Football | May 2

DeKALB, Ill.  – Northern Illinois University wide receiver Cole Tucker was selected by the Calgary Stampeders with the fourth pick of the first round in Tuesday night's Canadian Football League Draft after a stellar career over the last five seasons at NIU.
 
Tucker was the first wide receiver chosen Tuesday and is the first Huskie selected in the CFL Draft since wide receiver Juwan Brescacin was the Stampeders' second-round pick in 2015.
 
"I was excited to see Cole taken as the first wide receiver and the fourth player selected overall tonight," said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. "His work ethic and commitment to improving will allow him to excel in the Canadian Football League. He is a great representative of NIU and DeKalb and I can't wait to watch his journey in professional football."
 
Tucker, a native of DeKalb who holds dual citizenship in the United States and Canada, caught 155 passes for 2,030 yards and 10 touchdowns during his 53-game career at NIU. He ranks tied for seventh at NIU in career catches and became just the eighth player in school history to surpass 2,000 career receiving yards.
 
As a senior, Tucker led the Huskies with a career best 45 catches for 632 yards to earn second team All-MAC recognition from Pro Football Focus. In his final two seasons, he totaled 86 grabs for 1,207 yards and seven TDs in 20 games with at least one catch in every game.
 
As the fourth overall pick in the CFL Draft, Tucker is tied for the second highest selection all-time. Free safety Donnavan Carter was the fourth pick in the 2000 Draft by the Toronto Argonauts. In 1996, center Mike Sutherland was selected third by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Overall, Tucker is the 13th Huskie to be selected in the CFL Draft.
 
Tucker also received an invitation to the Minnesota Vikings' rookie mini-camp following last week's NFL Draft.  His mother, Cindy (nee Hemstad), is a native of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada who came to NIU as a member of the gymnastics team. She and her 1991 teammates were inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
 
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