Steve Milton: CFL draft: What a 28-hour stretch for the Ticats

A CFL field is one gigantic rectangle but Anthony Federico sees a different geometric shape.

How I got here is the most amazing circle," said the 24-year-old defensive end from the Queen's Golden Gaels, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' first pick in Tuesday night's CFL Canadian draft, for which the Grey Cup finalists had to wait until late in the second round, at No. 17 overall.

Growing up in Niagara Falls, Hamilton has always been my home team. My entire family is a football family and the Ticats were on our list for multiple games every season. I've been to so many games, even back when they were playing in Ivor Wynne Stadium," Federico said.

And before I went to Queen's I played for the Hamilton Hurricanes for two years while I was going to Niagara College and the Ticats brought me in to be around the team near the end of the 2017 season. This is a dream come true."

It was an intense 28 hours for the Tiger-Cats: one major trade, two different drafts, and nine new players, none of them American imports. They had to cool their heals for nearly two hours after the start of Tuesday night's Canadian draft before they made their first pick - the last team to do so - because Monday night at 8 p.m. they dealt their first rounder (No. 8 overall) and third-rounder to Edmonton for offensive lineman Kyle Saxelid and linebacker Grant McDonald, both Canadians, plus the No. 2 overall pick in Tuesday afternoon's Global draft which landed them two Australian punters in Bailey Flint and Blake Hayes and Latvian defensive lineman Ralfs Rusins.

Now they have six eligible kickers on the roster for training camp which begins with rookies reporting Wednesday. Any lingering doubts on what they felt was their biggest hole to fill?

In choosing Federico, who was a second-team all-Canadian, led the OUA in sacks last year and got a lot of work on special teams, the Ticats continued their recent pattern of adding depth where they want to be flexible with the roster ratio. Although he missed six games with injury Canadian rookie defensive end Mason Bennet was impressive last season, especially when Ted Laurent was hurt or needed a rest, and the hope is that as well as playing on special teams, Federico can be the first backup to whatever role Bennett plays this year, which should be substantial.

We liked his length," head coach and football president Orlondo Steinauer told The Spectator late Tuesday night, after Federico went 17th, exactly where CFL Central Scouting slotted him. We think he's competitive and has a chance to contribute on special teams right away. We kind of had him targeted and he was the next guy on our board."

The Ticats have had enormous success in recent years with their second-round picks. Bailey Feltmate (2020) Nic Kalinic, David Ungerer (both 2019) Jackson Bennett and Brett Wade (both 2018) are still playing here or elsewhere in the pros. Braden Schram and Mercer Timmis (2017 and '16 respectively) made contributions in their Hamilton time. And last year's second rounder, defensive lineman Mo Diallo, wasn't drafted out of Arizona by the NFL last week and hasn't been invited to an NFL mini-camp yet, and Steinauer said there's a chance he might arrive here this year, too.

The more depth and flexibility you have, it really helps when you have unpredictable situations during the season," said Steinauer who agreed that waiting to make their first pick Tuesday night did seem like a long time. But, it was worth it. We're excited at the position we're in."

With the rest of their picks Hamilton took wide receiver Kiondre Smith (Guelph, fourth round); Guelph linebacker Jared Beeksma (fifth), defensive back Khadeem Pierre from Concordia (sixth), Laval offensive lineman Nicolas Guay (seventh) and UBC defensive back and Hamilton native Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown (eighth). Toronto selected McMaster Marauders defensive lineman Enoch Penney-Laryea in the third round and tight end Chase Arseneau in the seventh. Marauder linebacker Nate Edwards of Ancaster went to Edmonton in the eighth and final round.

Federico describes his play as Relentless. High motor. I don't quit until the double whistle goes."

The Ticat who's made the biggest impression on him is another ultra-energy guy: Simoni Lawrence, and now I get to play beside him. I can't believe it."

Federico and his family, parents Laura and Santo and siblings Daniel, Nicholas and Elizabeth watched the draft at Chip n Charlie's Eatery in Niagara Falls. He began playing football in Grade 6 for the Niagara Spears, and played high school at St. Michael's. Federico admits to crying when his name was read out by commissioner Randy Ambrosie.

With Monday's trade and Tuesday's Global and Canadian drafts, the Ticats attacked their most pressing issue in punting, stocked up on an already crowded offensive line, fortified special teams potential and looked a bit to the future, all signs of a team which is still strong after two straight Grey Cup appearances.

Hopefully, this year," said Federico. It'll be three."

Steve Milton is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: smilton@thespec.com