Dean Faithfull
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Short description|English gridiron football player (born 1987)}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Dean Faithfull
| image = 2023, 18, Dean Faithfull.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Faithfull with the Edmonton Elks in 2023
| number = 2
| position = Placekicker
| current_team = Outlaws Arena Football Team
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|5|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Fareham, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 207
| high_school =
| college = Florida Tech (2007–2010)
CSU Pueblo (2021)
| cfldraftyear = 2023G
| cfldraftround = 1
| cfldraftpick = 2
| pastteams =
- Edmonton Elks ({{CFL Year|2023|2024}})
| status = None
| cflstatus = Global
| highlights =
| cfl = dean-faithfull/167894/
}}
Dean Faithfull (born 23 May 1987) is an English professional gridiron football placekicker for the Outlaws Arena Football Team of the Arena Football One. Formerly a soccer player, he played the sport in college from 2007 to 2010 at Florida Tech and later played across the world in semi-professional leagues. In 2021, he began playing football for the CSU Pueblo Thunderwolves, becoming the oldest NCAA Division II football player in history. He was selected with the second overall pick of the 2023 CFL Global Draft by the Elks.
Early life and soccer career
Faithfull was born on 23 May 1987, in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/dean-faithfull/167894/|publisher=Canadian Football League|title=Dean Faithfull|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-date=6 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706162706/https://www.cfl.ca/players/dean-faithfull/167894/|url-status=live}} He grew up in Hampshire and attended Tauntons College, but later moved to the U.S. to play college soccer for the Florida Tech Panthers.{{Cite news|url=https://edmontonsun.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-elks/elks-kicker-dean-faithfull-taking-the-opposite-journey-as-ted-lasso|newspaper=Edmonton Sun|title=Elks kicker Dean Faithfull taking the opposite journey as Ted Lasso|date=30 May 2023|author=Moddejonge, Gerry|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-date=30 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530204639/https://edmontonsun.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-elks/elks-kicker-dean-faithfull-taking-the-opposite-journey-as-ted-lasso|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://floridatechsports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/dean-faithfull/7777|publisher=Florida Tech Panthers|title=Dean Faithfull|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-date=6 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706162708/https://floridatechsports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/dean-faithfull/7777|url-status=live}} He played four years for the Panthers, from 2007 to 2010, as a defender. As a freshman, he started 13 games and scored one goal, after which he started 15 games in 2008 and posted nine shots. In 2009, Faithfull played in all 17 matches and started 16, tying for the team lead with four assists. He started all 18 games in 2010 and anchored the team's defense, totaling a career-high seven points and a team-high 1,626 minutes played.
After his stint with the Florida Tech Panthers, Faithfull played two years of soccer for a club in the second tier of the Australian soccer league system, followed by one year in the Liga FPD, the top division of Costa Rica. He then went on to play in Trinidad and Tobago and for a team in the Belgian Second Division.
College football career
Faithfull visited his Florida Tech coach in 2019, who asked him if he wanted to play for the school's football team as they needed a new placekicker.{{Cite news|url=https://www.chieftain.com/story/sports/college/football/2021/10/23/csu-pueblos-34-year-old-kicker-dean-faithfull-wants-one-boys/8506287002/|newspaper=The Pueblo Chieftain|title=CSU Pueblo's 34-year-old field goal kicker Dean Faithfull fitting in nicely with 'the boys'|author=Letofsky, Jeff|date=23 October 2021|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-date=29 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129090725/https://www.chieftain.com/story/sports/college/football/2021/10/23/csu-pueblos-34-year-old-kicker-dean-faithfull-wants-one-boys/8506287002/|url-status=live}} He still was academically eligible for two semesters and tried out for the team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox21news.com/sports/csu-pueblo-senior-adds-english-to-thunderwolves-special-teams/|publisher=KXRM-TV|title=CSU Pueblo senior adds English to Thunderwolves' special teams|date=25 October 2021|author=Bouldin, Tyler|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130130637/https://www.fox21news.com/sports/csu-pueblo-senior-adds-english-to-thunderwolves-special-teams/|url-status=live}} His tryout was successful and he was offered a scholarship, with the plan that he would join the team in the summer of 2020; however, the team was discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Faithfull was later brought in for a tryout by the CSU Pueblo Thunderwolves, after they hired a coach who knew him. He made the team for the 2021 season and, aged 34, became the oldest NCAA Division II player of all time.{{Cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9740085/edmonton-elks-offence-2023-preseason/|newspaper=Global News|title=Elks offence looking for a little finish before 2023 season begins|date=1 June 2023|author=Campbell, Dave|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-date=8 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608224410/https://globalnews.ca/news/9740085/edmonton-elks-offence-2023-preseason/|url-status=live}} His role included kicking field goals, extra points, and making the kickoffs. In his only year with the ThunderWolves, he went 7-for-12 on field goals, scored 20 extra points, and averaged 58.5 yards off 44 kickoffs, while making 24 touchbacks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/elks-select-two-in-global-draft/n-5955133|website=OurSports Central|title=Elks Select Two in Global Draft|date=2 May 2023|publisher=Edmonton Elks|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-date=6 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706162709/https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/elks-select-two-in-global-draft/n-5955133|url-status=live}} Faithfull graduated from the school in December 2021 with a master's degree in business.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kktv.com/2021/10/29/csu-pueblo-kicker-dean-faithfulls-unconventional-journey-football-i-dont-take-moment-granted/|publisher=KKTV|title=CSU-Pueblo kicker Dean Faithfull's unconventional journey to football: "I don't take a moment for granted"|author=Hiler, Megan|date=28 October 2021|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102152558/https://www.kktv.com/2021/10/29/csu-pueblo-kicker-dean-faithfulls-unconventional-journey-football-i-dont-take-moment-granted/|url-status=live}}
Professional career
Faithfull was selected with the second overall pick of the 2023 CFL Global Draft by the Edmonton Elks. In preseason, he made 6-of-9 attempts, with the final one being blocked against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He made the final roster and became the team's oldest player at 36 despite being a rookie.{{Cite news|url=https://edmontonsun.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-elks/arceneaux-hands-off-title-of-oldest-elks-player-to-36-year-old-rookie|newspaper=Edmonton Sun|title=Arceneaux hands off title of oldest Elks player to 36-year-old rookie|author=Moddejonge, Gerry|date=1 June 2023|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-date=1 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601210819/https://edmontonsun.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-elks/arceneaux-hands-off-title-of-oldest-elks-player-to-36-year-old-rookie|url-status=live}} In his debut, against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he converted both of his two field goal attempts and averaged 66.5 yards per kickoff.{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2023/06/12/here-we-go-again-eight-thoughts-on-the-edmonton-elks-loss-to-the-saskatchewan-roughriders/|website=3DownNation.com|title=Here we go again: eight thoughts on the Edmonton Elks' loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders|author=Hoskins, Andrew|date=12 June 2023|access-date=13 June 2023|archive-date=13 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613015659/https://3downnation.com/2023/06/12/here-we-go-again-eight-thoughts-on-the-edmonton-elks-loss-to-the-saskatchewan-roughriders/|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.goelks.com/players/dean-faithfull/167894/ Edmonton Elks bio]
- {{Commonscatinline}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Faithfull, Dean}}
Category:English players of American football
Category:Canadian football placekickers
Category:American football placekickers
Category:Sportspeople from Hampshire
Category:Florida Tech Panthers men's soccer players
Category:CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves football players