On Tuesday, the Ottawa Redblacks drafted punter Matt Hayball in the first round (2nd pick) and linebacker Heston Lameta in the second round (11th pick) of the 2024 CFL Global Draft.
Matt Hayball is six foot one and weighs 187 pounds. A native of West Adelaide, Australia, Hayball signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2024.
Collegiately, Hayball played three seasons at Florida Atlantic University (2019-21) punting the ball 174 times for 7,726 yards (44.4 AVG), with a long of 77 yards, 13 touchbacks, 72 fair catches, 66 from inside the 20-yard line, 36 from 50-plus yards, one carry for eight yards, four kickoffs for 221 yards (55.3 AVG), and four tackles (3 solo, 1 assist) in 35 games for the Owls. He was named C-USA Honorable Mention.
Then, Hayball transferred to Vanderbilt (2022-23) punting the ball 115 times for 5,347 yards (46.5 AVG) with a long of 71 yards, and 42 from inside the 20-yard line in 24 games for the Commodores. He was on the Ray Guy Watch List, was named First Team All-SEC, and Second Team All-American by Walter Camp in 2023.
Heston Lameta is six foot one and weighs 230 pounds. A native of Pago Pago, American Samoa, Lameta played two seasons at Garden City Community College (2017-18) with 69 tackles (34 solo, 35 assists), 14.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and five pass breakups in 12 games for the Broncbusters.
Then, Lameta transferred to Northern Arizona University (2019-23) making 142 tackles (61 solo, 81 assists), 9 tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery in 31 games for the Lumberjacks. In 2023, he made 56 tackles (16 solo, 40 assists), one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery in 11 games.
