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Shane Richards

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Shane Richards
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
2024Edmonton Elks
Career highlights and awards
Career stats

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

Early life

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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

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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

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Toronto Argonauts

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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. Richards dressed in the last seven games of the season and played eight in total for his rookie year.[8][9] He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season.

In 2021, Richards dressed in all 14 regular season games and started in eight.[9][10] He also dressed in his first post-season game, but the Argonauts lost to the Tiger-Cats in the East Final.[9] In the 2022 season, he played in 16 regular season games and started in two.[9][10] He also played in both post-season games, including the 109th Grey Cup where the Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[10] Richards played in just four regular season games in 2023 as he spent the rest of the season on the injured list.[9][10] His contract expired in the following offseason on February 13, 2024.[11]

Edmonton Elks

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On April 9, 2024, Richards signed with the Edmonton Elks in free agency.[12] He played in 16 regular season games in 2024.[9] He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 11, 2025.[13][14]

References

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  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. ^ a b c d e f "Shane Richards". Canadian Football League. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d "2024 CFL Guide" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  11. ^ "Transactions – Football Player Trades and Signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  12. ^ "TRANSACTIONS ! Elks sign three former first-round picks". Edmonton Elks. April 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "Transactions – Football Player Trades and Signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  14. ^ "Official 2025 Free Agent Tracker". Canadian Football League. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
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