WSU’s Braidwood top pick in CFL

Reggie Bush has some unexpected company out of the Pacific-10 Conference at the top of a draft board this spring.

Washington State University defensive end Adam Braidwood, a native of British Columbia, was picked first overall in the Canadian Football League draft by the Edmonton Eskimos, winners of last year’s Grey Cup.

“I don’t know if he’s even heard of the CFL,” Braidwood said of Bush, who is expected to be the top pick in next week’s NFL draft.

A two-year starter at WSU, Braidwood harbors hope of joining Bush and a host of other rookies in the NFL next season, but said his status in the CFL will make it much easier if that doesn’t work out.

“I’m definitely going to give the NFL a shot,” he said. “Obviously, I’m not going to be the high flyer down there that I am up here.”

CFL training camps open next month and the regular season begins in June, so Braidwood might have to make a decision in the near future. But he has been getting advice from “everyone in Canada.”

“They said, ‘Hey, you had your fun down in the States. Now you’re one of us again,’ ” Braidwood said.