Sorensen drafted fifth overall in CFL Draft

COLUMBIA — In the end, South Carolina had a first-round pro football draft pick after all. Just not in this country.

Even though he's got a year of eligibility remaining at USC, the British Columbia Lions made Gamecocks tackle Justin Sorensen the fifth overall pick in Wednesday's Canadian Football League draft.

Granted in a different ball game of sorts, but he's the highest draft pick USC has had since George Rogers went No. 1 overall in the 1981 NFL draft.

Justin Sorenson

It's more or less a draft-and-follow process for the Lions, who'll maintain Sorensen's CFL rights through the year and then see if he winds up being drafted or making an NFL roster in 2009. Either way, it's a great fallback for the 6-7, 327-pound giant who grew up a 90-minute ferry ride from BC Place, the 60,000-seat Vancouver dome in which the Lions play.

"My ultimate goal is to play in the NFL, but if that doesn't work out I'd be more than happy to play in the CFL," said Sorensen, who's made 18 consecutive starts at tackle for the Gamecocks. "I'm excited. This is what I was hoping for."

For those that missed it, the CFL held its draft via a Webcast hosted by TSN, Canada's version of ESPN.

Two offensive linemen, from La.-Lafayette and Central Florida, went before Sorensen.

But Sorensen's wait was short, at least compared to Cory Boyd's.

Fourteen picks from the end of this past weekend's NFL draft, with the 238th overall pick, Tampa Bay selected the USC running back. Boyd was the only Gamecock taken all weekend, although Casper Brinkley agreed to a free agent deal Monday with the Carolina Panthers.

Lions coach and general manager Wally Buono seemed pleased in picking up Sorensen, even if Buono has to wait a year to see if Sorensen joins the squad.

"He's playing at the best level of competition in the world. You have to be impressed with what he's accomplished," Buono said. "When he comes here, he's not going to be overwhelmed. I thought we took the best player available."

This isn't the game you watch on Sundays. Well, it is. But it isn't.

Sorensen calls the differences "drastic."

-- There are 12 men on each side, not 11.

-- Offenses only get three downs with which to work, not four.

-- The field is wider and longer, with the goal posts resting in the end zone.

-- At the line of scrimmage, the defensive line is forced to set up a yard from the ball.

Sorensen can recite these rule differences off the top of his head, but it's not exactly something he's accustomed to.

See, British Columbia is the only Canadian province that uses American football rules in its high schools. So, Sorensen played at Ballenas High the way he's playing at USC. He said he's not concerned if he has to make the adjustments next year.

"There'll definitely be a change," he said, "but I can pick it up pretty quick I think."

It's not the Gamecocks' first flirtation with the CFL. In fact, there's some recent history present.

Last year, after failing to find an NFL home, former USC quarterback Syvelle Newton had a brief stint with the Montreal Alouettes, but he lost interest when they wanted him to play receiver.

A year before that, tight end Robert Pavolic, another Canuck, was selected in the draft's third round. He is currently considering joining his club.

Given the fact he still has to play by the NCAA's rules, even draft day was a bit different for Sorensen. He learned a half-hour before he was going to be selected that BC would take

him. That part was normal.

But he had to hear it from his mother, who had received a call from BC management.

If Sorensen were at a Canadian university, the team would've been able to call him directly.

And, if he were at, say, the University of Saskatchewan as a redshirted senior, he would be able to work this summer with the team and then decide whether to return to school for his final year or stick with the pro club.

It's flattering in a way that a team took Sorensen, only gaining the potential to have his services in a year. Effectively, the Lions drafted his name while other teams will immediately field the majority of their picks.

"They wanted to look toward the future instead of just this year," Sorensen said of the five-time Grey Cup champs who won the league's title two seasons ago.

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the new South Carolina blog at charleston.net/blogs/gamecocks/.