CFL to hold supplemental draft Monday

The Canadian Football League will hold a supplemental draft on Monday, May 29, per sources, with one prospect available: Husson University defensive back, Rick Orio.

Orio’s mother was born and raised in Montreal, which makes him a Canadian citizen by first generation descent. Originally, the five-foot-10, 186-pounder was focused on the 2018 CFL combine and draft, until Orio was deemed eligible for the supplemental draft.

He was a four-year starter and three-time team captain for the Eagles. Orio played in 37 games making 146 tackles, eight pass break-ups, six interceptions, six tackles for loss, recovered five fumbles, made one sack and forced one fumble.

CFL scout on Orio: “Undersized Division III kid – yoked up. Doesn’t run great, but fearless and he’ll strike you.”

Three-down talent evaluators see his skillset best used at linebacker in the pros.

Each CFL team will have the option to “bid” on a player by forfeiting a draft choice in the 2018 draft. The team who bids the highest pick or possesses the top waiver priority in the event two teams bid the same selection gets the player.

The Riders gave up a 2017 third-round pick to take receiver turned defender, Kevin Francis last year. Two other players were available but went unselected.

Two years ago, the Bombers used a first-round pick to select defensive back/linebacker Garrett Waggoner in the 2016 CFL supplemental draft, he has since retired from football.