York University Lions football player Chris Kolankowski has signed a professional contract in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with his hometown Toronto Argonauts.
A 6-foot-2, 292-pound offensive lineman from Etobicoke, Ont., Kolankowski was selected by the Argos in the sixth round (49th overall) of the 2016 CFL draft and participated in training camp and two pre-season games last year before returning to the Lions for his fifth and final season.
Kolankowski played in 33 games over his five-year career, starting as a back-up lineman and blossoming into the team's starting centre. He also played several games at guard. In 2015 he earned the team's Mike Benevides Lineman of the Year Award, and in 2013 he received York's Tom Arnott Yeoman of the Year Award for Hard Work and Character.
Kolankowski is studying law & society at York.
With the Argos, he joins former Lions teammate and fellow offensive lineman Jamal Campbell, who was also drafted last season and made the team out of training camp, going on to participate in eight games in the regular season.
Also with the Argos are former York football players Andre Durie and Ricky Foley, who have both had illustrious CFL careers that have lasted more than 10 seasons.