Argos Derrell Mitchell and Rodney Harding named to Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Argonauts.ca Staff
TORONTO – The Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum (CFHOF) announced today that former Toronto Argonauts greats SB Derrell ‘Mookie’ Mitchell and DL Rodney Harding have been named to the 2016 induction class of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. The entire class will officially be inducted during Hall of Fame weekend in 2016 season.
Derrell ‘Mookie’ Mitchell enjoyed an 11-year CFL career, spending eight season with Toronto Argonauts (1997-03 & 07) and three with the Edmonton Eskimos (2004-06). Mitchell broke on to the CFL scene in 1997 for his first stint with the Argonauts and immediately made an impact. As a rookie, the Miami, Florida native snatched 77 passes for 1,457 yards and a career-high 17 touchdowns en route to being named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie and helping the Boatmen to hoist the second of back-to-back Grey Cup wins. Following his outstanding rookie season, Mitchell set the CFL record for receptions in a single-season (160) for 2,000 yards – the third-best single-season receiving yards total in CFL history.
After leaving Toronto for Edmonton, where he would win his second Grey Cup Championship in 2005, the three-time CFL All-Star and five-time East Division All-Star returned to the Boatmen in 2007 and became the Argonauts’ all-time leader in receiving yards with 9,047, surpassing previous record holder Paul Masotti (8,772). Mitchell’s career totals include 821 receptions for 12,014 receptions and 90 touchdowns.
Rodney Harding played 12 CFL seasons (1985-96), most notably with the Toronto Argonauts (1985-94). Known as one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the CFL from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, he registered over 253 defensive tackles, 105 career QB sacks, 14 fumble recoveries and five interceptions in 201 career games. In his 10 seasons with the Double Blue, the Oklahoma City native inscribed his name in the Argonauts record books as the club’s all-time leader in sacks (92) and sacks in a single-game (5). Harding still ranks second all-time in Double Blue history with 18 sacks in a single-season.
He feasted on quarterbacks as a defensive tackle who was named a two-time CFL All-Star (1992 & 1994) and a seven-time Division All-Star (5x East, 1x South, 1x West). Harding also played an integral part on the Argonauts 1991 Grey Cup championship team alongside Canadian Football Hall of Famers Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons and Matt Dunigan as well as TSN analyst Chris Schultz. In 2012, Harding became the 22nd player to be honoured as an All-Time Argo.
Mitchell and Harding will be joined by former CFL players James West and Doug Brown, as well as Don McDonald, who will be inducted as a Builder.
DERRELL MITCHELL CAREER SNAPSHOT:
– Argonauts All-Time leader in career receiving yards (8,722), receiving touchdowns (74), games with a receiving TD (55), 100-yard receiving games (37), receptions in a single-season (160), receptions in a single-game (16).
– Tied for first all-time in Argonauts history in receiving touchdowns in a single-game (4) and consecutive games with a receiving touchdown (6).
– Ranks second all-time in club history in career receptions (609), receiving yards in a single-season (2,000), receiving TDs in a single-season (17), consecutive games with a receptions (81), touchdown.
– Ranks third in Argonauts history in most consecutive 100-yard receiving games (3).
– Led the CFL in receptions in 1998 with 160 & and East in 2000 with 99.
– Led CFL in receiving yards in 1998 with 2000 & East in 2001 with 1,376.
– Had six 1,000 yard receiving seasons (1997-98, 2000-02, 2005).
– Had 47 100-yard games – fourth all-time in CFL history.
– CFL All-time leading in receptions in a season 160.
RODNEY HARDING CAREER SNAPSHOT:
– Argonauts all-time leader in career sacks (92).
– Ranks second all-time in Argonauts history in single-season sacks (18 in 1994).
– Most sacks in single-game by an Argo (5).
– 22nd player to be named an All-time Argo in 2012.
– 1991 Grey Cup champion as a member of the Argos.
– Nominated as the Argos Most Outstanding Player in 1992.
– 2x CFL All-star (1992 & 1994).
– 5x East Division All-Star (1986-88, 1992, 1994).
– 1 x South Division All-Star (1995).
– 1 x West Division All-Star (1996).
The new inductees will bring the total number of Hall of Fame members to 283 already included in the Hall’s Zone of Champions, which features busts of each member of the Hall.