:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63725818/usa_today_10324917.0.jpg)
It never quite came together for Jonathan Kongbo at Tennessee, but he will at least get the opportunity to play professional football. Kongbo did not hear his name called during the 2019 NFL Draft. A free agent opportunity never came either.
However, Kongbo was taken with the 5th overall selection in the 2019 CFL Draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night.
With the 5th overall selection in the #CFLDraft, the team has selected Jonathan Kongbo.
— WPG Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) May 3, 2019
| https://t.co/ux7LLrOFgu#ForTheW pic.twitter.com/hST6R8Rz6B
Kongbo was the nation’s top ranked JUCO prospect in 2016, coming in with big expectations. In that first season, he appeared in only seven games and recorded just one sack. Kongbo came back in 2017 and registered just 2.5 sacks, playing all over the Tennessee defensive line in Butch Jones’ final season.
Jeremy Pruitt came in and moved Tennessee to more of a 3-4 base look, which kicked Kongbo to an outside linebacker role. The senior pass rusher was only able to appear in six games before tearing his ACL against Auburn.
Kongbo will now head north, looking to revitalize his football career with a fresh start. At 6-5, 254 pound, Kongbo has the ideal size and length to get after the passer coming off of the edge. He just never was able to show much ability in Knoxville.
Hopefully the light comes on for him with Winnipeg.