NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints have signed former University of Manitoba defensive lineman David Onyemata to a four-year contract.
The Saints drafted Onyemata, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, in the fourth round of last month’s NFL draft.
The athletic six-foot-four, 300-pound lineman appeared in 37 career games for the Bisons, registering 166 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
He was named the top CIS down lineman, a first-team All-Canadian and a Canada West all-star in 2015.
Onyemata is the first Bison to be drafted into the NFL and second from the program to make it to the league.
Former defensive end Israel Idonije, a Lagos native who grew up in Brandon, Man., and played with the Bisons, signed with Cleveland as a free agent in 2003 and played 11 seasons in the NFL.
