Anthony Coombs (1) during the game between the Ottawa REDBLACKS and the Toronto Argonauts at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa, ON. Friday, September 23, 2016. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
1) Coombs was drafted by the Argonauts with the third overall pick in the 2014 CFL Draft, a selection that the Argos acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Eskimos.
2) The 24-year old Winnipeg, Manitoba, native played university football for the hometown Manitoba Bisons, who share a stadium with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. With the Bisons, Coombs amassed over 3,000 total yards from scrimmage and set a Canada West record with a 107-yard rushing touchdown. The 2013 Bisons’ Athlete of the Year and two-time CIS First Team All-Canadian ranks seventh all-time on the Canada West touchdowns list.
3) Throughout his career, Coombs has played a versatile role within the Argonauts offence, having been used as both a tailback and slotback while also returning kicks and punts. In 39 CFL games, he’s averaged an impressive 5.5 yards per carry on the ground and finished 2016 just three receiving yards shy of 1,000 for his career.
4) Coombs recorded a number of career milestones during the 2016 CFL season, including his first career CFL rushing touchdown against the Redblacks in Week Four. The versatile back also notched a career-long kick return (40 yards) in Week 18 at Calgary and set a career-high in single-game receiving (79 yards) against the Eskimos in Week 20.
5) One week after recording his first career rushing touchdown, Coombs was on the other end of a career-first, reeling in quarterback Cody Fajardo’s first career passing touchdown against the Montreal Alouettes.