Jake Ceresna

Jake Ceresna
refer to caption
Ceresna with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024
No. 94 – Toronto Argonauts
Position:Defensive lineman
Personal information
Born: (1994-07-09) July 9, 1994 (age 30)
New Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:295 lb (134 kg)
Career information
High school:New Fairfield
College:Cortland
Undrafted:2016
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • Cortland (2016)
    Assistant offensive line coach
Roster status:Active
CFL status:American
Career highlights and awards
Career CFL statistics as of 2023
Games Played:75
Tackles:162
Sacks:37
Forced Fumbles:6
Fumble Recoveries:0
Stats at CFL.ca
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jacob Tanner Ceresna[1] (born July 9, 1994) is an American professional football defensive end for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Cortland. Ceresna has also been a member of the New York Jets, Ottawa Redblacks, Edmonton Elks and New York Giants.

College career

Ceresna played one season for Southern Connecticut State before transferring to SUNY Cortland.[2] He graduated from Cortland with a B.S. cum laude in exercise science in 2016.[1]

Professional career

New York Jets

After going undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft, Ceresna signed with the New York Jets on August 14, 2016.[3] He was Waived/Injured on August 30, 2016 and placed on the injury reserve after sustaining a lower body injury.[4]

Ottawa Redblacks

After recording two sacks and eighteen tackles in his rookie season, Ceresna was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos for defensive end Odell Willis.[5]

Edmonton Eskimos (first stint)

Ceresna amassed 32 defensive tackles and 8 sacks in 18 games with the Eskimos. Ceresna was released by the Eskimos on January 2, 2019 in order for him to sign with the New York Giants.[6]

New York Giants

On January 2, 2019, Ceresna signed a reserve/future contract with the New York Giants.[7] Ceresna was released by the Giants on August 31, 2019 during final roster cuts.[8]

Ceresna with the Edmonton Elks in 2023

XFL

In October 2019, Ceresna was drafted by the DC Defenders in the open phase of the 2020 XFL Draft.[9] Ceresna decided to not sign with the XFL and to remain in the CFL, citing the lack of a Players Association and low salaries (1/4 of CFL salaries).[10]

Edmonton Eskimos / Elks (second stint)

On November 5, 2019, Ceresna was signed to the Eskimos' practice roster after a brief stint with the New York Giants.[11] He signed a futures contract for the 2020 season on November 19, 2019, however the season was later cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.[12] In his first season back with Edmonton Ceresna played in 13 of 14 regular season games, contributing with a career high 34 defensive tackles and five sacks. He signed a contract extension through the 2022 season on January 11, 2021.[13] Ceresna had a breakout campaign in 2022, registering 10 quarterback sacks and he was named a CFL All-Star as a result. On January 11, 2023 Ceresna and the Elks agreed to a two-year contract extension.[14] On July 5, 2023, Ceresna was fined the maximum amount by the league after his low hit on Ottawa quarterback Tyrie Adams the prior weekend.[15] The play resulted in Adams suffering an ACL injury that ended his season.[16]

Toronto Argonauts

On January 15, 2024, Ceresna was traded to the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and a 7th round pick in the 2024 CFL Draft.[17]

Coaching career

Ceresna was briefly the assistant offensive line coach for Cortland State before he signed with the New York Jets.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b 2016 Commencement Program. SUNY Cortland. 2016. p. 11. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  2. ^ "Jake Ceresna - 2012 Football - Southern Connecticut State University". southernctowls.com. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  3. ^ "Jake Ceresna Signed to New York Jets Preseason Camp Roster". SUNY Cortland Athletics. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  4. ^ "Jake Ceresna: Released by Jets on Tuesday". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  5. ^ Baines, Tim (February 2, 2018). "Redblacks trade Jake Ceresna for draft pick plus neg list player". Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  6. ^ "Eskimos Release Ceresna". Edmonton Eskimos. January 2, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  7. ^ "Giants sign nine players to Reserve/Future contracts". Giants.com. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  8. ^ Eisen, Michael (August 31, 2019). "New York Giants announce 53-man roster". Giants.com.
  9. ^ Talbot, Damond (October 16, 2019). "XFL Draft Phase 5: The Final Rounds of the Draft, Find out who was selected". NFL Draft Diamonds. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  10. ^ "X(FL) marks no spot for Eskimos defensive lineman Ceresna". Toronto Sun. November 20, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  11. ^ "Esks sign St. John, Ceresna to practice roster". CFL.ca. November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  12. ^ "Eskimos sign defensive tackle Ceresna to futures contract". Edmonton Sun. November 20, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  13. ^ "EE Football Team extends the contracts of six". Esks.com. January 11, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  14. ^ 3Down Staff (January 11, 2023). "Edmonton Elks sign CFL all-star DL Jake Ceresna to two-year contract extension". 3DownNation. Retrieved January 11, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "One player fined after Week 4 action". CFL.ca. July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  16. ^ 3Down Staff (July 5, 2023). "CFL fines Edmonton DL Jake Ceresna maximum amount for low hit on QB Tyrie Adams". 3DownNation. Retrieved July 6, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Transactions | Alks acquire Kurleigh Gittens Jr (WR), draft pick from Argos". Canadian Football League. January 15, 2024.
  18. ^ "SUNY Cortland Athletics - Jake Ceresna - 2016 Football Coaching Staff - SUNY Cortland". CortlandRedDragons.com. Retrieved March 23, 2019.