UND's Nate DeMontagnac recalls 'surreal' moment of CFL draft selection

Apr. 29—GRAND FORKS — The experience still doesn't seem real to UND's Nate DeMontagnac.

In between flights from Toronto to Grand Forks on Wednesday afternoon, DeMontagnac described the feeling of being drafted No. 7 overall by the B.C. Lions in the 2026 CFL Draft on Tuesday night.

"To see something come true that you've been working for your whole life ... it still doesn't feel too real," DeMontagnac said. "It's super surreal, very emotional. Being around loves ones made it hard to keep my composure, but I was glad to be around the people I was with."

DeMontagnac, who became UND's highest-drafted player in the CFL since 2001, spent the draft with family and friends in Toronto. One day later, the 6-foot-2 wide receiver was traveling through Winnipeg on his way to Grand Forks to clean out his apartment and head to Vancouver ahead of rookie mini-camp with the BC Lions.

DeMontagnac said he wasn't exactly sure which team was going to take him Tuesday night, but he spoke with every team in the CFL during the league's combine event and felt the best about the interview with the Lions.

"They also called me before the draft to kind of check in and asked if I was still feeling alright and if my body was good," DeMontagnac said.

DeMontagnac, an Ontario native, said he doesn't know anyone on the current team, but the Lions drafted two players on Tuesday he knows well.

DeMontagnac went to high school with the team's fourth round selection — Pierre Kemeni of Ohio. B.C.'s second round pick, Jett Elad of Rutgers, grew up with DeMontagnac in Mississauga, Ontario.

"Super excited and super grateful," DeMontagnac said.

DeMontagnac said he's been in contact with former and current UND coaches since the selection including current UND head coach Eric Schmidt, former head coach Bubba Schweigert and former wide receivers coach and Grand Forks native Sam King, who's now offensive coordinator at Central Washington.

"Lots of love and lots of unopened messages still, so I've got to get to that," DeMontagnac said. "King gave me my first opportunity, so I had to tell him how much I appreciate him."

DeMontagnac said his agent was still working on his contract Wednesday afternoon with hopes of finalizing the deal soon. Once the contract is finished, the Lions will book his flight to Vancouver.