Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

[EsksTMac]

According to the Eskimos facebook page, they have signed three import linebackers; Rod Davis, Rory Johnson, and Shaun Richardson.

I'll do some digging and see if I can find out what colleges they're from.

[Numberz]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

from esks.com main page:

(Edmonton) The Eskimos have signed import linebackers Rod Davis, Rory Johnson and Shaun Richardson, the club announced today.

Rod Davis - A fifth round selection (155th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2004 NFL Draft, Davis played 40 games with Minnesota and Carolina over three seasons. The former Southern Mississippi standout spent the 2008 season with the ArenaBowl Champion Philadelphia Soul.

Rory Johnson - The Ole Miss product signed as an undrafted free agent with Green Bay in 2007. He played in four pre-season games for the Packers before being released. He then spent time on the New York Giants’ practice roster in 2007/2008.

Shaun Richardson - As a senior at Tennessee State, Davis played defensive end and was named an All-Ohio Valley Conference selection after posting 46 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception returned for a touchdown and one fumble returned for a touchdown. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie free agent in May 2008 but was released prior to training camp.

40
ROD DAVIS
LB
(Import)
Southern Mississippi
Born: April 2, 1981 – Gulfport, MS
Height: 6’2 Weight: 240
Yrs Esks: 1st
Yrs CFL: 1st

46
RORY JOHNSON
LB
(Import)
Mississippi
Born: May 15, 1986 – Vicksburg, MS
Height: 6’0 Weight: 240
Yrs Esks: 1st
Yrs CFL: 1st

42
SHAUN RICHARDSON
LB
(Import)
Tennessee State
Born: May 21, 1985 – St. Louis, MO
Height: 6’3 Weight: 250
Yrs Esks: 1st
Yrs CFL: 1st

[EsksTMac]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

(Edmonton) The Eskimos have signed import linebackers Rod Davis, Rory Johnson and Shaun Richardson, the club announced today.

Rod Davis - A fifth round selection (155th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2004 NFL Draft, Davis played 40 games with Minnesota and Carolina over three seasons. The former Southern Mississippi standout spent the 2008 season with the ArenaBowl Champion Philadelphia Soul.

Rory Johnson - The Ole Miss product signed as an undrafted free agent with Green Bay in 2007. He played in four pre-season games for the Packers before being released. He then spent time on the New York Giants’ practice roster in 2007/2008.

Shaun Richardson - As a senior at Tennessee State, Davis played defensive end and was named an All-Ohio Valley Conference selection after posting 46 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception returned for a touchdown and one fumble returned for a touchdown. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie free agent in May 2008 but was released prior to training camp.

40
ROD DAVIS
LB
(Import)
Southern Mississippi
Born: April 2, 1981 – Gulfport, MS
Height: 6’2 Weight: 240
Yrs Esks: 1st
Yrs CFL: 1st

46
RORY JOHNSON
LB
(Import)
Mississippi
Born: May 15, 1986 – Vicksburg, MS
Height: 6’0 Weight: 240
Yrs Esks: 1st
Yrs CFL: 1st

42
SHAUN RICHARDSON
LB
(Import)
Tennessee State
Born: May 21, 1985 – St. Louis, MO
Height: 6’3 Weight: 250
Yrs Esks: 1st
Yrs CFL: 1st

[Numberz]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

Richardson seems like a DE, the other two are potential WIL backers.

[EsksTMac]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

Thanks Numberz.

[Swivel Hips]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

Cheez, I think I'm seeing double.

Anyway, this should go a long way to allaying my concerns about the linebacker position this upcoming season - unless everybody we've signed recently are dogs.

[PDO]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

Assuming Richardson is the guy that Diesel was hinting about?

[Diesel]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

Can't say as of yet. I'd expect a few DE sigings

[Numberz]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

Man, with all this talk about some DE that Diesel says is gonna be good, he better be one hell of a player. But now, even if he is good, he'll be overhyped.

[Swivel Hips]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

Man, with all this talk about some DE that Diesel says is gonna be good, he better be one hell of a player. But now, even if he is good, he'll be overhyped.

I think Diez is just funnin' us.

[Diesel]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

We'll see. I know the Esks are high on a DE they are bringing in. It will be up to him to show it on the field at camp.

[Swivel Hips]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

We'll see. I know the Esks are high on a DE they are bringing in. It will be up to him to show it on the field at camp.

Do you know which one and are just sworn to secrecy, or what?

[danlaurin]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

Ht: 6-0 Wt: 239
Position: MLB
Date of Birth: 04/02/1981
Experience: 3
High School: Gulfport HS
(Gulfport, MS)
College: Southern Miss



2007 Scout.com NFL Free Agency Rankings (full list):
Pos: MLB Pos Rank: #14 Pos Rating:



Biography:
How Acquired: Drafted by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 2004 draft.

Injury History: Inactive for two games in 2004 – Sept. 26 vs. Green Bay and Nov. 14 vs. Detroit with minor injuries.

Rod Davis didn’t have the speed to match many of the linebackers in the 2004 NFL draft. He did have the production at Southern Mississippi, and that was why the Vikings eventually selected him in the fifth round.

Contract Status: Vikings Contract Chart

Career Stats: FoxSports.com Player Page

2005: Was active for all 16 games, posting 19 tackles (13 solo) with one forced fumble.

2004: Played in 14 games, almost exclusively on special teams. Tied for third on the team with 16 tackles on kick and punt coverage teams.

College: Had a string of 23 games with at least 10 tackles during his 35-game career. Recorded 362 tackles (246 solos) with 14-1⁄2 sacks for minus 102 yards and 40-1⁄2 tackles-for-loss of 177 yards during his career, adding 14 deflected passes, two forced fumbles and six interceptions for 82 yards in returns. His eight fumble recoveries are second on the school's career list. As a senior, was an All-American second-team selection by The NFL Draft Report and The Sporting News. All-Conference USA first-team and Defensive Player of the Year. Recorded 164 tackles with four sacks. As a junior in 2002, was an All-American first-team by a number of organizations and third-team choice by the Associated Press and The Sporting News. All-conference first-team. Led the conference with 168 tackles and added 10.5 sacks. As a sophomore, was named all-conference first-team. Led the Golden Eagles with 100 tackles, including three sacks.

High School: Lettered three times as a defensive back at Gulfport (Miss.) High before moving to linebacker in his senior year. Recorded 128 tackles with four interceptions, eight sacks and three fumble recoveries in his final seasons. Played in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Classic.

Personal: Heavily involved in community volunteer work, participating in Real Winners Read (helps gather and deliver books to libraries around the area to help build the book volume in libraries for children in the area), Humane Society Food Drive (helps gather food and money to buy food and supplies for the Hattiesburg area Humane Society), Dubard School For Disabilities (serves as a mentor to children who have disabilities and also reads to the children at the school), Habitat for Humanity (helped athletic department build a house to give to a needy family as part of the program) and Mentor for Area Schools (reads to children in local schools and gives speeches encouraging the kids about not using drugs and the importance of a quality education) programs.

Sounds like an all around good guy played MLB in the NFL and College. If he can crack the team I like the look of this guy.

[Diesel]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

Do you know which one and are just sworn to secrecy, or what?

Wasn't given a name for obvious reasons. At the time he wasn't signed to a contract and you never take a chance on letting another team finding out about who you're interested in.

[Swivel Hips]

Re: Eskimos sign trio of import LB's

Wasn't given a name for obvious reasons. At the time he wasn't signed to a contract and you never take a chance on letting another team finding out about who you're interested in.

Well, I guess we'll just have to watch all the DEs they bring into camp with great interest then.