Ryan Hunter drafted ninth overall by the Toronto Argonauts

Bowling Green offensive lineman Ryan Hunter was selected with the last pick in the first round of the CFL Draft on Thursday night, going ninth overall to the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts.

It’s a homecoming for Hunter, as the Argonauts are located just three hours away (356 kilometers) from his native North Bay, Ontario. Hunter played much of his formative football career south of the Canaidan border to broaden his potential horizons, playing high school ball in Buffalo, New York before signing with Bowling Green.

Hunter was a three-year starter for the Falcons on the offensive line, with experience at left guard in 2015 (14 games started), right tackle in 2016 (12 games started) and left tackle in 2017 (12 games started.) In that time, he blocked for some of the more prolific offenses in the MAC and led his team in pancake blocks (2015.)

Hunter measured at six-foot-three, 316 lbs. at his pro day, and added 25 reps of 225 in the bench press, an eight foot, eight inch broad jump and a 5.28 40-yard dash. He’s also a pretty exemplary athlete, winning multiple metals in discus, shot put and weightlifting in high school.

Hunter was mocked to go as high up as the number three selection in the draft and was considered to be amongst the best overall prospects in the draft, but some teams may have potentially balked on him as a prospect after he signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Argonauts will be getting a talented hometown prospect in Hunter who even if he doesn’t work out in Kansas City, will bring depth to an excellent Toronto squad which has had its run of the CFL recently.