March 23, 2009
ARGONAUTS TRADE FOR MCMASTER PRODUCT POTTINGER
TORONTO, Ont. - The CFL's Toronto Argonauts added a hometown weapon to its arsenal by acquiring Whitby, Ont. native and leading special teams tackler Jason Pottinger from the B.C. Lions. In exchange, B.C. will receive the Argos' second first round pick (fourth overall) in the 2009 CFL Canadian Draft, as well as a conditional pick in the 2010 CFL Canadian Draft.
"The bar has been raised," claimed Argos general manager and vice president of football operations Adam Rita. "We are thrilled with this trade as we do not believe we could have acquired a player of Jason's calibre with this pick. He is the best special teams cover guy in the league and has the ability to be a starting linebacker. He is big and fast and makes us much better now and should be able to play for us for many years to come."
At 25 years of age, Pottinger has become a versatile fixture in his three years in the league. The second pick overall in the 2006 CFL Canadian draft, the McMaster grad filled in admirably as a starter in B.C. for the final 15 games of the 2007 season. He has registered 115 tackles in 54 games as a pro and his versatility has seen him play all three linebacking positions. He was second overall in the CFL in ST tackles in 2008 with 30. A warrior by nature, Pottinger has never missed a regular season or playoff game.
"Coming home to Toronto is like a dream to me," said Pottinger. "It will be a pleasure and an honour to play home games on the same field where I grew up watching some of my idols like Pinball, Chris Schultz and Doug Flutie. I'm looking forward to suiting up in the Double Blue for the first time and having my parents be able to come enjoy all of the home games with me."
Pottinger was among the leading players in all of CIS football in 2005, recording 51 tackles and a sack in eight games for McMaster, and was awarded the Presidents' Trophy as the top stand up defensive player in OUA in consecutive years. He was a member of the OUA All-Star team in each of his final three seasons with the Marauders, and was a two-time All-Canadian.
Source: Toronto Argonauts, with files from OUA Communications
"The bar has been raised," claimed Argos general manager and vice president of football operations Adam Rita. "We are thrilled with this trade as we do not believe we could have acquired a player of Jason's calibre with this pick. He is the best special teams cover guy in the league and has the ability to be a starting linebacker. He is big and fast and makes us much better now and should be able to play for us for many years to come."
At 25 years of age, Pottinger has become a versatile fixture in his three years in the league. The second pick overall in the 2006 CFL Canadian draft, the McMaster grad filled in admirably as a starter in B.C. for the final 15 games of the 2007 season. He has registered 115 tackles in 54 games as a pro and his versatility has seen him play all three linebacking positions. He was second overall in the CFL in ST tackles in 2008 with 30. A warrior by nature, Pottinger has never missed a regular season or playoff game.
"Coming home to Toronto is like a dream to me," said Pottinger. "It will be a pleasure and an honour to play home games on the same field where I grew up watching some of my idols like Pinball, Chris Schultz and Doug Flutie. I'm looking forward to suiting up in the Double Blue for the first time and having my parents be able to come enjoy all of the home games with me."
Pottinger was among the leading players in all of CIS football in 2005, recording 51 tackles and a sack in eight games for McMaster, and was awarded the Presidents' Trophy as the top stand up defensive player in OUA in consecutive years. He was a member of the OUA All-Star team in each of his final three seasons with the Marauders, and was a two-time All-Canadian.
Source: Toronto Argonauts, with files from OUA Communications
