CALGARY – Running back Anthony Woodson became the 98th University of Calgary Dinos football player to be selected in the CFL Canadian Draft Sunday when he was selected in the fourth round, 29th overall, by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Woodson, a graduate of St. Francis High School in Calgary, had two fantastic seasons with the Dinos in 2006 and 2007 before running into injury troubles, which kept him out of most of the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Still, his highlight film is impressive. Standing six feet tall and weighing in at 200 pounds, the 22-year-old won the Canada West rushing crown in 2007 with 1,183 yards, which still stands as the second-highest single-season total in school history.

Once touted as a definite first-rounder, Woodson suffered through broken ribs and a punctured lung in 2008, had shoulder surgery the following off-season, then fractured his foot the week before training camp in 2009, sidelining him for the entire season.

At the CFL's evaluation camp earlier this spring, Woodson still managed to post the sixth fastest 40-yard dash and was interviewed by six different teams – of which the Bombers were not one, so the call from Winnipeg came as a surprise on Sunday afternoon.

“I definitely wasn't expecting to be taken by Winnipeg, but it's good news,” said Woodson. “Finally, the wait is over and I know where I'll be for the next few years. Once the door is open, it's about what you do in the opportunity. I want to show I was a good steal in this draft, and I think in years to come, they (the Bombers) might look back on it and be happy about it.”

Woodson becomes the highest-drafted running back for the Dinos since Dave McGillis, who went in the first round (7th overall) to the Edmonton Eskimos in 1973.

There will be at least one familiar face when Woodson reports to Canad Inns Stadium in June for the Blue Bombers' training camp – Dinos teammate Deji Oduwole, a defensive lineman, inked a deal with Winnipeg as a free agent and will also look to crack a CFL roster.

“Deji and me ripping up the town in Winnipeg,” said Woodson with a laugh, “I can't wait.”

-UC-