Wednesday, May 10, 2017
by SImon Fraser Athletic Communications

BURNABY, BC – Running back Ante Milanovic-Litre was selected 28th overall and four student-athletes from Simon Fraser were drafted in the 2017 Canadian Football League Draft, held on May 7.
 
Calgary Stampeders chose Milanovic-Litre in the fourth round and then took Clan offensive lineman Felix Gacusana, Jr., in the fifth round, 43rd overall. Outside linebacker Justin Herdman was selected in the seventh round, 54th overall, by Toronto, and his brother, middle linebacker Jordan Herdman, went to the BC Lions in the seventh round, 60^th overall.

Jordan Herdman attended a three-day rookie mini-camp with the Kansas City Chiefs this past week in an attempt to secure an NFL contract.
 
Simon Fraser, the only school in Canada that competes in the NCAA, has had 97 players drafted into the CFL since 1985, second behind only the University of Calgary with 98 during that time. The University of Calgary saw nine players taken in Sunday's CFL Draft, the most of any school. Carleton had seven players drafted, followed by Montreal with six players taken. Simon Fraser and Sherbrooke were next with four drafted players each.
 
Milanovic-Litre was the second running back chosen in the draft behind fullback Anthony Gosselin of Sherbrooke, who went in the second round, 18th overall.
 
A 5-foot-11, 233-pound running back from Vancouver, Milanovic-Litre had 89 carries for 105 yards and made 20 receptions for 142 yards during an injury-plagued senior season. The Notre Dame high school product was Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Conference Second Team in 2015 after moving from fullback to tailback midway through the season and rushing for more than 100 yards twice. Milanovic-Litre finished third in the conference in receiving in 2015 with 38 receptions for 272 yards.
 
A 6-foot-1, 318-pound offensive lineman, Gacusana, Jr. played four seasons with the Clan and he was named to the GNAC All-Conference Second Team in 2016. He attended St. Thomas More high school in Burnaby, BC.

Justin Herdman was a unanimous selection to the GNAC All-Conference Second Team in 2016 after finishing second on the team with 73 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, and one interception. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, finished his collegiate career with 220 tackles and was a three-time GNAC Football All-Academic Team selection.

Jordan Herdman was the two-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the first SFU player to participate in the Reese's Senior Bowl. He was an AFCA Division II All-America Second Team and nominated for the Cliff Harris Award as the best defensive player in NCAA Division II Football.
 
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker re-wrote the Great Northwest Athletic Conference record book during his career, claiming the all-time marks in tackles (428) and assisted tackles (223). Herdman also holds the GNAC single game records with 26 tackles and 17 solo stops.