Photo courtesy: UND Athletics
The B.C. Lions have signed Canadian receiver Nate DeMontagnac, their first-round pick from the 2026 CFL Draft.
The six-foot-two, 186-pound target established himself as the top consensus player at his position at the CFL Combine in Edmonton. According to CFL draft analyst John Hodge, he runs smooth routes, generates separation by quickly getting in and out of his breaks, wins contested balls, and blocks well.
The native of Mississauga, Ont. made 64 receptions for 775 yards and four touchdowns over 40 games at the University of North Dakota. He peaked this past season when he made 38 catches for 462 yards and two scores.
The Lions have also signed the rest of their 2026 CFL Draft class, including defensive back Jett Elad, defensive back Pierre Kemeni, receiver Nick Cenacle, offensive lineman Ethan Graham, linebacker Chase Henning, and defensive lineman Ebenezer Dibula.
Elad played 63 collegiate games over seven seasons at Ohio, Garden City Community College, UNLV, and Rutgers, recording 298 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 26 pass knockdowns, five interceptions, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one sack. The 25-year-old didn鈥檛 test at his pro day due to a nagging injury and it鈥檚 believed he will start the 2026 season on the injured list, though it鈥檚 unclear how long he鈥檒l be out.
Kemeni, B.C.鈥檚 fourth-round pick, tested well at the CFL Combine and projects as a special teams player. The native of Milton, Ont. played six collegiate seasons over stints at Ohio, Texas State, Garden City Community College, and New Mexico but never earned a full-time starting role on defence.
Cenacle caught 122 passes for 1,295 yards and nine touchdowns over 44 collegiate games at the University of Hawaii, including 63 receptions for 721 yards and six scores in 2024. The Montreal native was once the No. 4-ranked prospect in this year鈥檚 draft class but his stock fell after an injury-plagued senior season and a disappointing 4.79-second forty-yard dash at the CFL Combine. He was a fifth-round pick.
Graham, the team鈥檚 sixth-round pick, was a two-year starter at left tackle at the University of Regina and was named a Canada West all-star in 2025. The six-foot-five, 316-pound blocker will likely move to guard at the CFL level.
Henning was a second-team U Sports All-Canadian as a special teams player in 2024 at UBC. The native of Salmon Arm, B.C. was his hometown team鈥檚 seventh-round pick.
Dibula, B.C.鈥檚 eighth-round pick, tested relatively well at the CFL Combine. The six-foot-one, 278-pound defender finished his collegiate career at Kennesaw State after previously playing at Bethune-Cookman University.
The B.C. Lions recently selected North Dakota receiver Nate DeMontagnac with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, adding to a group of Canadians that already included Justin McInnis and Jevon Cottoy. The team鈥檚 other major offseason additions include defensive lineman Casey Sayles and linebacker Darnell Sankey.
All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. B.C. will play its first preseason game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, May 23 and its first regular-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, June 13.
In 2025, B.C. finished second in the West Division standings with an 11-7 record. They beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final but lost the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Franchise quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions to be named the CFL鈥檚 Most Outstanding Player.
