The Toronto Argonauts made a late addition to the roster ahead of the second day of 2017 Training Camp, bringing international LB Terrell Richardson into the mix.
As the team took the field for its first two-a-day practice of the spring, 42 veterans joined the 45 rookies and quarterbacks that participated in last week’s rookie camp to round out a roster of 87 to open camp.
Three USports quarterbacks are also in attendance at this year’s Argos camp, taking the opportunity to learn the game from the bright minds in the team’s quarterback room. Joining the Double Blue for camp are Ben Bergamin (Windsor), Lucas McConnell (Waterloo) and Kyle Siemens (Saskatchewan). McMaster’s Dylan Astrom and Concordia’s Trenton Miller spent the three days of rookie camp with the squad.
Amongst the new arrivals at camp was recently signed linebacker Marcus Ball, who re-signed in Toronto Sunday after spending the last three seasons with NFL clubs.
Ball, the Argonauts 2012 Most Outstanding Defensive Player, started in 32 contests between 2012-13 with the team, recording 144 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, seven sacks and four interceptions.
In stints with the New Orleans Saints (2014), Carolina Panthers (2015) and San Francisco 49ers (2016), the native of Norfolk, Virginia, appeared in 18 games, recording 20 total tackles.
Returning North of the border, Ball is bringing a new mentality and approach to the game, one that he picked up from Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
“I just try to ‘stay green’ in this game, and learn as if I don’t know. [I try to] learn as if it’s my first day, every day,” explained Ball.
Another new arrival on the field Monday was receiver Armanti Edwards, who arrived Sunday in a trade that sent OL Peter Dyakowski to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Edwards, who hauled in 19 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown in four games with the Riders in 2016, received a tap on the shoulder in the Riders’ introductory meeting and caught an early flight to Toronto on Sunday.
The former Appalachian State quarterback, who played an integral role in the team’s well-documented upset win over the Michigan Wolverines during his 2007 sophomore season, became the first quarterback in NCAA history to throw for 9,000 yards and rush for 4,000 in a career. He later eclipsed 10,000 passing yards.
After converting to the receiver position during his third NFL season with the Carolina Panthers, Edwards crossed paths with Marc Trestman in Chicago during the 2014 season. Now reunited with Trestman, Edwards will wear No. 10 in the Double Blue.
Ball and Edwards’ arrival triggered a number of number changes, including Brian Jones‘ switch to No. 16 and Chandler Worthy‘s No. 80.
Other Argos sporting new numbers for training camp include Devier Posey (85), Brandon Washington (59) and Davonte Wallace (62), who surrendered the No. 64 uniform to off-season arrival J’Micheal Deane.