TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts selected offensive lineman Shane Richards first overall in the CFL Canadian college draft Thursday night.

The six-foot-eight, 334-pound Richards was the second-ranked draft prospect on the CFL Scouting Bureau's final top-20 list behind Laval's Mathieu Betts, who signed last weekend with the NFL's Chicago Bears.

Last year, Richards played eight regular-season games at Oklahoma State and capped his college career by helping the Cowboys beat Missouri 38-33 in the Liberty Bowl.

Richards attended the CFL combine in March but was sent home after deciding against testing. Despite that, he was regarded by many league officials as one of the draft's most pro-ready prospects.

Toronto secured the first overall selection after posting a CFL-worst 4-14 record last season. The Argos finished tied for fifth with B.C. for fewest sacks allowed (38).

Veteran Chris Van Zeyl, a 35-year-old native of Fonthill, Ont., enters his 14th season with Toronto at right tackle. The selection of Richards does allow the Argos the opportunity to go with five Canadians on the offensive line as the club finished 2018 with American Isiah Cage at left tackle.

It's the first time since '97 that the Argos held the first overall pick in the CFL draft. That year they took centre Chad Folk, who was a member of two Grey Cup-winning teams from 1997-08.