ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – With the ninth overall pick in the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft, the Toronto Argonauts Football Club selected DL Cleyon Laing from Iowa State. Laing has one more year of NCAA eligibility and will return for his final season before joining the Argonauts next season.
Commented Argonauts’ General Manager Jim Barker, “Cleyon is a strong, physical presence inside; he’s a big man with great athleticism and these types of players don’t come along every year. He had a great spring at Iowa State and he has one more year of eligibility there. This is a pick for the future and we’re thrilled to have been able to select him ninth overall.”
Commented Argonauts’ Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach/Assistant GM Chris Jones, “Cleyon has great mobility, for a guy his size, and has played football at a high level. He’s had a very productive spring and has improved considerably as a player according to the coaching staff at Iowa State. We are looking forward to seeing him on the defence in 2013.”
Commented the Argos’ first draft pick, DL Cleyon Laing, “I’m excited to get an opportunity to play in Toronto. I haven’t been to Toronto since I was a young kid so I’m excited to get back. I’m also a Raptors and Jays fan so I look forward to going to their games. I’ve been training and working hard to finish out my college career.”
More on Cleyon Laing:
Defensive Lineman | 6’4”, 290 lbs. | Iowa State | Born: November 25, 1990 | Edmonton, Alberta
College: 2011 Played in 12 games for the Cyclones…Recorded 12 tackles, 0.5 sacks and a pass breakup on the season… Had a season-high three tackles and 0.5 sacks in win at Connecticut…2010 Played in nine games…recorded 15 tackles and added a force fumble on the year…Had a career day making four tackles, one being for a loss at Colorado (13/11/2010)…2009 Appeared in five games…recorded two tackles…2008 Redshirted his freshman year.
Personal: Cleyon is the son of Brenda and Clinton Laing. Cleyon attended Holy Trinity Catholic High School. During his high school career he was a versatile player as he played both receiver and defensive line. In 2007, Lang was awarded the Holy Trinity Catholic High School Most Outstand Defensive Lineman. As a senior he was nominated for the Haliburton Trophy, given to the best football player in the Edmonton Metro area. Cleyon was also a basketball player and competitive track athlete, partaking in shot put, javelin and discus. Lang, is currently a Majoring in the Interdisciplinary Studies program at Iowa State. He has a four month old dog named Duke. His favourite movie is Bad Boys 2.