SB Nation Denver - 2012 CFL Canadian Draft Takes Place On Thursdayhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48907/denver-fave.png2012-05-03T15:35:12-06:00http://denver.sbnation.com/rss/stream/27614492012-05-03T15:35:12-06:002012-05-03T15:35:12-06:00CFL Draft 2012: Boise State's Michael Atkinson Goes In 3rd Round To Hamilton Tiger-Cats
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/79sCCsx-DVvnJb_fKQX0mnGga3E=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828115/large_denver.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The 2012 CFL Draft is underway on Thursday afternoon and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/boise-st-broncos">Boise St. Broncos</a> saw defensive tackle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35570/michael-atkinson">Michael Atkinson</a> go off the board in the third round (No. 20 overall) to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.</p>
<p>Atkinson hails from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and is entering his redshirt senior year with the Broncos. At 6 feet and 312 pounds, Atkinson only began to receive playing time last fall, compiling 31 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss. He did not have any sacks, but he did have one in 2010.</p>
<p>Teammate <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113027/tyrone-crawford">Tyrone Crawford</a> entered the CFL Draft as the top-rated prospect, but he went to the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He has yet to be selected, but some team is likely to select him in a later round.</p>
<p><i>For more on the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Broncos</a>, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.obnug.com/">Boise State blog One Bronco Nation Under God</a>. Head over to <a target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/nfl">SB Nation NFL</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mockingthedraft.com/">Mocking the Draft</a> for more on the 2012 NFL Draft.</i></p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/boise-st-broncos/2012/5/3/2997415/cfl-canadian-draft-2012-michael-atkinson-boise-stateRuss Oates2012-05-03T11:09:10-06:002012-05-03T11:09:10-06:002012 CFL Canadian Draft: Prospect Rankings, Draft Order, TV Schedule And More
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kBtbPFCtTMQXJ2KD_vzgcBM2mtU=/0x0:1000x667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/4424760/129281911.jpg" />
<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The 2012 CFL Canadian Draft takes place on Thursday, May 3 at 1 p.m. MT, and Boise State Broncos defensive end Tyrone Crawford is the top-rated prospect in the entire draft class.</p> <p>On Thursday, May 3 at 1:00 p.m. MT, the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft will take place live on TSN and TSN.ca. The six-round event features eligible Canadian players from the CIS and NCAA, and while the first two rounds will be televised exclusively on TSN, rounds 3-6 will be streamed live on TSN.ca. The Saskatchewan Roughriders hold the No. 1 overall pick and are expected to take 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive lineman Ben Heenan, but they could trade the pick to pursue other more serious team needs in a draft-day surprise that would shock many fans and analysts alike.</p>
<p>Part of what makes the CFL Draft so intriguing is that the NFL Draft process alters draft boards heading into the event. As noted by Dan Ralph of the Canadian Press, "<a href="http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/huskies-offensive-lineman-ben-heenan-projected-cfl-drafts-230342338--spt.html" target="_blank">four of the top six players on the final scouting bureau rankings list have either been drafted by NFL teams or offered mini-camp tryouts</a>." Included in that group of NFL-bound prospects is Boise State defensive end <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113027/tyrone-crawford">Tyrone Crawford</a> from Windsor, Ontario, who was selected in the third-round of the 2012 NFL Draft (No. 81 overall) by the Dallas Cowboys.Although <a href="http://www.cfl.ca/cfl-scouting-bureau-april-2012" target="_blank">Crawford is the top-rated player in the 2012 CFL Draft class</a>, he will likely take a tumble into the later rounds on draft boards as CFL teams expect him to stick in the NFL. For other training camp invitees and finals picks from the NFL Draft, general managers for CFL squads have to weight the costs and benefits of claiming the rights to various prospects with high draft picks in the event they can't cut it in the NFL.</p>
<p>That extra layer of strategic planning is what makes the CFL Canadian Draft a fascinating event, so be sure check back with SB Nation Denver to find out where Crawford and other top talents wound up.</p>
<p>Link to <a href="http://www.cfl.ca/canadian_draft/list?year=2012&team=" target="_blank">2012 CFL Canadian Draft Order</a></p>
<p>Link to <a href="http://www.cfl.ca/cfl-scouting-bureau-april-2012" target="_blank">2012 CFL Prospect Rankings</a></p>
<p><i>For more on the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Broncos</a>, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.obnug.com/">Boise State blog One Bronco Nation Under God</a>. Head over to <a target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/nfl">SB Nation NFL</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mockingthedraft.com/">Mocking the Draft</a> for more on the 2012 NFL Draft.</i></p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/boise-st-broncos/2012/5/3/2996625/cfl-draft-2012-canada--prospect-rankings-draft-order-tv-scheduleSteve von Horn