Jack Cassar
| No. 45 Toronto Argonauts | |
 Cassar with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024 | |
| Born: | January 19, 1997 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Status | Active |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | Linebacker |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Weight | 240 lb (110 kg) |
| University | Carleton |
| High school | Canada Prep Academy Lorne Park Secondary |
| CFL draft | 2020, round: 2, pick: 11 |
| Drafted by | Toronto Argonauts |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2021–present | Toronto Argonauts |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Honours | First Team All-Canadian (2019) |
| Career stats | |
| |
Jack Cassar (born January 19, 1997) is a Canadian professional football linebacker for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a two-time Grey Cup champion after winning with the Argonauts in 2022 and 2024.
University career
[edit]Cassar played U Sports football for the Carleton Ravens from 2016 to 2019.[1][2] He played in 31 regular season games where he had 153.5 tackles, eight sacks, and one interception.[2] He was named a U Sports First Team All-Canadian and the OUA Stand-up Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 as he played in seven games where he had 44 tackles, four sacks, seven tackles for a loss, and one fumble recovery.[3]
Professional career
[edit]Cassar was drafted in the second round, 11th overall, in the 2020 CFL Draft by the Toronto Argonauts, but did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season.[4] He then signed with the team on March 25, 2021.[4] Cassar made the team following training camp and played in his first career professional game on August 7, 2021, against the Calgary Stampeders.[5] However, he suffered a hip injury in that game and was placed on the team's six-game injured list.[6] He returned to play on October 6, 2021, against the Ottawa Redblacks, where he earned his first professional start at middle linebacker, in just his second professional game.[6] Cassar played in eight regular season games in 2021 where he had two defensive tackles and nine special teams tackles.[7] He also made his post-season debut that year in the team's East Final loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.[7]
In 2022, Cassar played in 12 regular season games, starting in one, where he had 11 defensive tackles, a team-leading 19 special teams tackles, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.[7] He played in both of the team's post-season games, including his first Grey Cup appearance, where he recorded three special teams tackles in the 109th Grey Cup victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[7] In the 2023 season, Cassar played in all 18 regular season games where he had two defensive tackles, 14 special teams tackles, and three fumble recoveries.[7]
In 2024, Cassar tied for the league lead in special teams tackles with 22, where he played in 18 regular season games and also recorded six defensive tackles.[8][9] He played in all three post-season games, including the 111th Grey Cup where he had one fumble recovery in the Argonauts' 41–24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[9][10]
Personal life
[edit]Cassar first played gridiron football in Dubai where he attended school from grade 5 to grade 8.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Carleton's Trevor Hoyte, Alain Cimankinda selected in CFL draft". The Charlatan. May 22, 2021.
- ^ a b "Trevor Hoyte". Toronto Argonauts. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- ^ "Cassar takes home Oustanding Stand-up Defensive Player award". Carleton Ravens. November 7, 2019. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ a b "Argos sign 11th overall pick Cassar". Toronto Argonauts. March 25, 2021.
- ^ "Former Ravens Cassar and Hoyte make CFL debut for Argos". Carleton Ravens. August 13, 2021.
- ^ a b Zicarelli, Frank (October 5, 2021). "Argos rookie Cassar 'ready to fly around' in home debut". Toronto Sun.
- ^ a b c d e "2024 CFL Guide Book" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "Stats". Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ a b "111th Grey Cup notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
- ^ "Play-by-Play, 111th Grey Cup". Canadian Football League. November 17, 2024.
- ^ Baines, Tim (May 11, 2020). "JUST LIKE MIKE? Comparison to O'Shea aside, Jack Cassar looking to make CFL impact". Ottawa Sun.
External links
[edit]- Toronto Argonauts bio
Media related to Jack Cassar at Wikimedia Commons
