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'Riders select four in 2021 Global Draft

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have selected four prospects in the 2021 CFL Global Draft: Christopher Ezeala (RB – Germany) - 1st round, 5th overall Kaare Vedvik (P – Norway) – 2nd round, 14th overall John Henry Nell (K – South Africa) – 3rd round, 23r
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The Saskatchewan Roughriders have selected four prospects in the 2021 CFL Global Draft:

Christopher Ezeala (RB – Germany) - 1st round, 5th overall
Kaare Vedvik (P – Norway) – 2nd round, 14th overall
John Henry Nell (K – South Africa) – 3rd round, 23rd overall
Sebastien Sagne (WR – Finland) – 4th round, 32nd overall

Ezeala (6’0 – 251lbs) spent two seasons (2018-19) on the Baltimore Ravens practice roster as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, playing in nine preseason games. In Germany, the 25-year-old played for the Ingolstadt Dukes in 2017 contributing on offence, defence and special teams. He rushed for 206 yards and one touchdown, made 61 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks and recorded nine punts for 326 yards. He played linebacker for the Allgaeu Comets in 2015 and 2016 recording 144 tackles, 31 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one interception, one pass deflection and one fumble recovery. Last name pronounced: eh-ZAH-lah.

Vedvik (6’3 – 210lbs) was initially signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018, and went on to spend time with a number of NFL teams including the Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. He played one regular season game with the Jets, and an additional nine preseason games between 2018 and 2019, making 19 punts, seven of which landed inside the 20-yard line and a total 760 net yards. He made five of his eight field goals attempts in the 2019 pre-season and 21 kickoffs for an average of 63 yards. Prior to the NFL, Vedvik spent five collegiate seasons at Marshall. As a senior in 2017 he punted 59 times for 2,597 yards and a 44.0-yard average on his way to being named to the Conference USA all-conference first team. Vedvik made national headlines for a 92-yard punt against Old Dominion which is the seventh-longest in FBS history and the longest by an FBS punter in 45 years. Name is pronounced CORR-e Ved-VICK.

Nell (5’11 - 207lbs) began kicking in North America in 2018, after growing up playing rugby in South Africa. He has spent the last two seasons with the Indoor Football League and the National Arena League. In his rookie football season with the Maine Mammoth, he broke a NAL record with 13 made field goals while going 52-of-66 on PATs. He also successfully made 11 deuces and scored 99 points overall for the squad while being named an All-NAL Kicker. In 2019, he was sent up to the Arena Football League’s Baltimore Brigade from the Cedar Rapids River Kings after ranking first in the IFL for field goals made and field goals attempted and holding the league’s second longest field goal at 50 yards.

Sagne (6’2 – 200lbs) had a strong showing at the CFL’s Global Combine this year posting 4.53 speed and a 10-foot-five and 3/8 inch broad jump. Sagne spent four seasons playing football in Germany. With the Frankfurt Universe in 2018 and 2019 he earned 1,071 yards and 17 touchdowns despite missing 11 games with an injury. In 2016 and 2017 he played for Dresden where he made 118 receptions for 2,189 yards and 33 touchdowns. The Finnish native started his football career in his home country with the Helsinki Wolverines in 2013. He played in just six regular season games that year making 18 catches for 337 yards but put himself on the map in the championship game with three catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns. In 2014, he was one of the top receivers the league with 1,063 yards and 10 touchdowns on 73 receptions.