The New Orleans Saints selected Manitoba Bisons defensive tackle David Onyemata in the NFL Draft on Saturday.
The Saints used the 120th overall pick in the fourth round to draft Onyemata. The Saints acquired the pick in a trade with the Washington Redskins.
Onyemata, 23, is the first Bisons player to ever be taken in the NFL draft and just the 12th Canadian university player to get selected.
“I am so excited to be a Saint.” said Onyemata through a media release. “I am thankful to all of my Manitoba teammates and coaches for their support. This would not have been possible without their support. I am pumped to get to work.”
WATCH: Bisons teammates greet Onyemata at spring camp after NFL Draft
Onyemata discovered he was selected while playing a round of golf on Saturday morning.
“I’m feeling really good…so pumped right now.” Onyemata said. “I found out about being picked as I was on the golf course.”
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“It’s such a wonderful ‘Cinderella’ story.” Bisons head coach Brian Dobie said “We are all excited for David being drafted into the NFL. It’s big for the entire locker room. David is such a great person and class act. Everybody involved with the program is happy and wishing the best for him as he embarks onto the next level in the NFL,”
The six-foot-four, 300-pound senior impressed scouts at the East-West Shrine Game in January after winning the J.P. Metras award as the top down lineman in CIS football. The Saints were one of the teams that attended Onyemata’s pro day at Investors Group Field in March.
Onyemata never played football before trying out for the Bisons prior to the 2012 season. He moved to Winnipeg from Lagos, Nigeria to pursue an education when it was recommended he try the sport of football.
WATCH: David Onyemata talks about getting selected by the New Orleans Saints