Examining The Ticats Recent History In The Eighth Round

Hamilton holds picks 6, 29, 31, 40, 64, 67 in next week’s draft

The Tiger-Cats hold six selections in the upcoming Canadian Football League Draft, with picks in the first, fourth (2), fifth and eighth (2) rounds and if history is an indicator, the club is capable of getting talent with each of those selections.

There’s perhaps no greater example of this than the 2017 CFL Draft, when the Ticats selected a 5’9, 217-pound running back in the eighth round, 65th overall out of the University of Montreal. This of course was Sean Thomas Erlington who started to contribute almost immediately.

Thomas Erlington appeared in 28 games over his first two seasons in the league, posting 35 carries for 219 yards, with one touchdown and appeared to be on the verge of a breakout season in 2019 when a knee injury limited his season to just four games. Since that setback, Thomas Erlington has played 30 games with 123 carries for 727 yards, while hauling in 45 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns. The Montreal native has been a consistent contributor in the Tiger-Cats backfield throughout his five-year career and he seems poised to assume the same steadying role in 2023 alongside free agent pickup James Butler.

While the Thomas Erlington late-round pick story is fairly well known, the Ticats do have another eighth round draft pick on their roster who has been a consistent contributor since he walked into the league. The Tiger-Cats selected long snapper Gordon Whyte with the 67th overall selection in 2019 and despite heading back to St. Francis Xavier University after spending camp with the Tiger-Cats in 2019, Whyte has played every single game since he broke camp with the squad in 2021.

The 2023 CFL Draft kicks off on Monday, May 2 at 8 p.m. and can be livestreamed here.