CALGARY – Led by fourth overall selection Connor McGough, the University of Calgary Dinos football team saw a record nine players taken in Sunday's CFL Draft.
 
The Dinos football team had the most number of selections drafted in school history – breaking their previous total of eight from 1986. This is the most drafted from a single school over the last decade of Draft history. All players taken are from the province of Alberta.
 
Defensive lineman Connor McGough was the first Dino to be drafted and it came fourth overall to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Just nine picks later in the second round, Hamilton selected their second Dino of the day in offensive lineman Braden Schram for the 13^th pick. Defensive back Robert Woodson was selected 27^th overall in the fourth round by the Toronto Argonauts. In the sixth round, two more Dinos came off the board including Denzel Radford, chosen by the Montreal Alouettes at 48^th overall and Austen Hartley who went five picks later to the Grey Cup Champion team, the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
 
It was fast and furious in the final rounds of the CFL Draft. Brendon Thera-Plamondon was taken by Winnipeg at 59^th overall and Adam Laurensse's selection came two picks later to the Calgary Stampeders in the seventh round. In the eighth, Matt Carson was taken 63^rd overall by Toronto, while Jordan Filippelli was chosen as the final pick of the draft to the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
 
Head coach Wayne Harris reflected on the 2017 draft and was pleased with the results.
 
"It's very exciting for the University of Calgary Dinos football program. It just shows how hard our players work and the great job that our assistant coaches do in developing young men on the football field. It's great for the program in so many aspects – from recruiting to continuing to build a program of excellence."
 
McGough joins the Tiger-Cats after four years with the Dinos. The native of Medicine Hat, Alta. was a first-team All-Star and former All-Canadian who impressed coaches at the CFL Combine. The defensive lineman ran a 4.73 40-yard dash. McGough was excited about his opportunity with Hamilton.
 
"I knew Hamilton had interest. I was told by their defensive coordinator at the Combine that he wanted me, but I wasn't sure how it would play out. When I heard my name, it was very exciting and I was in shock to be honest.
 
"I feel very confident moving to the professional level. The more you play, the more miles on your body, so I'm excited to get going right away and make an impact as soon as I can."
 
Joining McGough as another one of the newest Tiger-Cats is Braden Schram, who was chosen in the second round. A 2015 All-Canadian, Schram started in seven of eight conference games on the o-line before going down with an injury in Week 7 of the 2016 season. He was surprised by the pick, and can't wait to contribute.
 
"I'm just ecstatic right now and happy to be taken off the board. Hamilton is a great city and they have a beautiful facility that I got to play at during the Vanier Cup. I just can't wait to go out there and compete. I think it's a lineup I can definitely crack eventually. I'm planning to go out there and contribute where I can."
 
Woodson was third to go for the Dinos, drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in the fourth round. The two-time U SPORTS All-Canadian was a key factor for the Dinos' success as one of the team's leaders on defense in 2016. Woodson is also a former Canada West Defensive Player of the Year.
 
"I was just waiting for that phone call and then it just kind of happened. Nothing went through my mind except that I'm blessed to have the opportunity. I feel good about Toronto and I'm just happy to be part of the organization.
 
"All I know is that I'm going to do everything I can and be the best player I can be for that team."
 
In the final three rounds of the draft, six more Dinos were drafted including three receivers in a row – Radford, Hartley and Thera-Plamondon, followed by DB Laurensse, DL Carson and OL Filippelli with the final pick of the entire draft.
 
Overall, the record nine draft picks that came from the Dinos roster spanned six CFL teams including two to Hamilton, Toronto and Ottawa, and one each to Montreal, Winnipeg and Calgary.
 
While the draft picks get set for the CFL season and training camps opening later this month, the returning Dinos will take the field mid-August for their training camp. Calgary opens the 2017 Canada West season against the Alberta Golden Bears in Edmonton on Sept. 1.