CFL MOVES, TRADE
Montreal, July 15, 2014 – The Alouettes announced on Tuesday that national fullback Dahrran Diedrick has signed a one-year deal with the team, returning home after previously spending eight seasons in Montreal.
Diedrick (6’0”, 222 lbs.) was selected in the third round (24th overall) by the Edmonton Eskimos during the 2002 CFL Canadian Draft. After one season with the Eskimos, the 35 year-old fullback signed with the Alouettes as a free agent in 2006. This will be Diedrick’s second stint with the Alouettes, having previously played in Montreal from 2006 to 2012. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats acquired him from the Alouettes in 2013 for a fourth-round pick in the CFL Draft.
Following his college career with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, he suited up with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins. He made his CFL debut in 2005.
Diedrick, a Scarborough, ON native, lifted the Grey Cup for the first time in 2005 with the Edmonton Eskimos. He also added two championships with the Alouettes in 2009 and 2010. In his nine-year CFL career, he registered 49 special teams tackles and scored six touchdowns on offence.
The club also announced the signings of international quarterback Jonathan Crompton to a three-year contract and international linebacker Kyler Elsworth to the practice roster.
Crompton (6’4”, 225 lbs.) was selected in the fifth round (168th overall) by the San Diego Chargers during the 2010 NFL Entry Draft. Prior to his professional draft selection, Crompton suited up for the University of Tennessee Volunteers.
A native of Asheville, North Carolina, the 26-year-old quarterback also spent time with the New England Patriots, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins. He joined the Edmonton Eskimos last season before being released last week.
A year ago with Edmonton, Crompton completed 30 of his 58 passes for 451 yards, in addition to recording five touchdowns in eight games. He also registered 20 rushing yards on five runs, scoring one rushing touchdown.
Elsworth (6’1”, 225) helped the Michigan State Spartans win the Rose Bowl against the Stanford University Cardinals by a score of 24-20 last January. He was named the most valuable defensive player of the game with four tackles, including the one that sealed the outcome of the game when Elsworth stopped the Cardinals’ fullback on a fourth down, causing a turnover on downs.
He completed his college career with a total of 73 defensive tackles and three quarterback sacks as well as forcing a fumble and recovering one.
The team also announced on Tuesday the release of quarterback Zach Zulli.
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WINNIPEG, MB., July 15, 2014 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has acquired International quarterback Josh Portis from Toronto, in exchange for a conditional draft choice.
Portis (6-4, 210, California University of Pennsylvania , July 14,, 1987 in Woodland Hills, California) spent the 2013 season with Toronto, mainly on the injured list, dressing for one game against B.C. Prior to joining the Argos, Portis spent the 2012 season with the Seattle Seahawks as their third string quarterback, and spent some time on their practice roster.
His college career saw him play two seasons at California University of Pennsylvania (2009-10), three years at Maryland (2006-2008) and one year at Florida (2005). He set a school record at California University of Pennsylvania in 2009, throwing for 3,421 yards and 36 touchdowns. His senior season was completed in 2010 when he threw for 2,651 yards and 33 touchdowns in 12 games.
