Argos select OL Shane Richards first overall

TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts have selected Oklahoma State offensive lineman Shane Richards first overall.

One of the draft’s most highly-touted prospects, Richards ranked second in the April edition of the CFL Scouting Bureau Rankings after playing both tackle and guard throughout his senior season at Oklahoma State.

Richards made headlines for the wrong reasons in March when he attended the CFL Combine presented by New Era but was sent home after declining to participate in testing. He had performed in front of scouts at the Oklahoma State pro day earlier in the month.

Still, there’s no mistaking Richards’ billing as a top prospect. In his senior year with the Cowboys, Richards played in eight regular season games and finished his collegiate career by winning the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Missouri. He was also named to the Second Team for the 2018 Academic All-Big 12.

The 6-foot-4, 334-pound offensive lineman red-shirted in 2017 and appeared in four games in 2016.

“I kind of expected somewhat of a reaction from the presidents and coaches and whatnot,” Richards said on a media conference call, explaining if he thought his stock fell by not participating in the combine. “I really thought that my tape kind of spoke for me. Coaches watch tape more than they watch numbers so I kind of relied on my tape being up to par. I’ve yet to hit my ceiling.”

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“Shane Richards has all the ingredients required in order to be the first overall pick,” said CFL.ca’s draft analyst Marshall Ferguson. “The length and athleticism he provides at his rare size is special but what separates him is major Division I game film blocking some of the NCAA’s best pass rushers.

“It’s simply an opportunity and advantage many others in this draft don’t have,” he added. “The Argos clearly did their homework on Richards and it’s not surprising they came to love him enough to select him with the top pick. When the microphones and the cameras turned off during my combine interview with him, Shane couldn’t have been more down to earth and enjoyable to be around. The Argos got a good one to build around.”

TSN’s Dave Naylor reported earlier in the day that Richards was in Toronto and the two sides were working on a contract before the draft.

“I didn’t know anything until the start of this week when my agent gave me a call and said there was a possibility that that might happen,” Richards said. “I don’t think it’s fully hit me yet. I don’t think it’s going to hit me until I’m strapped up and I’m walking out to the first practice.”

The selection fits an immediate need for the Argos, who project to start four Canadian offensive linemen in 2019. But outside of Sean McEwen, it’s an aging core, with tackle Chris Van Zeyl turning 36 in September and interior linemen Tyler Holmes (30) and Ryan Bomben (31) both on the wrong side of 30 years old.

Last year the Argos picked Bowling Green State’s Ryan Hunter in the first round (ninth overall), but they’ll have to be patient as Hunter remains south of the border to pursue NFL ambitions.

The Argos’ second pick is slated to come ninth overall when they open the second round of the draft.