EDMONTON – Four Golden Bears heard their names called on Tuesday night, as Josiah Schakel, Rodeem Brown, Peter Kozushka, and Jayden Dalke were selected in the 2022 CFL Draft.
 
Schakel was the first Bear off the board when he was selected 14^th overall by the Calgary Stampeders in the second round. Brown was also taken in the second round, when the Montreal Alouettes selected the Bears right guard 18^th overall.
 
Kozushka (51^st overall - Montreal Alouettes) and Dalke (54^th overall - Saskatchewan Roughriders) were both taken in the 6^th round.
 
It marks the biggest draft class for the Golden Bears since 1996, when Jayson Hamilton, Adam Cassidy, Murray Cunningham, and Darcy Park were all selected.
 
Schakel completed one of the best seasons by any defensive player in Golden Bears history in 2021, as he was named both the Canada West and U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year. The fourth-year linebacker led Canada West with 51.5 tackles, finished second with four sacks, and led the nation with 8.6 tackles per game.
 
Brown and Kozushka anchored an excellent Golden Bears offensive line that allowed just eight sacks in six conference games in 2021, while leading CW with eight rushing majors. Brown, a Canada West All-Star and first team U SPORTS All-Canadian, started six games at right guard for the Bears this season, while also getting a start at centre.
 
Kozushka started every contest at left tackle for Alberta.
 
Dalke was named both a Canada West All-Star and U SPORTS All-Canadian safety in both 2020 and 2022. The former Edmonton Wildcat finished third on the Bears with 24.5 tackles in six games in the fall, adding one pass breakup, and 1.5 tackles for a loss. He is the first Bears defensive back drafted since Landon White in 2004.
 
Golden Bears/CFL Draft - By the Numbers
 
Largest Alberta Draft Class
* - Since 1985
7 – 1985
4 – 1996, 2022
3 – 1986, 1993
2 – 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 2005, 2009, 2017, 2018
 
Golden Bears by drafted CFL Franchise
* - Since 1963
Edmonton – 73
Saskatchewan – 23
Calgary – 20
Montreal – 13
BC – 12
Winnipeg – 8
Ottawa – 7
Hamilton – 6
Toronto – 1