SASKATCHEWAN (CBC) - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the CFL's weakest team against the pass last season, selected Saskatchewan Huskies defensive back Dylan Barker with the first pick in Wednesday's Canadian college draft.

The six-foot-three, 200-pounder from Moose Jaw, Sask., can also play linebacker and is seen as a player who could contribute at the pro level quickly.

"I'm thrilled to be a Ticat," said Barker. "I hope I can bring something to this team and add another body that will make more plays out there.

"I'm excited to head to camp."

Barker is the first defensive back taken with the No. 1 overall pick since the 1993 draft, when the B.C. Lions selected Patrick Burke from Fresno College.

Barker is also the first-ever player from the University of Saskatchewan taken first overall in the history of the CFL college draft.

Long considered a first-round prospect, Barker saw his stock rise on the weekend when Sherbrooke receiver Sam Giguere and Central Florida defensive lineman Keith Shologan agreed to National Football League deals with Indianapolis and San Diego, respectively.

Barker has drawn comparisons to former Ticat Rob Hitchcock, a hard-hitting safety who retired prior to last season before making a late-season comeback with the Edmonton Eskimos.

In a disappointing 3-15 season in 2007, the Tiger-Cats allowed the opposition 305.4 yards passing on average per game and mustered just 13 interceptions, tied with Calgary for seventh in the eight-team CFL.

Hamilton also had the eighth pick overall, thanks to the Montreal Alouettes having to forfeit their first-rounder as a penalty for going over the salary cap last season.

Tiger-Cats general manager Bob O'Billovich traded the ninth pick to B.C. on Tuesday night for defensive back Markeith Knowlton and the rights to kicker/punter Ara Tchobanian.

The Eskimos, believed to be eyeing guard Dimitri Tsoumpas of Weber State at No. 2, dealt the pick to the rival Calgary Stampeders, who chose the Edmonton native.

"He has proven at Weber State that he can play different positions on the line and I look forward to him coming in to camp ready to compete," said Stampeders general manager and coach John Hufnagel of Tsoumpas.

Calgary also acquired the 16th overall pick from the Eskimos for offensive lineman John Comiskey, wide receiver Kevin Challenge and the 11th and 19th overall picks in Wednesday's draft.

The Stampeders also had the third selection and went with six-foot-four, 309-pound offensive lineman Jesse Newman, a four-year starter at Louisiana-Lafayette.

"Coming into the draft, Jesse was a player we really wanted. With [Newman] and Dimitri Tsoumpas we added depth, youth and talent to our offensive line," Hufnagel said.

Shologan went fourth to the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders. The six-foot-two, 290-pounder runs the 40-yard dash in 5.15 seconds but might not crack the Riders roster for some time.

The Spruce Grove, Alta., native will give the National Football League a try first and is expected to report to the Chargers' mini camp this weekend. Shologan is also a four-time Canadian heavyweight wrestling champion.

With the fifth overall pick, the B.C. Lions went with local favourite Justin Sorensen, a six-foot-one, 327-pound offensive lineman with South Carolina who hails from Parksville, B.C.

Sorenson has made 18 straight starts and will return to South Carolina this fall for his senior season with the Gamecocks. He is expected to garner NFL interest in 2009.

Regina offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), University of B.C. linebacker Shea Emry (Montreal Alouettes), and Giguere (Hamilton) rounded out the first round.

The six-round draft features 753 eligible Canadian players from Canadian Interuniversity Sport and National Collegiate Athletic Association.

With files from the Canadian Press

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