4 Mustangs selected in the 2023 CFL Draft

Four Mustangs football alumni will begin their professional careers after being selected in the 2023 CFL Draft on Tuesday night.

Phillip Grohovac, Spencer Nichols, Robert Panabaker and Brendan Murphy were drafted by three different Canadian Football League teams — Nichols and Murphy were both selected by the Toronto Argonauts.

Offensive lineman Phillip Grohovac was the first Mustang off the board, selected by the Edmonton Elks in the third round with the 20th overall pick.

Grohovac had the most reps in the 225-pound bench press event at this year’s CFL Combine, with 26, four more than the second-best player.

DRAFTED ☑️With the 20th pick in the 2023 #CFLDraft, the @GoElks select OL Phillip Grohovac from the @WesternMustangs! 🏈📸 Brandon VandeCaveye#WeAreONE | #RunWithUs pic.twitter.com/l6dvra8scO

— Ontario University Athletics (@OUAsport) May 3, 2023

The Argonauts selected Nichols with the 36th overall pick. The H-Back was primarily used as a blocker in the Mustangs' offensive playbook in the 2022 season.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats selected defensive back Panabaker four picks later, 40th overall. Panabaker recorded six interceptions this season, tied with Daniel Valente Jr. for the Mustangs’ team lead.

We add another DB to the arsenal 🗂With the 40th pick, we've selected DB Robert Panabaker (@robertpanabaker) out of @westernuFB.#Ticats | #CFL | @TELUS pic.twitter.com/TbJ0l1Wjlr

— Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) May 3, 2023

Murphy was the last Mustang selected on draft night, going 63rd overall to the Argonauts. Through 11 games last season, Murphy had 51 tackles and six total sacks.

The CFL season begins June 8 with the BC Lions travelling to the Calgary Stampeders.