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CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Ryan Folk chosen by Winnipeg

April 28, 2004 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers News Release


WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers made a great pick in the 5th Round of today's college draft when they chose University of Calgary linebacker Ryan Folk.

The Bombers selected Folk (5-11, 205, Calgary '03, DOB: Nov. 29, 1978 in Medicine Hat, AB) with their 5th Round (43rd Overall) pick in the 2004 Canadian College Draft, held via teleconference call from the CFL's head office in Toronto.

Folk is a hard-hitting linebacker who plays the game with passion. He has played three years with the Dinosaurs as well as five years of junior football with the highly regarded Okanagan Sun program.

"Ryan is a tenacious old-school football player who has the opportunity to compete for a spot with us at safety and on special teams," said wide receivers coach and Canadian College Draft coordinator Bob Dyce.

Folk was pleased that the Blue Bombers drafted him.

"It's feels good," he said about being drafted. "I'm really excited. I have good friends in Winnipeg and I'm excited to come to camp and see what happens."

THE COLLEGE YEARS – CALGARY DINOSAURS

Folk had a superb third season with Calgary in 2003, leading the team in defensive tackles with 63. That total was also tops in the Canada West Conference. He added two quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles to his stats totals.

A communications major at U of C, Folk was a Canada West All-Star who also won the school's President's Trophy as the team's Top Defensive Player in 2003.

In 2002, he won his first President's Trophy as the Dinosaurs Top Defensive Player. He recorded 49 defensive tackles, including an amazing 15 tackles in a game against the Saskatchewan Huskies.

In 2001, Folk was a defensive mainstay, totaling 60 defensive tackles for the season.

THE JUNIOR YEARS – OKANAGAN SUN

Folk played five years of Canadian Junior League Football with the powerhouse program run by the Okanagan Sun. The team went to five straight British Columbia Football Conference Championship Games from 1996-2000.

The team also went to four consecutive Canadian Bowls – the CJFL Championship Game – from 1997-2000. The Sun won it all in Folk's final season of 2000. Folk was a three-time CJFL All-Star and a three-time BCFC All-Star. In 2000, he was the BCFC Defensive Player of the Year.

His high level of play as a junior earned him an invite to the 2000 CFL Evaluation Camp, held in Winnipeg.

As a junior, he played with future Manitoba Bisons Warren Doepker, Devin Rodger and Mike Faisthuber. Rodger attended two Blue Bomber training camps (2002 & 2003) and Faisthuber was a previous Blue Bombers draft choice (2002 – 4th Round, 35th Overall).

Folk attended McCoy High School in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

DRAFT FACTS

Folk is the 39th player selected by the Blue Bombers in the 5th Round. He hopes to become the 9th player selected in the 5th Round to make the football club. The last to do so was Western Ontario Mustangs offensive lineman Mike Abou-Mechrek, who was a member of the Blue & Gold from 1999-2001.

Folk is the 8th player from the Calgary Dinosaurs program selected by Winnipeg. He hopes to become the 3rd Dinosaur player to make the football club. The last player to do so was offensive lineman Steve Rodehutskors, who played five years from 1987-1991 and was a member of two Grey Cup Championship teams.

Though he is likely to be moved to safety, Folk is the 47th linebacker chosen by Winnipeg in the draft. He would become the 19th player at that position to make the Blue Bombers roster. The last to do so was St. Francis Xavier linebacker Sebastien Roy, who is presently a member of the Big Blue.

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Canadian Football League Stories from April 28, 2004


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