One former Saluki football player will go back to his home and native land to start his professional career.

Anthony Thompson was selected 12th overall Tuesday by the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League draft.

Thompson, a Montréal native, was the first defensive back taken in the draft after tallying 55 tackles and defending four passes for the Salukis this past season.

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After redshirting and transferring from UCLA, Thompson totaled 125 career tackles with three interceptions, 12 passes deflections and a forced fumble across his four-year SIU career.

The CFL has rules designating how many international players, or imports, can be on a roster, making Canadian-born players like Thompson a prime asset. The CFL draft is limited to Canadian natives and those who played at Canadian universities.

The 6-foot-1, 208-pound Thompson was the sixth player from an American university taken and the first from a Football Championship Subdivision school.

The BC Lions, who play in Vancouver, went 7-11 last season and were knocked out of the CFL playoffs by the Calgary Stampeders in the division semi-finals.

The newest BC Lion will get his first chance to don the uniform June 25 in Vancouver against the Stampeders.

Sean Carley can be reached at [email protected] or at 618-536-3307.