The 1981 CFL Draft composed of seven rounds where 81 Canadian football

Canadian football

Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...

 players were chosen from eligible Canadian universities and Canadian players playing in the NCAA

National Collegiate Athletic Association

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...

. A total of 18 players were selected as territorial exemptions, with every team making at least one selection during this stage of the draft. Through a trade with the Saskatchewan Roughriders

Saskatchewan Roughriders

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...

, the Calgary Stampeders

Calgary Stampeders

The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...

 selected first overall in the draft.

Territorial exemptions

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Saskatchewan Roughriders

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...

  Eugene Larocque  DT Utah

Utah Utes

The Utah Utes are the athletics teams of the University of Utah. They are named after the Ute tribe of Native Americans. The men's basketball team is known as the "Runnin' Utes"; the women's basketball team, formerly known as the "Lady Utes," now prefers to be referred to as the "Utes"; and the...

Toronto Argonauts

Toronto Argonauts

The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...

  Hazen Carinci  DB Simon Fraser

Simon Fraser Clan

Simon Fraser Clan are the athletic teams that represent Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.SFU's teams formerly played in the United States National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for all sports. In 1997, Simon Fraser sought to join the U.S. NCAA as a Division II...

Toronto Argonauts Dan Ferrone

Dan Ferrone

Dan Ferrone is a former professional Canadian football offensive lineman who played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League from 1981 to 1992. He was part of the Grey Cup championship-winning Argonauts in 1983 and 1991...

  G Simon Fraser

Toronto Argonauts Bernie Pickett  TB Wilfrid Laurier

Wilfrid Laurier

Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....

Toronto Argonauts Bob Bronk  TB Queen's

Queen's Golden Gaels

The Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....

Ottawa Rough Riders

Ottawa Rough Riders

The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...

  John Park  TE Bowling Green

Bowling Green Falcons

The Bowling Green Falcons are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Bowling Green State University, located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Falcons participate in NCAA Division I in the Mid-American Conference and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. BGSU is one of only 13 universities in the...

Ottawa Rough Riders Ian Beckstead

Ian Beckstead

Ian Beckstead is a former Canadian Football League offensive lineman who played eleven seasons in the CFL. He was part of the Grey Cup championship-winning Toronto Argonauts in 1983 and 1991. He won the Leo Dandurand Trophy in 1988....

  TE Richmond

University of Richmond

The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...

Montreal Alouettes

Montreal Alouettes

The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...

  Mark Lacelle  TB McGill

McGill Redmen

The McGill Redmen CIS football team is one of the oldest in all of Canada, having begun organized competition in 1898. The team has appeared in three Vanier Cup national championships, in 1969, 1973 and 1987, with the Redmen finally winning the title in the 1987 game...

British Columbia Lions

British Columbia Lions

The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...

  Rob Smith

Rob Smith (Canadian football)

Robert Smith is a former professional Canadian football offensive lineman who played 14 seasons in the Canadian Football League for five different teams...

  G Utah State

Utah State Aggies

The Utah State Aggies are the athletics teams of Utah State University. The school fields men's varsity teams in basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and track and field. Women's varsity teams include basketball, cross country, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field,...

British Columbia Lions Rick Klassen

Rick Klassen

Rick Klassen is a former defensive lineman who played 10 years in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions from 1981–1987, 1989–1990 and Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1988....

  G Simon Fraser

Calgary Stampeders

Calgary Stampeders

The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...

  Scott MacArthur  DE Calgary

Calgary Dinos

The Calgary Dinos football team has won the Vanier Cup national championship four times, the most out of any of the Canada West teams and most recently in 1995. The Dinos also won in 1983, 1985 and 1988. The team most recently appeared in the 2010 Vanier Cup, but lost to the Laval Rouge et Or...

Calgary Stampeders Shawn Beaton  DL Boise State

Boise State Broncos

The Boise State Broncos are the official athletic program of Boise State University. The Broncos compete in a wide variety of sports. Perhaps the most well-known of these sports is the football program. The program attained a 13-0 season in 2006 capped by a memorable overtime win in the 2007 Fiesta...

Calgary Stampeders Randy Besler  G Northeast Missouri

Calgary Stampeders Randy Fournier  DT Cincinnati

Cincinnati Bearcats

The Cincinnati Bearcats are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Cincinnati. Since July 1, 2005, the school's athletic teams have been members of the Big East Conference....

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...

  Perry Kuras  G North Dakota

North Dakota Fighting Sioux

The North Dakota Fighting Sioux are the athletic teams of the University of North Dakota , which is located in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota, in the United States. The logo is a Native American figure. The logo was designed by Bennett Brien, a local artist and UND graduate of Ojibwa...

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...

  Bill Howard  C Western Ontario

Western Ontario Mustangs

The Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...

Edmonton Eskimos

Edmonton Eskimos

The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...

  Sean Kehoe  TB Alberta

Alberta Golden Bears

The Alberta Golden Bears are the men's athletic teams that represent the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The women's teams are known as the Alberta Pandas.-History:...

Edmonton Eskimos Joshua Borger  WR Calgary

1st Round

1. Calgary Stampeders Fank Kosec  LB Waterloo

Waterloo Warriors

The Waterloo Warriors are the athletic teams that represent the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The Warriors have found success over certain spans in football, hockey, rugby, golf and basketball among others, and the Warriors have won national championships in hockey ,...

2. Toronto Argonauts Tom Trifaux  T Calgary

3. Ottawa Rough Riders Maurice Doyle  TB Toronto

4. Montreal Alouettes Chris Walby

Chris Walby

Chris Walby is a retired Canadian Football League player who played the offensive tackle position almost exclusively with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers...

  DT Dickinson State

Dickinson State University

Dickinson State University is a four-year public university in Dickinson, North Dakota, United States, and is a part of the North Dakota University System...

5. British Columbia Lions Nelson Martin

Nelson Martin

Nelson Martin is a former Canadian Football League defensive back who played for seven seasons for the BC Lions. He won the 73rd Grey Cup in 1985 and won the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy as the West Division's most outstanding Canadian. He played College football for the Simon Fraser Clan.-External...

  WR Seneca

Seneca College

Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology is a Canadian public college in the greater Toronto area. Seneca College is currently Canada's largest college with approximately 108,000 students.-History:...

6. Calgary Stampeders Mike Wolfram  TE Alberta

7. Toronto Argonauts Tom Bray  DT Bishop's

Bishop's Gaiters

The Bishop's Gaiters is the name of the men's and women's athletic teams that represent Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Although their logo and mascot suggest the term stems from the word alligator, "Gaiter" actually refers to a boot covering worn by Anglican bishops up until the...

8. Toronto Argonauts Ronald Engleson  DT Simon Fraser

9. Edmonton Eskimos Rob Logan  DE Waterloo

2nd Round

10. Saskatchewan Roughriders Hazen Henderson  DB Simon Fraser

11. Toronto Argonauts Gord Elser  LB Calgary

12. Ottawa Rough Riders Don Burns  WR Ottawa

13. Montreal Alouettes Samuel Marshall  DB Simon Fraser

14. Toronto Argonauts Warner Miles  OL Ottawa

15. Montreal Alouettes Fred Prinzen  LB Queen's

16. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Dave Brown  WR Alberta

17. Calgary Stampeders Terry Lehne  DB Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Huskies

The University of Saskatchewan began in 1907 and has operated teams that compete with others since 1911. The term Huskie Athletics is defined as those student athletes from the University of Saskatchewan that compete in elite interuniversity competition administered by Canadian Interuniversity...

18. Edmonton Eskimos Mike Reid  C Ottawa

3rd Round

19. Saskatchewan Roughriders Don Busto  FL/DB Simon Fraser

20. Toronto Argonauts Don Dominico  WR Western Ontario

21. British Columbia Lions Jamie Armstead  DB Calgary

22. Montreal Alouettes Joe Kuklo  DB Simon Fraser

23. British Columbia Lions Larry Priestnall  TB Acadia

Acadia Axemen

In their history, the Axemen Canadian football teams have appeared in four Vanier Cup national championships, winning two of those in 1979 and in 1981...

24. Calgary Stampeders Kari Suutari  LB Wisconsin

25. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hubert Walsh  TB Acadia

26. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Jeff Arp  G Western Ontario

27. Edmonton Eskimos Scott Essery  TE Windsor

Windsor Lancers

The Windsor Lancers are the varsity athletic teams that represent the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.The Lancers compete in Ontario University Athletics as part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport ....

4th Round

28. Saskatchewan Roughriders David Pearson  DT Western Ontario

29. Ottawa Rough Riders John Lowe  TB Guelph

Guelph Gryphons

The Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west division.-Varsity...

30. Ottawa Rough Riders Eric Boss  DT Toronto

31. Montreal Alouettes Dean Claridge  DE British Columbia

UBC Thunderbirds

The UBC Thunderbirds are the athletic teams that represent the University of British Columbia in the University Endowment Lands just outside the city limits of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are one of the most successful teams in the CIS, though a few of their teams are members of the U.S...

32. British Columbia Lions Ed Jones

Ed Jones (defensive back)

Ed Jones is a former defensive back for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League from 1976-1984. He won five Grey Cups for the Eskimos and was a CFL All-Star from 1979-1981. Ed Jones is now a coach for Edmontons minor football team the chargers...

  DB Simon Fraser

33. Calgary Stampeders Ted Kozik  DE Saint Mary's

Saint Mary's Huskies

The Saint Mary's Huskies are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their primary home turf is Huskies Stadium located in the centre of the University's campus....

34. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Dick Rigelhof  LB North Dakota

35. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Rob Sommerville  DB Waterloo

36. Edmonton Eskimos Ron Lammer  DL Alberta

5th Round

37. Saskatchewan Roughriders Victor Stevenson  TE Calgary

38. Toronto Argonauts Gord Goodwin  TB Calgary

39. Ottawa Rough Riders Larry Ring  DB Bishop's

40. Montreal Alouettes Murray Wenhardt  TE Saskatchewan

41. British Columbia Lions Frank Roberto  TB Simon Fraser

42. Calgary Stampeders Dan Pavlicik  TE Concordia

Concordia Stingers

The Concordia Stingers are the athletic teams that represent Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They compete with other schools in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, and more specifically, in the Quebec Student Sports Federation and the Quebec University Football League...

43. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Martin Pardell  TB Alberta

44. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Rick Maloney  TE Western Ontario

45. Edmonton Eskimos Robin Lawrence  DB Alberta

6th Round

46. Saskatchewan Roughriders John Celestino  DT Windsor

47. Toronto Argonauts Jeff Hale  T Guelph

48. Ottawa Rough Riders Anthony Refosso  T Toronto

49. Montreal Alouettes Dominic Vetro  WR Wilfrid Laurier

50. British Columbia Lions David Thornhill  WR Bishop's

51. Calgary Stampeders Jav Troiano  DB Simon Fraser

52. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hugh Goodman  DL Acadia

53. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Ian Troop  G Wilfrid Laurier

54. Edmonton Eskimos Wyatt Wisharts  DT Concordia

7th Round

55. Saskatchewan Roughriders Wayne Strembel  LB Simon Fraser

56. Toronto Argonauts Kevin Malone  DB Queen's

57. Ottawa Rough Riders Rob Ball  DB Queen's

58. Montreal Alouettes Dave Ridgeway  K Toledo

Toledo Rockets

The Toledo Rockets are the athletic teams that represent the University of Toledo. The Rockets are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play in the Mid-American Conference . The school's colors are midnight blue and gold.Toledo's...

59. British Columbia Lions Ed Hole  T Alberta

60. Calgary Stampeders Wayne Harris  LB Calgary

61. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Peter Martell  TB St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier X-Men

The St. Francis Xavier X-Men and X-Women are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their primary home turf is Oland Stadium located at the University's campus.-History:...

62. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Bill Paul  TB Sheridan

Sheridan College

Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a diploma and degree granting Canadian polytechnic institute with approximately 15,000 full time students and 35,000 continuing education students...

63. Edmonton Eskimos Craig Mallender TB Windsor