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Five years with the University of Windsor Lancers has certainly changed life for George Una.
The six-foot-two, 313-pound Una was no high-end recruit when he strolled onto campus as a walk-on prospect from Toronto in 2019. On Tuesday, Una became a Canadian Football League Draft first-round pick.
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The 25-year-old Una went sixth overall to the B.C. Lions making him the second-highest pick ever for the Lancers behind Drew Desjarlais, who went fourth overall in 2019.
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“Being an un-recruited walk-on to a first-round pick is a great feeling and a great story,” said Una, who played left guard for the Lancers. “(Lancers’ offensive line coach) Randy Beardy said he saw potential in me.
“I think I was meant to be here. It was a part of the story and Windsor was a quiet town and I was able to focus on academics, working out and getting better. I feel Windsor played a really big role.”
Una was one of two Lancers taken in the eight-round draft. Tecumseh Vista high school product Jaxon Morkin was taken with the first pick of the fourth round going to the Edmonton Elks with the 30th pick overall.
“We were at the university with all our buddies,” Morkin said of how he followed the draft with Una. “Just waiting for my name and I finally saw it pop up. It was really cool.”
It marks the first time the Lancers have had multiple players taken in the CFL draft since a record three players were taken in 2016.
“It says a lot about our program and where we’ve come from,” said Lancers’ head coach J.P. Circelli, who was hired as head coach in 2019. “It’ll pave the way for next year even more and it’s just good recognition for us being on the map. It’s now a destination place.”
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Una was not surprised to go the Lions, who had been showing him a considerable amount of attention all year.
“From the season, one of their scouts came out to practices,” Una said. “I had great interviews with them at the combine. It’s just nice they made it official and I’m a B.C. Lion. I’m just really happy and relieved that I’ll been B.C. the next few years and get to work.”
Una and Morkin could both return for another season with the Lancers. It seems unlikely for a first-round pick and Morkin is headed to a team that finished last in the league last season.
“It was awesome to get my name called,” said the 23-year-old Morkin, who played right guard for the Lancers. “It’s something I’ve been waiting for since I was six and now I move to the next step and compete, but you can’t get caught up in the hype.”
jpparker@postmedia.com
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