By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Tennessee Tech's Kail Dava will get the opportunity to play on the next level as he was selected by the Canadian Football League's B.C. Lions in their annual draft on Tuesday night.
Dava was a highly-rated prospect before the start of the 2023 campaign with the Golden Eagles. He was selected with the 44th overall pick in the league draft.
The Golden Eagles have had several players represent Tech in the CFL over the years including Harry Abofs, Michael Birdsong, Dontez Byrd, John Chuy, Perry Kyles, Patrick Pope, Lorenza Rivers, Da'Rick Rogers, John Tanner and Terry Wellesly. Birdsong and Rivers also played for the Lions.
Dava ended his career as a defensive lineman with the Golden Eagles collecting 87 total tackles, including 24.5 for-loss for 96 yards and eight sacks for 59 yards. He also had a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a pass breakup.
During his freshman campaign in 2019, he had 17 total tackles and four sacks as he was named to the HERO Sports Freshman All-American team. Dava, who was also recently named to the National Football Foundation's prestigious Hampshire Honor Society, was a second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection following the 2022 campaign with 24 tackles, including 5.5 for-loss and 1.5 sacks. The Mississauga, Ontario native and Clarkson Secondary School product was named to the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association's Preseason Watch List this past July.
In 2023, Dava saw action in nine games before an injury ended his season. He finished the year with 15 tackles with 5.5 for-loss and half-a-sack, while also collecting two quarterback hurries.
The B.C. Lions open their regular season on June 9 at the Toronto Argonauts. The Lions reached the West Division Final, falling 24-13 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and ending the season with a 12-7 record.
