Alonzo Addae Selected In CFL Draft; Retains College Eligibility

Add another Mountaineer to a draft list, but don’t wave goodbye to him just yet.

It’s a blessing to even be in the conversation as potential draft pick tonight. This journey I’ve been on has had it’s ups & downs but today I Thank God for it all because I wouldn’t be who am without each & every step #CFLDraft

— Zo 🇨🇦🇬🇭 (@alonzoaddae) May 4, 2021

West Virginia safety Alonzo Addae was drafted by the Ottawa RedBlacks of the Canadian Football League with the fourth pick in the second round (13th overall) on Tuesday night, but that doesn’t mean he is departing for a pro career just yet. The CFL, which has pushed its normal spring start date back to Aug. 5, did not play last year, and thus expects a crush of new players this year in terms of last year’s draftees, free agents and this year’s selections.

With that as background, and also due to the extra year of eligibility all NCAA players received due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Addae, along with other U.S. college players selected, will retain their eligibility and be able to play in NCAA competition this season, while their CFL selecting teams will retain their future pro rights.

While Addae could elect to begin his professional career this year, most signs point to him returning to WVU for the 2021 season, as he announced he would following the Mountaineers’ Liberty Bowl win over Army in December. The CFL has noted that approval of public health officials for the playing of games, and the allowance for a “significant number” of fans in the stands are musts for the start of the season, so while a start date has been set, it is certainly not in stone. With U.S. college seasons full steam ahead at this point, an election to stay where games are assuredly going to be contested would seem to be the more appealing choice.

The CFL Draft consisted of six rounds this year, down from its normal eight, with each of its nine teams selecting once per round. It is limited to “Nationals” – those who are Canadian citizens or meet other eligibility requirements. A pair of Oklahoma State players from Canada – Amen Ogbongbemiga and Chuba Hubbard – were also selected.

An all-Big 12 second-team selection in 2020, Addae had 66 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass deflections after sitting out the 2019 season to satisfy transfer eligibility requirements.

UPDATE: A WVU spokesman has confirmed that Addae will play for the Mountaineers this season.