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Rick Zazulak

Football Fraser Caldwell, Sport Information Officer

Football: Marauders Mezzalira and Petermann Selected in 2018 CFL Draft

Both players represented McMaster at the CFL Combine in March

Two Marauders made their way to the CFL's national combine in March, and both were rewarded with selections Thursday, as linebacker Eric Mezzalira (Grimsby, ON) and receiver Dan Petermann (Stoney Creek, ON) were both chosen in the 2018 CFL Draft.

The first Marauder off the board, and just the second linebacker selected Thursday, Mezzalira was chosen with the 17th overall pick in the second round by the Calgary Stampeders.

Petermann, whose outstanding performance at the combine saw the Marauder top both the 40-yard dash and vertical jump categories, was selected in the third round and 26th overall by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

"I'm excited for Eric and Dan," said McMaster head coach Greg Knox. "They have worked very hard and have a very bright future in the game."

"They're both kids that we would love to have back in the fall, but I don't expect them back. They will work hard and carve out CFL careers."

A regular starter at middle linebacker for the Marauders over the past two seasons, Mezzalira enjoyed a career-best year in 2017, leading McMaster with 35 solo tackles and 43 total, and raising his per game average to 5.4 tackles.

After participating in the Ontario regional combine, he was invited to the national event alongside his teammate and fellow draftee Petermann.

For his part, the receiver was ushered into the CFL following a record-breaking fourth year in maroon, which saw Petermann set a new McMaster all-time record for career receptions by breaking Ryan Janzen's previous high water mark of 150 in week three and ultimately ending 2017 with 181.

Honoured with the Norm Marshall Award as the OUA's Rookie of the Year in 2014, Petermann was an OUA Second Team All-Star in each of the following three seasons, and led McMaster with 32 receptions and 517 receiving yards in 2017.

He set a McMaster single-season record for receptions in 2015 when he pulled in 61 passes.
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Players Mentioned

Eric Mezzalira

#33 Eric Mezzalira

LB
First Year
4
Dan Petermann

#82 Dan Petermann

SB
First Year
4

Players Mentioned

Eric Mezzalira

#33 Eric Mezzalira

First Year
4
LB
Dan Petermann

#82 Dan Petermann

First Year
4
SB