Roughriders draft OL Heenan No. 1

May 3, 2012 - 7:43 PM (Sports Network) - The Saskatchewan Roughriders took offensive lineman Ben Heenan No. 1 overall Thursday in the CFL Canadian Draft.

Heenan was the second University of Saskatchewan player ever taken with the first pick in the Canadian football league's draft, the school said.

"Although my name was the one being called out, everybody from Huskie athletics helped me get to this point today and for that I am incredibly thankful and forever indebted to them," Heenan said after learning he would be the No. 1 pick.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound lineman was ranked No. 1 in CFL Entry Draft Scouting Bureau until last week. He was a Canadian Interuniversity Sport All-Canadian selection in 2010 and '11.

Heenan joined former University of Saskatchewan safety Dylan Barker, who was selected first overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2008 draft.

The BC Lions took defensive lineman Jabar Westerman with the second pick and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers selected offensive lineman Tyson Pencer third.