EDMONTON ELKS SELECT JOEL DUBLANKO FIRST OVERALL IN 2024 CFL DRAFT
Cincinnati linebacker leads first-round selections
TORONTO (April 30, 2024) – Linebacker Joel Dublanko is the first overall selection in the 2024 Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft. The Edmonton Elks drafted the former University of Cincinnati Bearcat and Aberdeen, Wash., product.
Coverage of the first two rounds, including commentary and in-depth analysis, continues on TSN, tsn.ca, rds.ca and the TSN and RDS apps. Exclusive coverage of Rounds 3-8 can be seen on TSN+.
Complete draft results are available through the CFL Draft Tracker.
2024 CFL DRAFT – FIRST ROUND
(Team | Position | Name | School | Hometown)
- Edmonton | LB | Joel Dublanko | Cincinnati | Aberdeen, Wash.
- Ottawa | WR | Nick Mardner | Auburn | Oakville, Ont.
- Saskatchewan | OL | Kyle Hergel | Boston College | Toronto
- Calgary | DB | Benjamin Labrosse | McGill | Greenfield Park, Que.
- Toronto | WR | Kevin Mital | Laval | Saint-Hubert, Que.
- BC | OL | George Una | Windsor | Toronto
- Hamilton | OL | Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay | Laval | Rimouski, Que.
- Calgary | OL | Christy Nkanu | Washington State | Montreal
- Montreal | LB | Geoffrey Cantin-Arku | Memphis | Lévis, Que.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Position breakdown
- Four – Offensive linemen
- Two – Linebackers
- Two – Wide receivers
- One – Defensive back
- School breakdown
- Five – NCAA
- Four – U SPORTS
QUICK SLANTS
- Joel Dublanko is the ninth player out of the University of Cincinnati to be selected, and the first since Bruno Labelle in 2021. He is the first-ever Bearcat taken in the first round.
- Nick Mardner is the first player out of Auburn to be selected in CFL Draft history.
- Kyle Hergel’s selection marks the fourth year in a row that at least one offensive lineman has been taken in the Top-3.
- Benjamin Labrosse is the first McGill player selected in the first round since John McDonald in 2002.
- With Kevin Mital's selection, the Rouge et Or have had eight players selected since 2022. He is the 80th player ever taken from Laval. It is the first time since 2017 that two wide receivers have been selected in the Top-5.
- George Una is the second-ever first-round selection from Windsor. He is the first offensive lineman drafted by BC in the first round since Peter Godber in 2018.
- With Nathaniel Dumoulin Duguay's selection, Laval has had multiple picks in the opening round for the first time since 2016.
- Christy Nkanu is the 21st-ever player selected from the Washington State Cougars, but the first since Tyson Pencer in 2012.
- Geoffrey Cantin-Arku is the first player drafted out of Memphis since 2001. He is the fourth Tiger ever drafted to the CFL.
Lucas Barrett
Associate Vice-President, Communications & Public Affairs, Canadian Football League