Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Taken By Kansas City Chiefs In NFL Draft

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

McGill University offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was drafted in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday afternoon.

Duvernay-Tardif, who is 6-foot-5, 315-pounds was the 200th selection and the fourth Canadian player taken in the NFL Draft which was a new record for Canadian football.

He was the 10th player in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) – the Canadian version of the NCAA – taken in the NFL Draft. He is the second player from McGill to be drafted. The first was Randy Chevrier who was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2001. The last player to be drafted straight from the CIS was Akiem Hicks who was drafted 89th by the New Orleans Saints in 2012.

Duvernay-Tardif, from St-Hilaire, Quebec, was also ranked as the top prospect going into next weeks Canadian Football League draft by the CFL Scouting Bureau but his draft stock should drop due to the opportunity that he will have in the NFL. He was the top lineman in the CIS as he won the JP Metras trophy.

He was also a two-time All-Canadian and also named as an Academic All-Canadian while he is studying to become a doctor. He was also one of two CIS players invited to the East-West Shrine Game in Florida last January. Nine NFL teams attended his Pro Day in Montreal.

Kansas City has some history with McGill products as long-snapper Jean-Philippe Darche played for the Chiefs in 2007 and 2008 among his nine-year career in the NFL. He originally signed as a free-agent with the Seattle Seahawks.

There are currently six players from the CIS on NFL rosters notably Hicks, Israel Idonije a defensive end with the Chicago Bears and Jon Ryan who is the punter with the Seattle Seahawks.