Texas Tech University football players have had a successful career in the Canadian Football League for many years.
Wide receiver Derrell Mitchell had 12,000 career yards receiving during his 11-year career north of the border and was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 2016. Linebacker Micah Orr set the Calgary Stampeders' single-season tackles record last year.
Former Tech offensive lineman Glenn Janally, defensive lineman Aaron Hunt and defensive back Jamar Wall all played in the CFL.
January was a three-time CFL All-Star during his nine-year career, primarily with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Hunt was a two-time CFL All-Star and won two Grey Cups during his seven-year career, primarily with the British Columbia Lions. Wall was a two-time CFL All-Star and won two Grey Cups during his 10-year career with Calgary.
Mitchell and Hunt won the CFL Rookie of the Year award in 1997 and 2006, respectively.
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Saturday was the final cutdown day for CFL teams, and with the regular season opening this week, here's a look at former football players from north of the border at Texas Tech and Lubbock.
Linebacker Micah Oh, Calgary Stampeders
Orr is in his seventh season in the CFL and his second with Calgary. Last season, he recorded 134 defensive tackles, third most in CFL history, and was nominated by the Stampeders for the league's Defensive Player of the Year. He started all 18 games at middle linebacker and recorded four tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions and six special teams tackles. A Mansfield Summit graduate, Orr has played for six of the CFL's nine teams.
Defensive back DaMarcus Fields, Saskatchewan Roughriders
Fields signed with Saskatchewan in March after playing for the New Orleans Saints and Washington Commanders. He appeared as part of the Roughriders' defensive halfback duo in the final preseason game on May 25.
Defensive end Pete Robertson, BC Lions
Robertson, an undrafted free agent in 2016, spent the past three seasons with Saskatchewan after spending four years with three NFL teams. From 2021-2023, he recorded 86 tackles, including 21 sacks and six forced fumbles. His nine sacks in 2022 were fourth-most in the CFL and he had a career-high 55 defensive tackles and seven sacks last year. He signed a one-year contract with BC in February.
Defensive back Marquis Waters, Toronto Argonauts
Waters went undrafted in 2023 after being named to the All-Big 12 Conference first team and spent May through August with the New York Jets. He signed with Toronto in January and played at boundary linebacker in the Argos' final preseason game last week.
Quarterback Jarrett Doge, Edmonton Elks
The former Lubbock Cooper star played for four college programs from 2017-2022 before signing with Edmonton in April 2023. He will be in his second season with the Elks after throwing for 587 yards and four touchdowns last year. Doage started in the Elks' final preseason game but left the game with a lower-body injury.
Defensive back Adrian Frye, Ottawa Redblacks
Frye was with the Red Raiders from 2018-2022 before joining the Redblacks, who signed him in January. The Redblacks added Frye to their practice squad on the final cutdown day last week.
Wide Receiver, Kayron Geiger, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Geiger, who will be an undrafted free agent in 2022, spent parts of the past two years with the Tampa Buccaneers and was on the active roster for three games in 2022. The Tiger-Cats added him to their practice roster last week.
Wide receiver TJ Vasher and linebacker Tony Jones were late cuts.
Vasher and Jones were among the players released on the final cutdown day – Vasher by Hamilton and Jones by Edmonton – with Jones having played in 20 games with the Elks over the past two years and recording 56 tackles.
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