Former Utah All-American Tom Hackett, OL Bam Olaseni Selected In CFL Draft
May 3, 2022, 1:57 PM | Updated: 3:27 pm
(Photos courtesy of Getty Images)
(Photos courtesy of Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Former Utah Utes All-American punter Tom Hackett and offensive lineman Bam Olaseni has been selected in the first round of the CFL Draft.
The CFL held their Global Draft on Tuesday that saw both Tom Hackett and Bam Olaseni get selected. Hackett was taken by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the first round with the sixth overall pick. He is considered one of the best punters to ever play at the University of Utah, by winning the Ray Guy Award twice, which is awarded to the best punter in college football. Hackett is also on the Pac-12 All-Century team.
Last season, the Blue Bombers finished with a 13-3 record after winning the Grey Cup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The Punt Master: 🇦🇺 Tom Hackett is off to Winnipeg!#GlobalDraft | #CFL pic.twitter.com/6f4LN9fwsi
— CFL (@CFL) May 3, 2022
Olaseni was selected with the seventh overall pick in the first round by the Calgary Stampeders. The team ended the 2021 season with a 7-8 record with a loss in the Western Semifinal.
Olaseni was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft.
🇬🇧 Big OL heading to the @calstampeders:#GlobalDraft | #CFL pic.twitter.com/5xIkKKnAKs
— CFL (@CFL) May 3, 2022
Hackett and Olaseni do not have to play in the CFL but if they do join the league, they will have to play for the team that selected them.
The CFL Global Draft is a selection of non-Canadian and non-American players by the Canadian Football League teams.
Hackett’s Thoughts On Getting Drafted In The CFL
Hackett joined Hans and Scotty G. on The Zone Sports Network on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the news of getting drafted.
He mentioned how he got his name into the CFL Draft and it all started with Hackett getting a phone call from Utah Utes wide receiver and return specialist Britain Covey, asking Hackett to punt for him at Pro Day. Then his punting coaches back in Australia asked him if they could put his name in the Global Draft pool, which Hackett agreed to.
“I heard nothing until about three days ago,” Hackett told The Zone Sports Network. “Then at 10:15 (Tuesday morning), I got a call from Mike O’Shea, the head coach of the Blue Bombers, telling me they drafted him with the sixth overall pick. I said, ‘excuse me?’ Then the coach said ‘yep, welcome to Winnipeg.”
Hackett is excited about the opportunity but has a lot to navigate through with his personal life.
“I still have to win the job,” Hackett said. “I was a first round pick in the CFL Global Draft. So, it’s not like there is a big signing bonus or anything. It’s not as cool as it sounds. I am excited, it’s just there are things that I have to figure out.”
You can listen to the full interview, below.
Tom Hackett is currently an employee of KSL Sports.
