CFL opening-day rosters full of former OUA student-athletes as season kicks off tonight

Sixty-five former Ontario University Athletics (OUA) student-athletes are listed on Canadian Football League (CFL) rosters heading into the 2015 season, which begins on Thursday evening in Montreal, Que. as the Ottawa REDBLACKS are in town to take on the Montréal Alouettes.

CFL opening-day rosters full of former OUA student-athletes as season kicks off tonight
June 25, 2015

Sixty-five former Ontario University Athletics (OUA) student-athletes are listed on Canadian Football League (CFL) rosters heading into the 2015 season, which begins on Thursday evening in Montreal, Que. as the Ottawa REDBLACKS are in town to take on the Montréal Alouettes.

Once again this season, the amount of homegrown OUA content in the CFL continues to rise, as last season there were 57 former OUA players on opening day rosters, up from 45 in 2013.

The number includes 41 players on active rosters, 15 on injured lists, 8 on practice rosters and one player on a suspended list.

For the second year in a row, there are no fewer than four former OUA student-athletes on any roster across the league while the average is just over seven players per team.

The Western Mustangs lead all OUA institutions with 12 former players on CFL lineups.  The defending Yates Cup champions, the McMaster Marauders, follow closely behind with 11 program graduates.  The Queen's Gaels (9), Guelph Gryphons (8), Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (7), Toronto Varsity Blues (6), Windsor Lancers (3), Ottawa Gee-Gees (3), York Lions (3) and Waterloo Warriors (3) follow.

Ten of the 11 OUA football programs will be represented in the CFL this season with the lone exception being the Carleton Ravens, who rejoined OUA to start the 2013 season.

The Toronto Argonauts will continue to rely heavily on OUA talent, as they will feature a league-high 11 former players on their roster when they open the season at Fort McMurray: SMS Equipment Stadium on Oct. 27 against the Edmonton Eskimos.

Last season, the "Boatmen", along with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, featured 10 OUA standouts on their opening day rosters.

The Montreal Alouettes (9), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8), Ottawa REDBLACKS (8), Saskatchewan Roughriders (8), Calgary Stampeders (7), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6), Edmonton Eskimos (4) and BC Lions (4) follow.

The 2015 OUA season kicks off on August 30th and concludes on Nov. 14th with the 108th Yates Cup, presented by Pioneer Energy.  This year's 51st Vanier Cup final will be played at TELUS-Université Laval Stadium in Quebec City on Nov. 28th.

Note: Totals as of 10 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 25