during the 2016 CFL draft of the Toronto Argonauts. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
The Toronto Argonauts added to their Canadian content with nine picks in the 2016 CFL Draft, including four from the GTA.
“This was a really successful draft,” said Argos GM Jim Barker. “We were able to take the majority of our top-ranked players and we nabbed some Canadian talent that will really help anchor the players we have now.”
The Argos made two selections in the fourth round via a trade with the Saskatchewan Roughriders earlier in the season and used both fourth-round picks to bolster their offence, nabbing a receiver and a running back.
| Round | Overall | Pos | Name | School |
| 1 | 4 | WR | Brian Jones | Acadia |
| 2 | 13 | OL | DJ Sackey | Toronto |
| 3 | 22 | OL | Jamal Campbell | York |
| 4 | 27 | RB | Declan Cross | McMaster |
| 4 | 31 | WR | Llevi Noel | Fratmen CJFL |
| 5 | 40 | LB | Curtis Newton | Guelph |
| 6 | 49 | OL | Chris Kolankowski | York |
| 7 | 58 | DB | Johnathan Ngeleka Muamba |
McMaster |
| 8 | 66 | WR | Ryan Nieuwesteeg | Guelph |
With the fourth overall selection the Argonauts added to their receiving corps on Tuesday evening with the addition of Brian Jones. The 6-4, 230-pound native of Enfield, Nova Scotia played four seasons at Acadia University. The 2014 AUS Most Outstanding Player hauled in 113 passes for 1,292 yards and eight touchdowns with the Axemen. In 2015, he led the Axemen with 45 catches for 630 yards and four touchdowns en route to being named a second-team CIS All-Canadian and honoured as an AUS All-Star for the second time.
In the second round, the Argonauts used their 13th overall pick to bolster their offensive line with D.J. Sackey. The 6-5, 300-pound, native of Mississauga, Ontario played 22 games in four seasons at the University of the Toronto. The graduate of Mississauga’s St. Francis Xavier Secondary School started all eight regular season games for the Varsity Blues in 2015.
The Argonauts continued to add to their offensive line selecting another Toronto and OUA product, offensive lineman Jamal Campbell from York University, in the third round (22nd overall) of the 2016 CFL Draft. The 6-7, 300-pounder played 29 games over four seasons with the Lions. He led all offensive linemen at the 2016 CFL Combine in the 40-yard dash (4.98s), three-cone drill (7.41s), short shuttle (4.78s), vertical (31”) and broad jump (8’11.75”).
With two picks in the fourth round, the Argonauts nabbed running back Declan Cross (27th overall) and receiver Llevi Noel (31stoverall).
Cross played four seasons with the McMaster Marauders, posting 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns while hauling in 21 passes for 107 yards and one touchdown. He was a member of the Marauders 2012 and 2013 Yates Cup Championship winning teams.
Llevi spent the 2015 season with the CJFL’s Windsor AKO Fratmen after spending two seasons at the 
University of Toronto. The 6-2, 210-pound native of Toronto, Ontario caught 25 passes for 398 yards and six touchdowns while returning kickoffs for 164 yards and a touchdown and five punts for 110 yards and one touchdown with the Fratmen.
The 2014 first-team OUA All-Star and second-team CIS All-Canadian led the country with an average of 8.2 receptions for 126.3 yards per game in 2014 at U of T, and recorded four 100+-yard games, including a career-high 200 yards receiving vs. Carlton.
The Double Blue used their fifth round pick (40th overall) to take University of Guelph linebacker Curtis Newton. In four seasons with the Gryphons, he notched 139 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, seven quarterback sacks, four interceptions, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and six pass breakups. The 2015 Yates Cup Champion was a two-time OUA All-Star and named a 2014 second team CIS All-Canadian.
In the sixth round, Toronto used their 49th overall pick on yet another GTA resident, offensive lineman Chris Kolankwoski from York University. The 6-2, 292-pound native of Etobicoke, Ontario played four seasons with the Lions.
Toronto’s seventh round pick (58th overall) Johnathan Ngeleka Muamba had 16 tackles, three tackles for a loss for 25 yards and two sacks at McMaster in 2014. He missed the 2015 season due to injury.
The Argonauts concluded their 2016 CFL Draft by selecting receiver Ryan Nieuwesteeg, another Guelph Gryphon, in the eighth round (66th overall). The Niagara native caught 10 passes for 168 yards and returned 70 kicks for 1,102 return yards, including a 79-yard return touchdown with the Gryphons last season. The second-team OUA All-Star added rushed eight times for 43 yards.