austin State University. In just two seasons, the Beaumont, TX native was named an all-conference cornerback. Wells had one interception in his senior year and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown helping SFA end the season on a five-game winning streak in 2011.

All four players are scheduled to report to the Alouettes’ training camp beginning June 2 at Bishop’s University.

READ: BACK TO BISHOP’S »