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Michigan State's Matt Rea, James Bodanis Are Canadian Football League Bound

Two players from Michigan State will continue their football careers north of the United States border this upcoming season.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

While a career in the National Football League may not be in the picture for both Matt Rea and James Bodanis at the moment, they'll get the opportunity to strap on the shoulder pads this summer as a member of the Canadian Football League.

The 57-year-old organization held it's draft on Tuesday with Bodanis and Rea as the only representatives from the Big Ten, coming off the board in the third and fourth round respectively.

Bodanis, who transferred from the University of Toronto to East Lansing back in 2013, was selected by the Montreal Alouettes with the 24th pick. The Saskatchewan Roughriders tweeted out that they took Rea with the 35th pick. Rea was also the second fullback to be drafted, behind William Langlais of Sherbrooke.

Rea, a fellow transfer from the University of Pennsylvania, didn't see game action with the Spartans until his senior year this past season, appearing in three games against Eastern Michigan, Wyoming and Rutgers.

Week one of the CFL begins on Thursday, June 25, when the Alouettes face the Ottawa Redblacks in Montreal. Rea and Bodanis aren't scheduled to square off until week 14 on Sept. 27. The pair now bring the total of Spartans from last season's roster on a professional football franchise to 11, as nine were either drafted or brought on as an undrafted free agent in the NFL.