Wilkinson heads to the CFL

Getting that all important call up when you have dreamed of playing in the Canadian football League is something we can all imagine to be thrilling and emotional. For one player the dream has come true as he will now be taking his place in the Montreal Alouettes in what has been described as probably the biggest day of his life so far as freetips.com reports.

Imagine sitting on the sofa, chatting on the phone to your mum, as suddenly having your world turned upside down. That is what happened to Zach Wilkinson on Thursday night as he talked with mum Mel about the trivialities of the day. As the two spoke Wilkinson glanced at the television and witness as his name was called. The second pick of the third round, and there he was. The young player could not contain his excitement as he spoke about the selection. “It was an emotional moment for both of us. I’m done with finals (exams). I’m done with college, and now I’m drafted to play professional football. I’m really excited right now.”

This weekend Wilkinson will join his fellow classmates as he makes that long-awaited walk across the stage to collect his hard-earned degree, which is in philosophy and communication with a minor in business. However, football is something he is hugely passionate about and is thrilled by his call up which was the 21st overall pick.

Until now the tall and well built offensive lineman has been playing for the University of Northern Colorado, but now he can take his place in the big leagues. Wilkinson was born in Vancouver, British Columbia which makes him a national (Canadian-born) player. According to the rules, each team in the CFL must have a minimum of 21 national players and 20 international players. There must be three quarterbacks and two reserves.

He had been watching the picks with bated breath, as he had no idea if he would be called up himself. The first two rounds were painful as six other offensive linemen were chosen. There had been rumours that he would be a first-round pick, so by this point, he was struggling with feelings of despondency, but he held onto his hope. He said he was pleased for all of the other players. “I watched, and I’m happy for all of those guys. I wish long, healthy careers for everybody.”

But, in the third round, he heard the words he had been hoping for and now faces a massive commute from his home in Vancouver to Montreal which is the other side of the country. He is only the eighth player from UNC to be headed to the CFL. “If I hadn’t been drafted, I would have applied for jobs and become part of the rest of the working world. Now, I have the chance to play professional football. It just seems really surreal right now. It’s a dream come true, and I’m taking it moment by moment.

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