North of the border, former Bruins make CFL rosters

An alternative route to the NFL, the Canadian Football League provides professional-level football to our neighbors to the north.

In the CFL, the rules and regulations differ slightly from those in the NFL. Some major changes are three downs instead of four, 12 players on the field per side instead of 11 and unlimited motion behind the line of scrimmage, among others. That doesn't mean American football doesn't translate to the Canadian version of the game, seen in the fact that UCLA football has several alumni set to appear in the league this season.

Some of the Bruins listed are exploring the CFL for the first time, while others are seasoned veterans ready to compete for a chance to hoist The Grey Cup in the league’s 2021 return.

BC Lions

Stefan Flintoft, K/P (1st year in CFL)

After signing with the Lions in January 2020, Flintoft made the practice squad ahead of their early season encounters. An All-Pac-12 honorable mention his final season in the Bruins’ blue and gold in 2018, Flintoft was the starting punter at UCLA for two-and-a-half seasons. The Lions only have one other kicker and punter each, so should injuries occur, Flintoft could join the active roster and start.

Montreal Alouettes

Adarius Pickett, DB (1st year in CFL)

The Bruins’ former starting safety was a volunteer analyst and defensive graduate assistant coach earlier in 2021, but signed with the Alouettes in June for an additional playing opportunity. Pickett attempted to make multiple NFL squads through practice squads and training camps – including the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers and Chicago Bears – but now has looked to Canada for his next job. The Alouettes’ depth chart is not yet available, but Pickett has an opportunity to play if he can rack up the tackles like he did for UCLA. In his final season with the Bruins, Pickett was first on the team with 123 tackles and was a 2018 Second-Team All-Pac-12 selection.

Matt Mengel, K/P (1st year in CFL)

Mengel will start the season on the practice squad. The rookie Bruin last played in The Spring League, an experimental football league that provided post-collegiate athletes with an opportunity in professional football. Playing for the Conquerors, he kicked a 55-yard field goal to help win the championship game. Mengel handled the punting duties in 2014 for the Bruins.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Shaq Evans, WR (2nd year in CFL)

Evans, a former fourth round NFL Draft pick by the New York Jets, is a seasoned CFL player after his career 2019 season. He was named a CFL All-Star after starting all 18 games for the Roughriders and posting a team-high 1,334 yards and five touchdowns. On the Roughriders’ depth chart, he is listed as WR1 as he’ll be their go-to threat through the air. While at UCLA, Evans played as a top target to quarterback Brett Hundley. He is 13th on UCLA’s all-time list for receiving yards with 1,895.

Toronto Argonauts

Cameron Judge, LB (3rd year in CFL)

Judge is unlike any other of the former Bruins in the CFL because of one thing – he is the only one who was actually drafted directly into the CFL. Judge was drafted No. 2 overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2017 CFL Draft. He then signed with the Argonauts in February of 2021. With Saskatchewan, Judge was named the West Division’s Most Outstanding Canadian, an honor given out to the best Canadian-born player in that half of the league. At UCLA, he was a co-captain for the 2015 season and recorded an interception versus Colorado in 2016.

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