A pair of STFX X-Men were selected in the 2022 Canadian Football League (CFL) entry draft Thursday evening. Offensive lineman Gregor MacKellar was chosen sixth overall in the first round by the Toronto Argonauts, while tight end Connor Ross was chosen 58th overall in the seventh round by the Ottawa Redblacks.
X-Men head coach Gary Waterman noted, "X-Men football is extremely proud of both Gregor and Connor with their CFL draft selections. They have worked very hard and deserve these opportunities and we wish them the best of luck."
MacKellar is a fourth year business student from Timberlea, N.S. who started in all AUS games for the AUS champion X-Men this season. The 6'5", 305 pound lineman was named an AUS all-star this season and was recognized as a national U SPORTS second team all-Canadian. Ross, a 6'1", 250 pound fullback from Coldbrook, N.S., was a key starter for all six games for the X-Men. The fourth year Human Kinetics student had 11 receptions for 69 yards this past season.
The complete release from U SPORTS follows
Ottawa's Pelehos chosen second overall, 60 U SPORTS players selected in 2022 CFL Draft
Zack Pelehos, an offensive lineman from the Ottawa Gee-Gees, was the first U SPORTS player selected second overall in the 2022 CFL Draft by the Ottawa Redblacks on Tuesday evening.
Pelehos was one of six U SPORTS players who went in the opening round on Tuesday. He was followed by Saskatchewan Huskies defensive lineman Nathan Cherry at No. 3 by the BC Lions. Calgary Dinos receiver Jalen Philpot was selected fifth overall by the Calgary Stampeders before Gregor MacKellar, an offensive lineman from the StFX X-Men was drafted sixth by the Toronto Argonauts. Waterloo Warriors quarterback and reigning Hec Crighton Award winner, Tre Ford went eighth overall to the Edmonton Elks, while the Montreal Alouettes concluded the first round by selecting Calgary Dinos receiver Tyson Philpot ninth overall.
Pelehos was ranked No. 15 in the final Scouting Bureau rankings published Apr. 19, while Ford was the highest-ranked player in U SPORTS at No. 4 overall in the final rankings.
Overall, 60 U SPORTS standouts were selected out of 74 total picks (81 percent) over eight rounds. OUA led the way with 28 selections, followed by Canada West with 19 – with the Ottawa Gee-Gees having the most players picked with six.
In all, 21 of the 27 U SPORTS programs had at least one player chosen.
Since 2007, 716 total U SPORTS football alumni have been drafted into the CFL, while approximately 200 Canadian university football standouts start the season on opening day rosters of the league's nine teams.
For the full CFL Draft Tracker, click here.
U SPORTS players selected in the 2022 CFL Draft (60)
| ROUND | SELECTIONS |
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 9 |
| 3 | 7 |
| 4 | 9 |
| 5 | 7 |
| 6 | 7 |
| 7 | 6 |
| 8 | 9 |
| CONFERENCE | SELECTIONS |
| OUA | 28 |
| CW | 19 |
| RSEQ | 10 |
| AUS | 3 |
| SCHOOL | SELECTIONS |
| Ottawa | 6 |
| Laval | 5 |
| Queen's | 5 |
| Calgary | 4 |
| Alberta | 4 |
| Western | 4 |
| Guelph | 3 |
| Regina | 3 |
| UBC | 3 |
| McMaster | 3 |
| Saskatchewan | 3 |
| Carleton | 2 |
| StFX | 2 |
| McGill | 2 |
| Montréal | 2 |
| Waterloo | 2 |
| Laurier | 2 |
| Manitoba | 2 |
| Saint Mary's | 1 |
| Concordia | 1 |
| York | 1 |