Bison defensive lineman David Onyemata made history as the first Manitoba Bisons football player selected in the NFL (National Football League) Draft as he was drafted by New Orleans Saints in the 4th round (120th overall pick) in the 2016 NFL Draft on Saturday, April, 30.

Onyemata, 23, is now only the 12th overall CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) football player drafted into the NFL – third overall from Canada West conference. 

Onyemata commented shortly after being picked, "I am so excited to be a Saint.  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."

Onyemata, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, has had an amazing journey prior to being selected in the NFL as he had never played football before moving to Canada only five short years ago from Nigeria. In the five years, Onyemata emerged as a CIS standout star as he went from being a red-shirt in his first season at the University of Manitoba to being a CIS major award winner (2015 J.P. Metras Trophy award winner, presented to the Outstanding Down Lineman of the Year in CIS Football).

His vast list of major accomplishments includes being only the fourth Manitoba Bisons to be selected for the East-West Shrine Game on Saturday, January 23, 2016; the first Bison to hold an official pro day workout in front of 17 NFL teams and one CFL (Canadian Football League) on Monday, March 14, 2016; fourth Bison overall to be named as J.P. Metras award winner; for this prestigious CIS major national award; first time a Bison was first overall in CFL's Scouting Bureau list on April 26, 2016; Bison Sports Male Athlete of the Year for 2015-16; two-time conference all-star; 2015 CIS First Team All-Canadian and 2015 Canada West Lineman of the Year.

"It's such a wonderful 'Cinderella' story...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," commented Bison Football head coach Brian Dobie. "David represents the best in all of us. There is a sense of immense pride in seeing him drafted in the NFL. I think, his journey and success is represented in all of us in the CIS and his Bison teammates and everybody have a little bit of ownership of him."

Onyemata finished his fourth playing season at Manitoba (red shirted for one season) In 2015. He had an award-winning season as he was selected as 2015 J.P. Metras Trophy award winner, 2015 CIS First Team All-Canadian at the defensive tackle position (first time for him to earn this CIS recognition) along with earning 2015 Canada West All-Star Team selection. At the nose tackle position, the 6'4", 300 lbs. player was a force during the 2015 season as he was double-teamed and created room for the other Manitoba defensive lineman. In starting all eight conference game, the versatile player was tied for ninth in CIS (second in Canada West) with five sacks and tied for ninth in CIS (tied for second in conference) for sack yards with 34. He was also tied for 18th in the CIS (second in Canada West) with 7.5 tackles for losses and tied for 44th overall in CIS (12th in Canada West) with 38.5 total tackles in a season the Bisons reached the post-season for a fourth consecutive year. 

The Arts student-athlete was named Canada West Defence Football Athlete of the Week for week ending Oct. 25, 2015 after registering 9.5 tackles (two for losses) with 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery plus one break-up in road win at Alberta. 

In his four year Bison on-field football career, Onyemata played in 31 of 32 conference regular season games while he cracked the century mark in total tackles registered with 102 (78 solo and 54 assisted) since the 2012 season. In addition, the defensive interior lineman accumulated eight sacks for 54 sack yards along with 20.5 tackles for losses. Onyemata played in all seven Bison playoff contests over the last four seasons and notched 32 tackles (22 solo and 20 assisted) with 2.5 tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks. He has been a Canada West All-Star in consecutive years (2014 and 2015) and was part of the Bisons' 2014 Canada West championship squad. 


David Onyemata bio and football highlights:
- First-ever Manitoba Bisons football player selected in the NFL (National Football League) Draft 
- 2015 J.P. Metras Trophy award winner, which is presented to the Outstanding Down Lineman of the Year in CIS Football
- 2015 Canada West Lineman of the Year
- 2015 CIS First Team All-Canadian at the defensive tackle position 
- 2014, 2015 Canada West All-Star Team selection
- Top ranked overall player in the CFL Scouting Bureau's final draft rankings in April 2016
- 2015 Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportsbroadcasters Association – Manitoba Male Athlete of the Year nominee
- Invited and played in the 91st East-West Shrine Game in 2016 and was only the fourth Manitoba Bisons to be selected for the prestigious event
- First-ever Bison football player with official Pro Day for NFL scouts at the University of Manitoba where 17 NFL scouts and coaches attended plus one CFL team in March 2016
- In four year Bison career, registered 102 total tackles (75 solo and 54 assisted) with eight sacks for 52 yards in 31 conference regular season games; 32 tackles (22 solo and 20 assisted) with 1.5 sacks in seven playoff games
- 2015-16 Bison Sports Male Athlete of the Year
- Part of the Bisons' 2014 Canada West championship squad


CIS FOOTBALL PLAYERS DRAFTED INTO NFL (12)
2016: David Onyemata (DL / Manitoba), by New Orleans Saints, 4th round, 120th overall
2014: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (OT / McGill), by Kansas City, 6th round, 200th overall
2012: Akiem Hicks (DE / Regina), by New Orleans, 3rd round, 89th overall
2009: Vaughn Martin (DE / Western), by San Diego, 4th round, 113th overall
2001: Randy Chevrier (DE / McGill), by Jacksonville, 7th round, 241st overall\
1998: Jerome Pathon (WR / Acadia), by Indianapolis, 2nd round, 32nd overall
1995: Mark Montreuil (CB / Concordia), by San Diego, 7th round, 237th overall
1992: Tyrone Williams (WR / Western), by Phoenix, 9th round, 239th overall
1986: Mike Schad (OG / Queen's), by LA Rams, 1st round, 23rd overall 
1982: Dan Feraday (QB / Toronto), by Cincinnati, 12th round, 333rd overall
1979: John Priestner (LB / Western), by Baltimore, 11th round, 280th overall
1976: Brian Fryer (REC / Alberta), by Washington, 8th round, 234th overall

Bison Notes: To watch more of the journey of David Onyemata, view the Canada West conference Campus Corner - 2016 feature at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmwSU5-S1zI and also located at the Bison Sports website (gobisons.ca).

Watch the Manitoba Bisons football team congratulate David Onyemata after Spring Camp practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8jebb4gDQ8