Ontario native Doiron declares for CFL, NFL drafts

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Deondre Doiron throws a football during a training camp practice on Aug. 12, 2022. Doiron, who joined the Jayhawks over the summer, played right tackle at Buffalo but has been playing center as he settles in with the Jayhawks.

After going through senior-day festivities despite having one year of collegiate eligibility remaining, Kansas reserve offensive lineman Dre Doiron is turning pro.

Doiron, who served as a backup at center and right tackle and a special teamer throughout his career with the Jayhawks, is a native of London, Ontario, who transferred to KU from Buffalo one year after head coach Lance Leipold made the same move.

In his announcement on Tuesday afternoon, Doiron made sure to note that he is entering both the Canadian Football League and NFL drafts.

“I’d like to thank Coach Leipold for taking a chance on a kid from Canada back in 2020 and giving me the opportunity to come to Kansas in 2022,” Doiron wrote in part in a statement on X. “My time at The University of Kansas has been nothing short of amazing and can honestly say there is no place I would have rather spent (the) majority of my college years than right here in Lawrence.”

Doiron was a starter at right tackle at Buffalo in 2021 before he rejoined Leipold. He played just 98 snaps across both offense and special teams in three seasons at KU, but was frequently cited by young quarterbacks like Cole Ballard as a positive influence on the team.

Canadian players are highly coveted in the CFL because teams are required to roster and start certain numbers of Canadians, restricting the potential involvement of American players. Jon Cornish was one Canadian Jayhawk who went on to great success in the CFL; American players such as Hal Patterson and Willie Pless have also thrived in the league. Last season, cornerback Kalon Gervin briefly signed with the Ottawa Redblacks during the offseason.