Riders select UBC D-lineman Lake Korte-Moore third overall in CFL draft

Lake Korte-Moore already had the proper headgear for his new home — a Saskatchewan Roughriders hat.

“It wasn’t too much indication but the Riders and a few other teams were giving out hats to the guys they interviewed,” the third overall pick in the 2023 CFL draft said Tuesday. “I had the hat ready and I was really excited to put it on.”

The Green and White selected the UBC Thunderbirds defensive lineman with their first selection.

“It’s an honour. It has been a dream of mine since I was kid to get drafted and I can’t believe that it has happened and I can’t wait to get to work and get to Saskatchewan with the great fan base they have there,” Korte-Moore said. “I told the coaches that I’m undefeated at Mosaic (Stadium in Canada West play) and I want to keep it that way this year.”

He said he was expecting a phone call beforehand but saw his name come across the screen of the television at his aunt’s home in West Vancouver.

“Since then, I talked to all the defensive coaches and the head coach and got comfortable and celebrated with all my friends and family,” Korte-Moore said.

Korte-Moore had 10 sacks in 34 career Canada West games for the Thunderbirds.

“(The fans) can expect a high motor, a hard worker and a disciplined player. I don’t take dumb penalties and can possibly lead and be that team player the team needs to take it to the next level,” Korte-Moore said.

Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day said they were happy to draft Korte-Moore, noting the first two picks in the draft didn’t change their decision.

“We’ve been following him for a while and we got to see him in person — a little bit of his game against the (University of) Regina Rams where we watched in person on the field — and he had one of his better games here,” O’Day said. “We see a lot of value to him in what he can bring to us.”

The 6-foot-5, 262-pound Korte-Moore will join defensive linemen Charbel Dabire and Nick Dheilly as the Canadians in the group.

Diving into the first round! 🌊

Lake Korte-Moore, UBC DL is our first pick at number three overall#CFLDraft pic.twitter.com/iSGJMtPMpD

— Saskatchewan Roughriders (@sskroughriders) May 3, 2023

In the second round, the Riders selected Regina-born Rams defensive back Jaxon Ford, the 22-year-old grandson of Riders legend Al Ford.

Al played 12 seasons for Saskatchewan from 1965 to ’76 and was the team’s general manager from 1989 to ’99.

Selecting Jaxon with the 11th pick overall was special for O’Day.

“His grandpa actually brought me to Saskatchewan. It didn’t have any influence on the pick, I promise you that, but it was an added personal thing for myself,” O’Day said. “We didn’t pick him because he was Al’s grandson, we picked him because he’s a heck of a football player.”

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Ford was a 2022 Canada West all-star. He had five interceptions in four seasons as a member of the Rams.

“It’s crazy. This is an unreal feeling for my family and me especially. I’m just so happy, I can’t stop smiling,” Ford said. “When I got the call, we all just got up and started yelling and screaming.”

Ford grew up going to Riders games with his grandpa, and now he’ll get a chance to run out of the tunnel like he’s seen so many players before him do.

“Since I was nine years old, it has been a true dream of mine. Going to my grandpa’s house and seeing a picture of him catching a touchdown at old Mosaic there, I think that’s where the dream (began),” Ford said.

In the third round (21st overall), Saskatchewan selected linebacker Matt Dean from the York Lions.

Dean, a 6-foot-2, 196-pounder out of Ajax, Ont., had 47.5 tackles, four tackles for losses, two interceptions and one sack for York in the 2022 OUA season.

Saskatchewan’s fourth-round pick (30th overall) was running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon out of Delaware State. The 6-foot-0, 220-pounder from Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., rushed 75 times for 282 yards and five touchdowns and caught four passes for 20 yards for the Hornets last season.

Saskatchewan did not have a fifth-round pick after trading it to the Montreal Alouettes for return specialist Mario Alford last season.

The Riders’ sixth-round selection could be a steal — if he ever comes to play in Canada. Saskatchewan selected offensive lineman Sidy Sow 48th overall.

The 6-foot-5, 326-pounder out of Eastern Michigan was taken by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of last week’s NFL draft. The Bromont, Que., product finished as the school’s all-time leader with 56 games played — 54 of them as a starter.

In the seventh round, Saskatchewan added another O-lineman, taking Evan Floren 57th overall. The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder out of Queen’s was named a OUA all-star last season.

With their second selection in the seventh round (60th overall), the Riders selected Manitoba linebacker Nick Thomas. The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder had 73 defensive tackles in 24 career games for the Bisons.

The final pick of the Riders’ draft is another that could pay off if he doesn’t make it in the NFL.

With the 66th pick, the Riders selected defensive end Tavius Robinson, who was taken in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens. The Guelph product recorded 11.5 sacks in 34 games at Ole Miss.

Saskatchewan school selections

The universities of Saskatchewan and Regina each had players selected in the draft.

Huskies offensive lineman Dayton Black was taken by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the first round (sixth overall). The 6-foot-6, 295-pounder from Brandon, Man., was a Canada West all-star in 2022.

Rams defensive end Anthony Bennett also was a first-rounder, going eighth overall to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound product of Weston, Fla., set a U of R single-season record with eight sacks in the 2022 Canada West regular season and also tied a school record with 10.5 tackles for losses. He was named a 2022 Canada West all-star and a first-team U Sports All-Canadian.

Rams linebacker Josh White was selected by the Ottawa Redblacks in the third round (25th overall). The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder from Regina had 27 solo tackles, 25 assists, 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks for Regina last season.

Another Ram went in the fourth round, when the Bombers selected defensive lineman Tanner Schmekel with the 35th pick. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder from Regina was a Canada West all-star and first-team U Sports All-Canadian in 2022 after recording 6.5 tackles for losses and two sacks.

Huskies receiver Daniel Perry was taken in the fifth round (37th overall) by Ottawa. The 6-foot-0, 175-pounder out of Calgary had 57 catches for 797 yards and three TDs for Saskatchewan in 12 regular-season and playoff games in 2022, when he was named a Canada West all-star.

The B.C. Lions selected Huskies defensive back Charlie Ringland in the fifth round (43rd overall). A 6-foot-1, 195-pounder from Winnipeg, Ringland was named a Canada West all-star last season after recording 24 tackles and three interceptions over 10 games.

Huskies receiver Caleb Morin will join Black in Hamilton after the Tiger-Cats selected the 6-foot-3, 190-pound pass-catcher in the eighth round (67th overall). The Saskatoon product had 48 catches for 736 yards and one TD last season.