Shane Richards

Shane Richards
No. 60     Edmonton Elks
Richards with the Edmonton Elks in 2024
Born: (1995-06-04) June 4, 1995 (age 29)
Kingston, Jamaica
Career information
StatusActive
CFL statusNational
Position(s)Offensive lineman
Height6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Weight325 lb (147 kg)
CollegeOklahoma State
New Mexico Military
CJFLCalgary Colts
High schoolCrescent Heights
CFL draft2019, round: 1, pick: 1
Drafted byToronto Argonauts
Career history
As player
2019–2023Toronto Argonauts
2024–presentEdmonton Elks
Career highlights and awards
Career stats

Shane Richards (born June 4, 1995) is a Jamaican-Canadian professional football offensive lineman for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[1]

Early life

Richards was born in Kingston, Jamaica to Daniel and Opel Richards and moved to Calgary as a child where he grew up and attended Crescent Heights High School.[2][3]

Amateur career

Following high school, Richards played for the Calgary Colts of the Canadian Junior Football League in the 2014 season and practiced with the Calgary Stampeders as a territorial rights player that same year.[1][4][3] He then attended New Mexico Military Institute to play college football for the Broncos in 2015.[1] After seeing success there, he transferred to play for the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2016 where he played in four games as a junior.[5] He had a redshirt season in 2017 and returned to play his senior year in 2018 where he played in eight regular season games and in the Liberty Bowl victory over Missouri.[5]

Professional career

Toronto Argonauts

Upon entering the CFL Draft, Richards was ranked as the second-best prospect by the Central CFL Scouting Bureau for players eligible in the 2019 CFL Draft.[6] He was eventually drafted first overall in the draft by the Toronto Argonauts and signed with the team at a team draft party with season ticket holders on May 2, 2019, to a three-year contract.[1][7] Richards was an opening day starter for the team in the 2019 season and played in his first professional game on June 22, 2019, against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.[8] He suffered a groin injury in practice before the second game of the season and was on the injured reserve for the next ten games. He dressed in the last seven games of the season and played eight in total for his rookie year.[8]

Edmonton Elks

On April 9, 2024, Richards signed with the Edmonton Elks in free agency.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d O'Leary: Richards anchors big draft night for Argos and their fans, Toronto Argonauts, May 3, 2019, retrieved May 11, 2019
  2. ^ "2019 CFL Draft: Toronto Argonauts select Oklahoma State OL Shane Richards first overall". cowboysrideforfree.com. May 2, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Calgary talent Shane Richards possible top pick in CFL Draft". Calgary Sun. May 2, 2019.
  4. ^ "Nine former CJFL players were selected in the CFL Draft". Canadian Junior Football League. May 3, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "67 Shane Richards". Canadian Junior Football League. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  6. ^ Wilkinson, Desjarlais climb final CFL Scouting Bureau rankings, Canadian Football League, April 12, 2019, retrieved April 13, 2019
  7. ^ Argos select OL Shane Richards first overall, Canadian Football League, May 2, 2019, retrieved May 11, 2019
  8. ^ a b Hogan: A new look Shane Richards Preps for 2021, Toronto Argonauts, January 14, 2021, retrieved January 19, 2021
  9. ^ "TRANSACTIONS ! Elks sign three former first-round picks". Edmonton Elks. April 9, 2024.