Carter, Myddelton could hear names called early in CFL draft

The AUS could have a pair of high picks in this Saturday’s CFL draft.

Acadia slotback Matt Carter and St. Francis Xavier offensive lineman Steve Myddelton have been listed among the top prospects playing in the CIS all season. Carter may be the first receiver to be selected in the six-round draft.

Carter was the second fastest runner behind Bishop’s Jamall Lee at the CFL evaluation camp in March in Toronto. His overall quickness and talents as a possession receiver make him attractive.

"I’m just going about everything as regular because there’s nothing more I can do," Carter said of the draft. "It’s all out of my hands now. But I’m looking forward to the draft day and that whole experience. I’m preparing that it doesn’t really matter where I end up."

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats pick first and may have their eye on Alberta offensive lineman Simeon Rottier.

Toronto picks second, Hamilton third, B.C. makes three straight selections, and Calgary and Montreal complete the opening round.

The CFL’s scouting bureau lists Rottier, Lee, Laval defensive lineman Etienne Legare, Carter, Calgary offensive lineman Dylan Steenbergen, Windsor offensive lineman Matt Morencie, Queen’s defensive lineman Dee Sterling and Regina defensive back Tamon George as its final elite eight entering the draft. Carter is up four spots from an earlier list issued before the evaluation camp.

Myddelton was in the top eight all year until an unimpressive evaluation camp dropped him to 13th.

Lee shook up the first round earlier in the week when he signed as a free agent with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. However, that may not discourage a CFL team willing to gamble that Lee won’t stick in the U.S.

The six-foot-two, 212-pound Carter, a fourth-year player from Kelowna, B.C., has been one of the top receivers in the conference since his arrival in 2005.

He has been an all-star every year at Acadia and his 134 catches is the record for conference players who only stayed four years. He has graduated and his focus is on making a CFL roster, not returning to the Axemen for a fifth year.

The West Coast product has his eye on what the Lions might do with their trio of picks. He’s also heard some whispers they might have some interest.

"But until it actually pans out you don’t get too into it," he said.

The six-foot-two, 293-pound Myddelton, from Barrie, Ont., earned lineman of the year in the AUS last season and was a first-team all-Canadian.

"I’ve been really busy with school and everything else and (X-Men spring) football camp just ended for us on Sunday, but as time gets closer I’m getting pretty excited," said Myddelton.

He concedes he didn’t have a great evaluation camp. He suffered a bout of Norwalk virus right after, but he refused to use illness as the reason for not showing better in Toronto.

"I wasn’t real happy with my performance overall at the evaluation camp, but I still accomplished a fair number of things I wanted to," he said.

Saint Mary’s receiver Darcy Brown is getting some buzz in the middle rounds. Brown, who didn’t get the ball thrown his way much last year as the Huskies had a run-first offence, has a big body and was one of the strongest players at the camp.

StFX running back James Green of Halifax, who attended the evaluation camp along with Carter, Myddelton and Brown, could sneak in late.

There are a handful of Canadians playing in the NCAA who will also be in demand led by defensive back Eric Fraser (Central Michigan), linebacker Tristan Black (Wayne State), wide receiver Matt Lambros (Liberty), defensive back Tang Bacheyie (Kansas) and running back Eric Lee (Weber State).

Courtesy  MONTY MOSHER Sports Reporter, The Chronicle Herald