CFL.ca Staff
HAMILTON, Ont. — It took a little longer than expected, but Frédéric Plesius is a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The Ticats selected Plesius with the 10th overall pick in the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft.
What may have impressed the Ticats brass with Plesius was his peformance during the 2011 Vanier Cup.
The no.6 ranked prospect in this year’s Canadian Draft registered five tackles and took back an interception 37 yards for a touchdown in the Rouge et Or’s 41-38 heartbreaking loss to McMaster.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Laval native carried over his momentum from the big game into March’s CFL Evaluation Camp Presented by Reebok. Plesius finished first among all linebackers with a 4.63 40-yard dash time and impressed scouts by pumping out 27 reps on the bench press.
Heading into today’s draft, Plesius carries with him a strong list of accolades. In 2011, he was named the RSEQ Defensive Player of the Year and was also named a first-team CIS All-Star.
Two picks earlier, the Tiger-Cats selected defensive back Courtney Stephen out of Northern Illinois.
With their third pick in the second round, the Tabbies then selected University of Calgary offensive lineman Carson Rockhill. Hamilton capped off the rest of their draft by selecting three more CIS players.
Laval’s Arnaud Gascon-Nadaud was taken 17th overall, while highly touted receiver Simon Charbonneau-Campeau was taken 25th overall, followed by Simon Fraser slotback Darron Palmer.
Hamilton also selected Boise State OL Michael Atkinson.
