Elks take linebacker Dublanko first overall in the CFL draft
TORONTO — Joel Dublanko didn’t have to wait long to learn where he’ll be starting his CFL career.
The Edmonton Elks selected the rugged linebacker first overall in the CFL draft Tuesday night. The six-foot-three, 240-pound Dublanko was regarded as the most pro-ready draft prospect.
After his college career at Cincinnati, he spent time in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks before playing in 2023 with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars. An American, Dublanko was eligible for the CFL draft due to the fact he has a Canadian parent.
Dublanko was in Edmonton on Tuesday night but said he still felt nervous waiting to hear his name called.
“I had a good feeling about it,” he told reporters Tuesday night on a CFL video conference. “It’s an exciting time for me and my family.”
Edmonton had the first selection after finishing last in the West Division with a 4-14 record. The Elks haven’t made the CFL playoffs since 2019 and have won just 11 regular-season games combined since then.
“My goal is to be a starter,” Dublanko said. “I’ve got to go in there and win my job [but] I hold myself to a really high standard and I believe I can accomplish that.
“I came from a winning program at Cincinnati, my expectation is to win. I know we haven’t done a lot of winning here [Edmonton] in the past couple of years but I think we’ve got a good shot to turn this thing around and that’s what I’m all about.”
The Ottawa Redblacks then took receiver Nick Mardner. The six-foot-six, 206-pound Oakville, Ont., native played in the NCAA with Hawaii, Clemson and Auburn but last season had no catches in just four games with the Tigers.
Over his collegiate career, Mardner had 81 receptions for 1,488 yards (18.4-yard average) and 11 TDs. Mardner was invited to the New York Giants rookie mini-camp.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders, preparing for their first season under rookie head coach Corey Mace, looked to shore up their offensive line at No. 3, taking Toronto native Kyle Hergel of Boston College. But the six-foot-two, 300-pound guard signed a free-agent deal with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.
“I didn’t have any expectations going into the whole thing,” Hergel said. “I’m looking forward to getting down to New Orleans, any opportunity is a great opportunity.
“It [being selected by Riders] is really exciting. It’s a great legacy, a great program to be a part of.”
At No. 4, the Calgary Stampeders took McGill defensive back Benjamin Labrosse. The six-foot, 190-pound was a firstteam All-Canadian in 2022 but was also invited to the Giants’ rookie mini-camp.
The Toronto Argonauts, who dealt Canadian receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. to Edmonton this off-season, landed Laval’s Kevin Mital with the fifth pick.
The B.C. Lions then selected Windsor offensive lineman George Una. Last season, the six-foot-three, 300-pound Toronto native helped his school win its first home playoff game since 1975.