Varsity Blues linebacker Wilkerson DeSouza was selected by the Calgary Stampeders in the sixth round of the 2012 CFL draft on Thursday, May 3. 

This is the second consecutive year that a Varsity Blues player has been taken in the Canadian draft. Defensive back Hugo Lopez was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos (14th) in 2011.

“Wilkerson was the back bone of our defensive unit this season,” said Varsity Blues head coach Greg Gary. “He played a major role in our success and was a big part of the turn around that our team has seen in the past couple of years. I can’t think of a player that has worked harder and we’re very happy that he has a chance to play at the next level.”

The OUA first team all-star ranked second in the province with 47 tackles this past season. DeSouza led Toronto to the No. 1 ranked defence in the province after Weeks 3, 4 and 5. The fourth-year humanities major was also named the OUA and CIS defensive player of the week after recording a team-high 11 solo tackles and a key fumble recovery in a 21-12 home win over Guelph.

At 5-foot-11, 227-pounds, DeSouza was named the team’s most valuable player in 2011, after leading the OUA with 62 solo tackles.

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