Canadian John Metchie III is now a member of the Houston Texans. The team selected the Crimson Tide wide receiver from the University of Alabama in the second round, and 44th overall in the NFL Draft on Friday night.
Metchie was the first Maple Leaf representative to be selected in the 2022 draft.
The Ontario was considered a potential first-round pick before suffering a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 4 in the SEC conference championship game.
Standing 5ft 11in (1.80m) and weighing in at 30kg (186lb), Metchie had 96 catches for 1,142 yards and 8 touchdowns last season before suffering his injury. He decided not to play his fourth year of college.
Metchie had 155 receptions for 2,081 yards and 14 majors during his career at the University of Alabama. He helped the Crimson Tide capture the NCAA national title in 2020.
Metchie also received the Jon Cornish Trophy, awarded to Canada’s top player in the NCAA, for the second consecutive year. He joins BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke as the only players to earn the honor twice.
Metchie’s road in the NFL has certainly been long and winding.
He was born in Taiwan, moved to Ghana at an early age and grew up in Brampton. He then moved to Hagerstown, Maryland to enter St. Louis. James School and spent a year graduating from Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey before attending the University of Alabama.
His older brother, Royce, was a defensive back with the Toronto Argonauts while his two other brothers, both older, also played at the university level in Canada.
Source: Radio-Canada
