Six former X-Men on opening day CFL rosters

Both Devon Bailey and Raye Hartmann were drafted in the CFL Draft this past May to the Eskimos. Bailey was selected sixth overall in the first round while Hartmann went 30^th overall in the fourth round.

Wide receiver Akeem Foster joined the Eskimos as a free agent this past February and is entering his fifth season in the CFL after playing in Winnipeg and BC. He has a career 67 receptions for 995 yards with nine touchdowns and won a Grey Cup with the BC Lions in 2011. He was drafted by the Lions in 2010, 25^th overall.

Corbin Sharun, a linebacker, is entering his fifth season in the league, all with Edmonton. He was drafted by the Eskimos in 2010, being selected 43^rd overall. He had a stint with the Edmonton Wildcats of the Canadian Junior Football League prior to joining the Eskimos.

 
Linebacker Jonathan Hood has been with the Toronto Argonauts since March, 2013 thought he starts the 2014 season on the one-game injured list. He enters his fifth season in the league after playing previously in Hamilton. He was originally drafted by Edmonton in 2006, being selected 23^rd overall.

 
Offensive lineman Steve Myddelton was acquitted by the Tiger-Cats as a free agent this past February and will suit up for his fourth season in the CFL after playing for three years in Calgary. He was drafted 30^th overall by the Stampeders in 2009.

 
Waiting in the wings for his chance to join with another CFL club is cornerback Cauchy Muamba, another former X-Men who was originally drafted in 2010 by BC, 34^th overall. He spent three seasons with the Lions before playing in Winnipeg last year. The Bombers released him this past spring and he is now a free agent. Along with fellow X teammate Foster, Muamba was also a member of the 2011 Grey Cup championship team from BC.

A second Muamba also has CFL ties and now NFL ties. Former 2011 first overall CFL draft pick Henoc Muamba (brother to Cauchy) enjoyed a successful three seasons with his draft team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, before being released this past winter to pursue NFL options. Muamba is currently on the active roster of the Indianapolis Colts. IN his time with the Bombers, Muamba accumulated 171 tackles, 53 special teams stops, four sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.

In 2012 he was honored by the CFL as the recipient of the Lew Hayman Trophy, given to the best Canadian player in the East Division, in addition to being named a CFL all-star. The Blue Bombers awarded Muamba with the 2013 Ed Kotowich 'Good Guy' Award, which recognizes a Blue Bomber player for their excellence in combining football ability, team camaraderie and extraordinary effort in the community.

CFL veteran linebacker Mike McCullough, another StFX alumnus, wrapped up an 11 year career in the league after announcing his retirement this past May, all with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. McCullough played in 185 career regular season games, including a streak of playing 110 straight games.

He recorded 187 tackles, 113 special teams tackles, 11 sacks, and one interception, and twice won the Mosaic Community Award for the Riders as the player who contributes most to his community. McCullough is a two time Grey Cup champion with the Riders, winning in 2007 and again in 2013.

A press release from Canadian Interuniversity Sport follows on the complete breakdown of former CIS athletes now playing in the CFL.

OTTAWA (CIS) – A record total of 192 former Canadian Interuniversity Sport players are listed on Canadian Football League rosters going into the 2014 CFL season, which kicks off Thursday night in Winnipeg.

 
The number includes 135 players on active rosters, 23 on injured lists, 25 on practice rosters and nine on suspended lists.

 
The University of Calgary leads all CIS institutions with 18 former Dinos on CFL lineups. Reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval, Saint Mary's and Western follow with 15 grads apiece, while McMaster (11) and Saskatchewan (10) also hit double digits.

 
Twenty-six of the 27 CIS football programs will be represented in the CFL this summer, the lone exception being the Carleton Ravens, who returned to the field last fall after a 15-year hiatus.

 
The list of ex-CIS athletes also includes six players who suited up for Simon Fraser University when the Clan still competed north of the border.

 
The Calgary Stampeders open the new CFL campaign with 25 former CIS players within their ranks, including 17 on their active roster. Edmonton (24), Montreal (23), Saskatchewan (22), Winnipeg (22), Toronto (20), Hamilton (19), Ottawa (15) and British Columbia (13) follow in order.

 
The 2014 CIS season gets under way on September 1^st and culminates on November 29 with the 50^th TELUS Vanier Cup final at Percival-Molson Stadium in Montreal (1 p.m. ET, live on Sportsnet and Radio-Canada).

 
NOTES: Totals as of 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 26... Six athletes played for two CIS teams and are included in both school totals.

 

18: Calgary
15: Laval, Saint Mary's, Western
11: McMaster
10: Saskatchewan
9: Bishop's, Manitoba, Montreal
8: Queen's
7: Concordia
6: Guelph, Regina, StFX, Wilfrid Laurier, Simon Fraser
5: Acadia, Sherbrooke, Windsor
4: Alberta, UBC, Waterloo
3: McGill, Mount Allison, Ottawa, Toronto, York

 
NOTE: Six athletes played for two CIS teams and are included in both school totals.

 

Calgary (25)
Edmonton (24)
Montreal (23)
Saskatchewan (22)
Winnipeg (22)
Toronto (20)
Hamilton (19)
Ottawa (15)
British Columbia (13)

-CIS-