Jake Ceresna

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1994)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Jake Ceresna

| current_team = Edmonton Elks

| number = 94

| image = 2023, 94, Jake Ceresna (H).jpg

| caption = Ceresna with the Edmonton Elks in 2023

| position = Defensive lineman

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|7|9}}

| birth_place = New Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 5

| weight_lbs = 285

| high_school = New Fairfield

| college = Southern Connecticut State University (2012)
Cortland (2013-2015)

| undraftedyear = 2016

| pastteams =

New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2016}})*
Ottawa Redblacks ({{CFL Year|2017}})
Edmonton Eskimos ({{CFL Year|2018}})
New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2019}})*
Edmonton Eskimos / Elks ({{CFL Year|2019|2023}})
Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2024}}
Edmonton Elks ({{CFL Year|2025}}–present)

| pastcoaching =

Cortland (2016)
Assistant offensive line coach

| status = Active

| cflstatus = American

| highlights =

Grey Cup Champion (2024)
2× CFL All-Star ({{CFL Year|2022}}, {{CFL Year|2024}})
CFL West All-Star (2022)
CFL East All-Star ({{CFL Year|2024}})

| pfr = C/CereJa00

| cfl = jake-ceresna/162428/

| cflstatseason = 2023

| cflstatlabel1 = Games Played

| cflstatlabel2 = Tackles

| cflstatlabel3 = Sacks

| cflstatlabel4 = Forced Fumbles

| cflstatlabel5 = Fumble Recoveries

| cflstatvalue1 = 92

| cflstatvalue2 = 192

| cflstatvalue3 = 45

| cflstatvalue4 = 7

| cflstatvalue5 = 0

}}

Jacob Tanner Ceresna (born July 9, 1994) is an American professional football defensive end for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Cortland. Ceresna has also been a member of the New York Jets, Ottawa Redblacks, Toronto Argonauts, and New York Giants.

College career

Ceresna played one season for Southern Connecticut State before transferring to SUNY Cortland.{{Cite web|url=http://southernctowls.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2651|title=Jake Ceresna - 2012 Football - Southern Connecticut State University|website=southernctowls.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-23}} He graduated from Cortland with a B.S. cum laude in exercise science in 2016.{{cite book|url=https://digitalcommons.cortland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1190&context=commencements_programs|page=11|title=2016 Commencement Program|publisher=SUNY Cortland|access-date=October 8, 2020|date=2016}}

Professional career

= New York Jets =

After going undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft, Ceresna signed with the New York Jets on August 14, 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cortlandreddragons.com/news/2016/8/15/football-jake-ceresna-signed-to-new-york-jets-preseason-camp-roster.aspx?path=football|title=Jake Ceresna Signed to New York Jets Preseason Camp Roster|website=SUNY Cortland Athletics|language=en|access-date=March 21, 2019}} He was Waived/Injured on August 30, 2016 and placed on the injury reserve after sustaining a lower body injury.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/jake-ceresna-released-by-jets-on-tuesday/|title=Jake Ceresna: Released by Jets on Tuesday|website=CBSSports.com|language=en|access-date=March 21, 2019}}

= Ottawa Redblacks =

After recording two sacks and eighteen tackles in his rookie season, Ceresna was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos for defensive end Odell Willis.{{Cite web|url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/football/cfl/ottawa-redblacks/redblacks-trade-lineman-jake-ceresna-and-obtain-draft-pick-plus-neg-list-player|title=Redblacks trade Jake Ceresna for draft pick plus neg list player|last=Baines|first=Tim|date=February 2, 2018|language=en-CA|access-date=March 21, 2019}}

= Edmonton Eskimos (first stint)=

Ceresna amassed 32 defensive tackles and eight sacks in 18 games with the Eskimos. Ceresna was released by the Eskimos on January 2, 2019, in order for him to sign with the New York Giants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.esks.com/2019/01/02/eskimos-release-ceresna/|title=Eskimos Release Ceresna|date=2019-01-02|website=Edmonton Eskimos|language=en|access-date=March 21, 2019}}

= New York Giants =

On January 2, 2019, Ceresna signed a reserve/future contract with the New York Giants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.giants.com/news/giants-sign-nine-players-to-reserve-future-contracts?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook|title=Giants sign nine players to Reserve/Future contracts|website=Giants.com|language=en-US|access-date=March 21, 2019}} Ceresna was released by the Giants on August 31, 2019 during final roster cuts.{{cite web|title=New York Giants announce 53-man roster|url=https://www.giants.com/news/new-york-giants-announce-53-man-roster-x1935|author=Eisen, Michael|website=Giants.com|date=August 31, 2019}}

= XFL =

In October 2019, Ceresna was drafted by the DC Defenders in the open phase of the 2020 XFL Draft.{{cite web|last=Talbot|first=Damond|url=https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2019/10/xfl-draft-8/|title=XFL Draft Phase 5: The Final Rounds of the Draft, Find out who was selected|publisher=NFL Draft Diamonds|date=October 16, 2019|access-date=October 23, 2019}} Ceresna decided to not sign with the XFL and to remain in the CFL, citing the lack of a Players Association and low salaries (1/4 of CFL salaries).{{Cite web|url=https://edmontonsun.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-eskimos/xfl-marks-no-spot-for-eskimos-defensive-lineman-ceresna|title=X(FL) marks no spot for Eskimos defensive lineman Ceresna |work= Toronto Sun |date=2019-11-20|language=en-CA|access-date=2020-02-03}}

File:2024, 94, Jake Ceresna.jpg

= Edmonton Eskimos / Elks (second stint) =

On November 5, 2019, Ceresna was signed to the Eskimos' practice roster after a brief stint with the New York Giants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/11/05/esks-sign-st-john-ceresna-practice-roster/|title=Esks sign St. John, Ceresna to practice roster|date=2019-11-05|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=2019-11-14}} He signed a futures contract for the 2020 season on November 19, 2019, however the season was later cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://edmontonsun.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-eskimos/eskimos-sign-defensive-tackle-ceresna-to-futures-contract|title=Eskimos sign defensive tackle Ceresna to futures contract |work= Edmonton Sun|date=2019-11-20|language=en-CA|access-date=2020-02-03}} In his first season back with Edmonton Ceresna played in 13 of 14 regular season games, contributing with a career high 34 defensive tackles and five sacks. He signed a contract extension through the 2022 season on January 11, 2021.{{cite news |title=EE Football Team extends the contracts of six |url=https://www.esks.com/2021/01/11/ee-footbal-team-extends-contracts-six/ |website=Esks.com |date=January 11, 2021 |access-date=February 17, 2021}} Ceresna had a breakout campaign in 2022, registering 10 quarterback sacks and he was named a CFL All-Star as a result. On January 11, 2023 Ceresna and the Elks agreed to a two-year contract extension.{{Cite web |author=3Down Staff |date=2023-01-11 |title=Edmonton Elks sign CFL all-star DL Jake Ceresna to two-year contract extension |url=https://3downnation.com/2023/01/11/edmonton-elks-sign-cfl-all-star-dl-jake-ceresna-to-two-year-contract-extension/ |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=3DownNation |language=en-US}} On July 5, 2023, Ceresna was fined the maximum amount by the league after his low hit on Ottawa quarterback Tyrie Adams the prior weekend.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-05 |title=One player fined after Week 4 action |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2023/07/05/one-player-fined-after-week-4-action/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}} The play resulted in Adams suffering an ACL injury that ended his season.{{Cite web |author=3Down Staff |date=2023-07-05 |title=CFL fines Edmonton DL Jake Ceresna maximum amount for low hit on QB Tyrie Adams |url=https://3downnation.com/2023/07/05/cfl-fines-edmonton-dl-jake-ceresna-maximum-amount-for-low-hit-on-qb-tyrie-adams/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=3DownNation |language=en-US}}

=Toronto Argonauts=

On January 15, 2024, Ceresna was traded to the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and a 7th round pick in the 2024 CFL Draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.goelks.com/2024/01/15/tranasctions-elks-acquire-kurleigh-gittens-jr-wr-draft-pick-from-argos/ |title=Transactions {{!}} Alks acquire Kurleigh Gittens Jr (WR), draft pick from Argos |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=January 15, 2024}} In 2024, he played and started in 17 regular season games where he recorded 29 defensive tackles, eight sacks, and one forced fumble.{{cite web|url=https://static.cfl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024-GN-Gm-95-Wpg-vs-Tor-GC111-1.pdf |title=111th Grey Cup notes |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=November 25, 2024}} For his strong season, he was named to the All-CFL team for the second time in his career.{{cite web|title=Best Of The Best: Oliveira, Mitchell lead 2024 All-CFL selections |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2024/11/07/best-of-the-best-oliveira-mitchell-lead-2024-all-cfl-selections/ |publisher=Canadian Football League | date=November 7, 2024}} Ceresna started in all three post-season games, including the 111th Grey Cup where he had one defensive tackle in the Argonauts' 41–24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cfl.ca/games/6486/winnipeg-blue%20bombers-vs-toronto-argonauts/#playbyplay |title=Play-by-Play, 111th Grey Cup |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=November 17, 2024}} He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 11, 2025.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/2025/ |title=Transactions – Football Player Trades and Signings |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=February 13, 2025}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.cfl.ca/fa25/#ARGOS |title=Official 2025 Free Agent Tracker |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=February 13, 2025}}

= Edmonton Elks (third stint) =

Ceresna returned to the Elks through free agency on February 12, 2025.{{cite web | url=https://www.goelks.com/2025/02/12/transactions-elks-bring-in-all-cfl-group-on-second-day-of-free-agency/| title=TRANSACTIONS: Elks bring in All-CFL group on second day of free agency | publisher=goelks.com| date=February 12, 2025 | accessdate=February 12, 2025}}

Coaching career

Ceresna was briefly the assistant offensive line coach for Cortland State before he signed with the New York Jets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cortlandreddragons.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1069|title=SUNY Cortland Athletics - Jake Ceresna - 2016 Football Coaching Staff - SUNY Cortland|website=CortlandRedDragons.com|access-date=March 23, 2019}}