The CFL held the 2026 CFL Draft on Tuesday night. The Ottawa Redblacks selected seven players.
Giordano Vaccaro is six foot three and weighs 315 pounds. The 22-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was drafted by the Ottawa Redblacks in the first round (1st pick) of the 2026 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Vaccaro spent three seasons at the University of Manitoba (2022-24), playing left tackle and left guard in 27 games for the Bisons. In 2024, he started at left guard in nine games, and was named the JP Metras Award Winner as U SPORTS Lineman of the Year, Canada West Lineman of the Year, U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian, and Unanimous Canada West All-Star selection.
Manitoba averaged 30.7 points per game, 439.3 yards per game, 205.3 passing yards per game, 252.7 rushing yards per game, and 31 touchdowns. The Bisons finished 7-2 that season and appeared in the Canada West Semifinals. Then, he transferred to Purdue in 2025, playing 12 games on special teams, totaling 89 snaps for the Boilermakers. He played 22 snaps in the season finale against Indiana.
Emeric Boutin is six foot two and weighs 230 pounds. The 23-year-old from L’Assomption, Quebec, was drafted by the Ottawa Redblacks in the second round (13th pick) of the 2026 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Boutin spent three seasons at the University of Laval (2023-25). In 2024, he made 15 catches for 291 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. In 2025, he made nine catches for 88 yards, one touchdown, one carry for four yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in eight games. He was named a two-time RSEQ All-Star and two-time U Sports First Team.
Charlie Parks is six foot four and weighs 232 pounds. The 21-year-old from Regina, Saskatchewan, was drafted by the Ottawa Redblacks in the fourth round (31st pick) of the 2026 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Parks spent three seasons at the University of Saskatchewan (2023-25) with 53 tackles (43 solos, 22 assists), 17 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 23 games for the Huskies.
Alassane Diouf is six foot two and weighs 302 pounds. The 24-year-old from Sherbrooke, Quebec, was drafted by the Ottawa Redblacks in the fifth round (39th pick) of the 2026 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Diouf spent four seasons at the University of Montreal (2022-25), playing 32 games for the Carabins. He was named a three-time First Team All-Canadian (2023-25), three-time RSEQ All-Star (2023-25), and RESQ Lineman of the Year in 2025.
Benjamin Dobson is six foot and weighs 207 pounds. The 22-year-old from Cochrane, Alberta, was drafted by the Ottawa Redblacks in the fifth round (41st pick) of the 2026 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Dobson spent four seasons at the University of Calgary (2022-25) with 91 tackles (68 solos, 49 assists), five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one kick return for eight yards in 27 games for the Dinos. In 2025, he made a career-high 30 tackles (22 solos, 16 assists), three tackles for loss, half a sack, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble in six games.
Rene Konga is six foot four and weighs 285 pounds. The 23-year-old from Cameroon was drafted by the Ottawa Redblacks in the sixth round (48th pick) of the 2026 CFL Draft. He signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2026.
Collegiately, Konga spent three seasons at Rutgers (2021-23) with 14 tackles (8 solos, 6 assists), three tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 21 games for the Scarlet Knights. He was named a two-time Academic All-Big Ten (2021-22).
Then, he transferred to Louisville (2024-25) with 49 tackles (25 solos, 24 assists), eight tackles for loss, four sacks, and six pass breakups in 23 games for the Cardinals. In 2025, he was named Second Team All-ACC after finishing the season with 29 tackles (13 solos, 16 assists), five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and six pass breakups in 12 games.
Josh Connors is five foot eleven and weighs 218 pounds. The 24-year-old from Scarborough, Ontario, was drafted by the Ottawa Redblacks in the eighth round (66th pick) of the 2026 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Connors spent four seasons at St. Francis Xavier University (2021-24) with 103 tackles (70 solos, 33 assists), seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one blocked kick in 21 games for the X-Men. Then, he transferred to Wilfrid Laurier in 2025 with 14 tackles (7 solos, 7 assists) in five games for the Golden Hawks.
