November 28, 2019

Alouettes sign four of its draft picks

The Montreal Alouettes announced on Thursday that the club has signed four of its picks from the 2019 CFL Draft. Offensive lineman Samuel Thomassin, running back Jeshrun Antwi, linebacker Benjamin Whiting and defensive back Cody Cranston, have all accepted new terms with the team.

Thomassin (6’6″, 330 lbs.) was selected with a territorial pick at the end of the second round of the 2019 CFL Draft. The Rouge et Or offensive lineman returned to play a final collegiate season this fall and helped Université Laval reach the Dunsmore Cup after helping the team win the previous two Vanier Cup championships. The 24-year-old Quebec City, QC native was elected a first team All-Canadian these past two seasons, after being selected a second team All-Canadian in 2017. He was part of an offensive line that helped the Rouge et Or score a conference-leading 301 points in 2019, which was more than the double of the second place team in that category. The Laval offence also led the conference with 3,191 total yards. He also helped protect now Alouettes quarterback Hugo Richard, who completed 170 of his 236 passes for 2,185 yards and 18 touchdown passes in 2018.

Antwi (6’0″, 205 lbs.) was selected in the sixth round (48th total) in 2019 and completed the last season with the Calgary University Dinos, who have hoisted the Vanier Cup on Saturday in Quebec City. In four games with the Dinos in 2019, he carried the ball 52 times for 276 yards, while making seven catches for 57 yards. The 22-year-old took part in the Alouettes two pre-season games last spring, carrying the ball six times for 41 yards. In five games in 2018, the running back gained 360 yards on 42 runs and three touchdowns. He was named to the West team of the U SPORTS East-West Bowl.

Whiting (6’3″, 225 lbs.) took part in the last Alouettes training camp, playing one pre-season in June. He was a seventh-round pick in the 2019 CFL draft, (57th total). He played ten games this season with Scott Flory’s Saskatchewan University Huskies. The linebacker registered 35 solo tackles and 27 assisted tackles. He also collected one sack and made one interception.

Cranston (6’2″, 170 lbs.) played one pre-season game with the Montreal Alouettes after being part of their 2019 training camp. The 22-year-old was drafted by the Alouettes in the eight round (66th total) of the 2019 CFL Draft. The defensive back played eight games with the Ottawa University Gee Gee’s in 2019. He registered 13 tackles and 11 assisted. The Winnipeg, MB native added three interceptions and forced one fumble.

The team also announced that Canadian running back Ryder Stone is retiring. Selected in the fifth round (38th total) in 2018, Stone played 21 games with the Alouettes, carrying the ball 27 times for 124 yards and one touchdown. The former Dartmouth University Big Green also caught nine passes for 68 yards.