Purdue offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft when the Ottawa REDBLACKS selected the Boilermaker on Tuesday night (April 28). After spending one season in West Lafayette, the Winnipeg, Manitoba, native will return to his home country to begin his professional career.

Vaccaro played in all 12 games throughout Purdue’s 2025 season, the first under head coach Barry Odom. That included 89 snaps as part of the special teams unit.

Prior to becoming a Boilermaker, Vaccaro was a standout at Manitoba. He started all three seasons at the Canadian university, earning U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian honors during the 2023 and 2024 campaigns. As the starting left guard, Vacarro was the 2024 JP Metras Award Winner as the U SPORTS Lineman of the Year, as well as the Canada West Lineman of the Year.