ARGONAUTS SELECT SIX IN 2017 CFL DRAFT
Toronto Uses Five of Six Selections on Defensive Players
TORONTO - The Toronto Argonauts added to their Canadian content this evening with six picks in the 2017 CFL Draft.
ARGOS 2017 CFL DRAFT CLASS | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Round | Pick | Name | Position | College |
2 | 10 | Mason Woods | OL | Idaho |
3 | 19 | Evan Foster | DL | Manitoba |
4 | 27 | Robert Woodson | DB | Calgary |
5 | 36 | Nakas Onyeka | LB | Wilfrid Laurier |
7 | 54 | Justin Herdman | LB | Simon Fraser |
8 | 63 | Matthew Carson | DL | Calgary |
With the the 10th overall selection the Argonauts added to their depth on the offensive line selecting Mason Woods. Woods, a 6-8, 324-pound native of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, played 37 games, starting in 34 consecutive, in four seasons at the University of Idaho. He helped the Vandals have one of the most productive offences in the Sun Belt Conference and finish in the top 20-percent of the FBS. He was ranked eighth in the final CFL Scouting Bureau released on May 5 following his performance at the CFL Combine in March.
In the third round, Toronto used their 19th overall pick to bolster their defensive line with Evan Foster. The 6-1, 245-pound native of Chilliwack, British Columbia, played three seasons at the University of Manitoba after spending a season with the CJFL’s Langley Rams. The three-time Canada West All-Star notched 121 tackles (72 solo, 49 assisted), 14 sacks, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and two pass breaks up with the Bisons.
Steering away from the line in the fourth round, defensive back Robert Woodson was added to the Argonauts fold with the 27th overall selection. Woodson, a 5-10, 191-pound native of Calgary, Alberta, played four seasons at the University of Calgary where he registered 63 tackles (45 solo, 18 assisted), eight interceptions, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks, and seven pass breakups with the Dinos. The two-time Canada West All-Star and USports All-Canadian posted 16 tackles (12 solo, 8 assisted), one interception, one forced fumble and one blocked kick with the Dinos in 2016. He was crowned the Canada West’s Defensive Player of the Year after recording a career-high and topping the conference with five interceptions in 2015.
Nakas Onyeka, selected in the fifth round with Toronto’s 37th overall selection, had 185 tackles (125 solo, 60 solo), 7.5 sacks, 23.5 tackles for a loss, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two pass breakups with the Golden Hawks. The 6-0, 210-pound, native of Brampton, Ontario led the OUA and ranked second in USports with 51 solo stops while notching 17 assisted tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two pass breakup en route to being named a first-team OUA All-Star and USports All-Canadian in 2016. The 2016 OUA Defensive Player of the Year played an integral role in the Golden Hawks 2016 Yates Cup run.
Justin Herdman, a 6-1, 235-pound, native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was selected in the seventh round (54th overall). He finished his collegiate career with 220 tackles (125 solo, 95 assisted), 33 tackles for a loss, six sacks, three quarterback hurries, two interceptions, five forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and 12 pass breakups at Simon Fraser. The three-time GNAC Football All-Academic Team selection had 73 tackles (43 solo, 30 assisted), nine tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries, one interception, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups as a senior with the Clan in 2016.
The Argos rounded out the draft class by selecting defensive lineman Matthew Carson in the eighth round (63rd overall). Carson, a 6-2, 262-pound native of Calgary, Alberta, played four seasons at the the University of Calgary. In 30 games with the Dinos, he registered 29 tackles and two sacks.