Jonathan Edouard
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
|name=Jonathan Edouard
|image=2024, 41, Jonathan Edouard.jpg
|image_upright=1
|caption=Edouard with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024
|team=Toronto Argonauts
|number=41
|position1=Defensive back
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1996|2|24}}
|birth_place=Orlando, Florida, U.S.
|Height_ft=5
|Height_in=11
|Weight_lbs=185
|CIS=Carleton Ravens
|college=Henderson State
|high_school=
|CFLDraftedYear=2022
|CFLDraftedRound=Undrafted
|CFLDraftedPick=
|CFLDraftedTeam=Toronto Argonauts
|playing_years1={{CFL Year|2022}}–present
|playing_team1=Toronto Argonauts
|status=Active
|import=no
|career_highlights=
|Honours=
|CFL=jonathan-edouard/167378/
}}
Jonathan Edouard (born February 24, 1996) is an American professional football defensive back for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a two-time Grey Cup champion after winning with the Argonauts in 2022 and 2024.
University career
Edouard first played college football for the Henderson State Reddies from 2014 to 2016.{{cite web|url=https://hsusports.com/sports/football/roster/jonathan-edouard/2341 |title=Jonathan Edouard |publisher=Henderson State Reddies |access-date=October 14, 2023}} He played in 32 games where he had 47 solo tackles, 22 assisted tackles, 0.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
After a discussion with former teammate, Dondre Wright, regarding playing in Canada, Edouard visited Ottawa and committed to playing for the Carleton Ravens, starting in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/football/cfl/ottawa-redblacks/carleton-ravens |title=CANADIAN NIGHTMARE: Carleton Ravens DB waits more than a year to be allowed back into Canada |publisher=Ottawa Sun |date=October 25, 2020}} In 2019, shortly after the season began, he visited the Canada - US border to complete paperwork for a visa, but was denied re-entry to Canada and spent over a year locked out of the country. After resolving his issue, he returned to play for the Ravens in 2021 after he was granted one more year of eligibility from U Sports. Edouard played in 15 games over three seasons for the Ravens where he had 55 tackles, three interceptions, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. Despite being American, he qualified for the CFL Draft after playing at least three years at a Canadian university.{{cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2022/09/29/argos-add-former-carleton-cornerback-jonathan-edouard-two-others/ |title=Argos add former Carleton cornerback Jonathan Edouard, two others |publisher=3DownNation |date=September 29, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.argonauts.ca/players/jonathan-edouard/167378/ |title=Jonathan Edouard |publisher=Toronto Argonauts |access-date=October 14, 2023}}
Professional career
Despite testing well in the CFL Eastern Regional Combine in 2022, Edouard was not selected in the 2022 CFL Draft. He later signed with the Toronto Argonauts on September 29, 2022, to a practice roster agreement.{{cite web|url=https://www.argonauts.ca/2022/09/29/double-blue-add-three-to-roster/ |title=Double Blue Add Three to Roster |publisher=Toronto Argonauts |date=September 29, 2022}} He remained on the practice roster for the remainder of the 2022 season, including for the Argonauts' victory in the 109th Grey Cup game.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/2022/ |title=Transactions – Football player trades and signings |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=October 14, 2023}}
In 2023, Edouard made the team's active roster following training camp and played in his first professional game on June 18, 2023, against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, where he recorded one special teams tackle. He played in all 18 regular season games where he had six defensive tackles, 11 special teams tackles, and one sack. He also made his postseason debut in the East Final loss against the Montreal Alouettes where he had one special teams tackle.{{cite web|url=https://static.cfl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2050/11/2024-CFL-Guide-Digital.pdf |title=2024 CFL Guide |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=June 24, 2024}}
Edouard opened the 2024 season as a backup defensive back, but soon after made his first career start on July 4, 2024, where he recorded one defensive tackle at field side cornerback.{{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=December 1, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://static.cfl.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2016/06/Week-5-vs-SSK-July-4-2024-PDF4.pdf |title=Toronto Argonauts depth chart |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=December 1, 2024}} Edouard played in the first six regular season games, starting in three, where he had six defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, one interception, and one pass knockdown. He was placed on the six-game injured list and missed the rest of the regular season and the East Semi-Final, before returning for the East Final. He was moved to the injured list for the 111th Grey Cup where the Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Edouard won his first championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/2024/ |title=Transactions – Football Player Trades and Signings |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=December 1, 2024}}
Personal life
Edouard was born to Belo and Enide Edouard, who were originally from Haiti. He has eight siblings.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.argonauts.ca/players/jonathan-edouard/167378/ Toronto Argonauts bio]
- {{commonscatinline}}
{{Toronto Argonauts roster navbox}}
{{109th Grey Cup}}
{{111th Grey Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edouard, Jonathan}}
Category:Canadian football defensive backs
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Carleton Ravens football players
Category:Henderson State Reddies football players
Category:Players of American football from Orlando, Florida