Players from Wilfrid Laurier and the University of Guelph picked in the CFL draft

The Golden Hawks shone brightly during the CFL draft. CTV’s Colton Wiens tells us who got the call.

Football players from Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Guelph heard their names called out Tuesday in the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft.

Five of them play for the Golden Hawks.

Jesulayomi Ojutalayo was selected in the third round, and 26th overall, by the Calgary Stampeders. The receiver and economics major hails from Shelburne, Ont.

“I’m really excited. Ecstatic, that I get an opportunity to go play professional football and just going to give glory to God at the end of the day,” Ojutalayo said.

The 6’ 2”, 209 lbs. wide receiver was taken in the thirrd round, 26th overall by the Stamps.

“I was here at the Hawk Lounge. I was here with my family friends and just, they were all ecstatic for me,” Ojutalayo said.

Ojutalayo was a 2025 Ontario University Athletics first team all-star. He will head to Calgary soon to try and earn a spot on the field.

“I’ve heard good news. Jason MacGougan is over there right now and he’s a former teammate of mine, another special teams guy that I spent a lot of time with. So, he said, ‘I’m going to enjoy myself.’ Coach Campbell was a former coach at Laurier is also over there, working there right now. So, it’s good to have familiar faces over there,” Ojutalayo said.

His teammate, Spencer Walsh, was chosen 32nd overall in the fourth round. The offensive lineman from Brantford, Ont. is headed to the Edmonton Elks. Walsh tore his ACL this season and was surprised to go so early, but believes he’ll be in Edmonton by the football season and won’t be playing for Laurier again.

“It was definitely an unbelievable feeling. I didn’t think I was going to get taken in this year’s draft due to my situation, but to be taken that high, it just was a surreal feeling. Especially seeing all the other guys go on the team at Laurier. It was awesome,” Walsh said.

Three other Golden Hawks were picked up in the eighth and final round.

The Ottawa Redblacks selected linebacker Josh Connors, while Sebastian Parsaidis will play for his hometown team, the Toronto Argonauts.

The last name announced in the draft was Ryan Speight from Brantford, Ont. The fullback found a home with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Speight also plays tight end and longsnapper and tore his ACL this past season and believes he’ll be back with Laurier in the fall. He is set on getting healthy and working his way onto the Riders roster.

“Pretty surreal. Especially with getting hurt this past season. I think getting picked last is kind of - it fits the story. So, I’m happy, I can’t complain,” Speight said.

“Me and Spei, we go way back. I used to play with him back in like Grade 10, back with the [Brantford] Bisons. So, seeing his name called, I was just waiting for it to happen. And just having both guys from Brantford be able to get to the CFL was just awesome,” Walsh said.

Laurier said it was the school’s largest draft class in 39 years.

“I’d say proud Is an understatement,” Todd Galloway, Golden Hawks Football head coach, said. “It’s part of our goal every year. We want to see team success, but we also want to see our players go on and achieve personal success, which is the CFL. And so, to have such a big number at five. I’m not surprised, they are all deserving. But it’s a great night for Laurier football.”

University of Windsor was the only school with more players drafted than Laurier. Galloway thinks several other Golden Hawks could have gone pro.

“There’s probably a few more that could have gotten drafted as well. We had nine guys invited to the combines. And so, five is a big number. Most in, I think, since 1987 or something like that. But it’s a great group and there’s lots of talent in that locker room, and I hope we keep this up for years to come,” Galloway said.

Two Guelph Gryphons are also headed to the CFL.

Isaiah Smith was picked in round two, and 11th overall, by the Toronto Argonauts. The running back will start his rookie season with a bit of a home field advantage, as the Argos will once again hold spring training at Alumni Stadium. This year, however, the team will also start the regular season in Guelph because BMO Field is being used for the FIFA World Cup from June 11 to July 19.

Mitchel Schechinger, an offensive lineman for the Gryphons, was drafted in round six by the Calgary Stampeders.