A few hours after acquiring the first overall pick in the 2022 CFL Canadian Draft, the Montreal Alouettes used it to select former Syracuse University linebacker Tyrell Richards.
Richards (6’4″, 218 lb.) played three seasons in upstate New York, where he amassed 54 tackles, 9.5 tackles for losses and six sacks, on top of one interception, three knock downs, one forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
“We are extremely happy to have done the necessary to be able to select Tyrell. When we saw him at the CFL evaluation camp, we knew right then and there that we were going to try and get our hands on the first pick overall and make sure that Tyler dons an Alouette uniform,” said Alouettes General Manager Danny Maciocia. “Tyler is fast, strong and smart We are convinced that he will contribute to our successes as of this year.”
The 23-year-old Brampton, ON native played as a linebacker and defensive end, and excelled on special teams, as he was named the Orange’s 2019 Special Teams Player of the year.
With their second pick of the first round (9th overall), Montreal selected receiver Tyson Philpot from Université of Calgary Dinos. The 21-year-old caught 41 passes for 746 yards and nine majors last season. In 2019, he helper the Dinos win the Vanier Cup amassing 52 yards on four catches in the 27-13 win over the Université de Montréal Carabins.
In the third round, with the 18th pick overall, the Alouettes selected University of Alberta offensive lineman Rodeem Brown. The Halifax, NS native helped the Pandas reach the Hardy Cup semi final in 2021.
The Alouettes then went local, drafting Université Laval Rouge et Or receiver Vincent Forbes-Montbleau in the third round (24th overall). The 23-year-old Quebec City native was voted the RSEQ rookie of the year in 2018. Last season, he caught 30 passes for 383 yards and one touchdown, good for fifth place in Quebec.
In the fourth round, the club drafted Université de Montréal Carabins defensive back Tyson-Otis Copeland. In 2021, he registered 13 tackles and one interception, on top of forcing a fumble and knocking down two passes in only four games.
The Alouettes made another selection on the other side of Mount-Royal in the fifth round (42nd overall) by selecting running back Ryth-Jean Giraud. He amassed 935 yards on 146 carries in 22-career games with the Carabins.
The team then selected a second offensive lineman from the Pandas in the sixth round (51st overall), drafting 6’7″ giant Peter Kozushka.
Maciocia selected a second Rouge et Or player in the following round in the person of linebacker Yanis Chihat, who recorded 44 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 20 collegiate career games.
The Alouettes completed the 2022 draft by picking Western University Mustang linebacker Zach Lindley, who helped his team win the Vanier Cup last fall. He completed the year with 58 tackles, one sack and two interceptions in ten games.
Here is a recap of the Alouettes’ selections:
1 (1) Tyrell Richards, LB, Syracuse
1 (9) Tyson Philpot, WR, Calgary
2 (18) Rodeem Brown, OL, Alberta
3 (24) Vincent Forbes-Mombleau, WR, Laval
4 (33) Tysen-Otis Copeland, DB, Montréal
5 (42) Ryth-Jean Giraud, RB, Montréal
6 (51) Peter Kozushka, OL, Alberta
7 (60) Yanis Chihat, LB, Laval
8 (69) Zach Lindley, LB, Western
