GUELPH, Ont. – Four Gryphon football players were selected in the 2023 Canadian Football League Draft, which took place on Tuesday night (May 2, 2023).
Siriman Harrison Bagayogo, a two-time U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian cornerback with the Gryphons, led the way for the U of G selections on Tuesday night, going in the 2nd round (14th overall) to the B.C. Lions. See below for more information on all four Gryphon selections.
Gryphons Selected in the 2023 CFL Draft
Shutdown defensive back
Siriman Harrison Bagayogo is heading to the B.C. Lions after an outstanding career with the Gryphons which saw him earn back-to-back U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian honours in 2021 and 2022.
The Bois-des-Filion, Quebec native earned the second consecutive All-Canadian nod of his career in 2022 after recording 13.5 tackles and a pair of interceptions, including one for a touchdown, in eight games. This came after an equally impressive 2021 season which saw the sport and event management major record 14.5 tackles and two pass breakups. The B.C. Lions used the 14th overall pick of the draft to select the Gryphons talented defensive back, just days after Bagayogo also received some NFL interest after receiving a rookie mini-camp invite from the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Clark Barnes is Calgary-bound after being selected by in the 3rd round, 24th overall by the Stampeders.
The 6-foot-2, 200 lbs receiver from Brampton, Ontario was forced to miss the majority of the 2022 season due to injury, but when healthy, was one of the most productive and explosive receivers in the country during in his three previous seasons of action. In 2019 Barnes was named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian as a returner after bursting onto the U SPORTS football scene with three kick returns for touchdowns in his first three games as a Gryphon. In 2021, Barnes made his mark as a receiver with 345 and 5 touchdowns in just four games, while also totaling 127 yards and a touchdown in the return game which earned him OUA All-Star status for the second season in a row.
Offensive lineman
Spencer Masterson, a criminal justice and public policy major at U of G, was selected by the Edmonton Elks in the 6th round (50th overall).
The Richmond Hill, Ontario native led the way up front for the Gryphons while contributing to one of the OUA's best rushing attacks in 2022. The 6-foof-6, 295 lbs offensive lineman also earned all-conference recognition following the 2021 season when he was named an OUA Second Team All-Star.
Rounding out the U of G representation on Tuesday night was former Gryphon Tavius Robinson, who was selected in the 8th round by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Just three days ago, the highly-touted Guelph native was selected 124th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 NFL draft. In two seasons with the Gryphons (2018 & 2019) the defensive lineman racked up 10 sacks earning an OUA All-Rookie Team selection as a freshman, followed by an OUA Second Team All-Star nod in his sophomore season. After the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19, the Guelph native made his way south to the Ole Miss Rebels of the southeastern conference (SEC) where he accumulated 90 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles against some of thr best competition the NCAA has to offer.
For a
complete list of all players selected in the 2023 CFL Draft, head to cfl.ca.
