Jesse Gibbon (Hamilton/) is returning home, and the star studded offensive lineman won't even have to change his colour scheme after his hometown Hamilton Tiger-Cats selected the Geography and Environmental Management student second overall in the 2019 CFL Draft on Thursday night.
"I am so incredibly proud of Jesse who has worked so hard to earn this feeling, we're all very happy for him and his family," said head coach
Chris Bertoia.
"Jesse has been a major factor in the rebuilding of our program here at Waterloo and is extremely dedicated to his craft. Being drafted to the CFL is no small feat, let alone going second overall, and I am very thrilled he can continue his football career down Highway 6 in Hamilton. He is an exceptional young man who will continue to put the work in everyday to make his team successful."
Gibbon is the first Warrior to be selected in the opening round since Chris Best, another offensive lineman who went fourth overall to Saskatchewan in 2005.
Gibbon, who finished his fourth year with the Warriors in 2018, capped off his illustrious career with a second-team all-Canadian nod while also being named an OUA first-team all-star. The Hamilton native was invited straight to this year's CFL National Combine where he turned heads and climbed up the draft rankings to earn his eventual first round selection.
"This means the world to me, being a hometown fan of the Ti-Cats and now a member of the squad; it is beyond words," said Gibbon. "I am incredibly excited to continue my football career in Hamilton and it's going to be a fun road ahead for me."
UPDATE: Following Gibbon's second overall selection in the CFL Draft, he was invited by the Pittsburgh Steelers to attend a mini-camp.
See the full story and reaction from himself and coach Bertoia.
