Ajax athlete drafted by CFL’s Toronto Argonauts

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Published May 3, 2022 at 11:01 pm

As a pro football player, Ajax’s Deionte Knight will be making his way in the GTA.

The 23-year-old Knight was selected in the second round, No. 10 overall, by the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League draft. The relatively high selection was further validation for the Durham Region athlete, who battled injuries through two football seasons with the Western Mustangs in London, Ont., before COVID-19 led to the cancellation of all university sport in Canada for a year.

Last fall, Knight had the fitness and form to show his pro potential, and merely became the outstanding lineman in Canadian university football. The defensive end also helped Western win the Vanier Cup for the second time in four seasons (stretching over five years).

The six-foot-three, 243-pound Knight tallied 7½ sacks last season at Western, despite being the focal point of opponents’ blocking scheme. He was instrumental in the Mustangs allowing the second-fewest yards in the nation. The defensive dominance also included the first shutout in the Yates Cup conference final in 50 years.

Knight was the second defensive lineman chosen on Tuesday. The British Columbia Lions drafted Nathan Cherry, a D-lineman from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, with the No. 3 overall choice.

Two other Ontario University Athletics competitors were selected before Knight. The Ottawa Redblacks used the No. 2 choice to draft offensive lineman Zach Pehelos. At No. 8, the Edmonton Elks chose a quarterback whom Knight got to know very well in OUA in recent football falls, selecting Hec Crighton Trophy-winning QB Tre Ford from the Waterloo Warriors.

Another Ajacian, running back Rasheed Tucker, was chosen in the sixth round (No. 52) overall by the Calgary Stampeders. Tucker was a first-team all-Canadian selection at Queen’s last season.

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