It hasn't been easy, there's been plenty of hard work put in, but Ottawa's Alex Mateas has been slotted in as the second-ranked CFL Draft-eligible player.

It's possible, maybe even likely, he'll get an NFL look, but there's also a decent chance he winds up with the Ottawa RedBlacks, who will have the No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft.

"Any team that picks me up, NFL or CFL, I'm going to be ecstatic," said the 23-year-old, 6-foot-4, 300-lbs. offensive lineman (centre) at the University of Connecticut, where he has started 29 games for the Huskies. "Getting paid to play football, it's a dream to play at the highest level when you play any sport."

So how would he feel about coming back to play in Ottawa, where he lined up for the Myers Riders, Cumberland Panthers and Ottawa Sooners and went to Merivale High School?

"It's crossed my mind," he said. "There would be a lot of benefit to playing in Ottawa. I love the city. My mom wouldn't be upset with that situation."

It was his mom Lynn, who often provided the transportation, making sure Alex and his two sisters got to wherever they needed to go as kids, when Alex was doing judo or playing soccer, than later basketball and football.

"A lot of people have helped. I want to let everyone know I'm thankful. And my mom ... she's a saint."

Alex's dad Traian co-founded the Capital United soccer club.

"I played a lot of sports," said Alex. "I was playing basketball under Dave and Rob Smart. We were at a tournament and Rob suggested I do something with football, so I took his advice. My goal was to play college football and see how far I could go. I learned to love it and it has become part of who I am.

"College was harder than I thought, but with a little help I got through it (with a degree in human development and family studies)."

Players with Ottawa connections make up a good chunk of the CFL's Top 20 rankings. Laval offensive lineman Danny Groulx (from Gatineau) is ranked eighth, offensive lineman Dillon Guy (at University of Buffalo) is 13th and University of Ottawa defensive lineman Ettore Lattanzio is 20th.

O'CONNOR LEAVES LIONS

Ottawa's Michael O'Connor, a freshman quarterback at Penn State, is leaving the football program and will transfer to another school, according to ESPN.com. "I loved my time here at Penn State and thank the community for all their support," O'Connor told ESPN.com in a text message.

Twitter: @timcbaines