Tyron Vrede
{{Short description|Dutch gridiron football player (born 1996)}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
| name = Tyron Vrede
| image_upright = 1
| image = File:2022, 46, Tyron Vrede.jpg
| caption = Vrede with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2022
| number = 46
| team = Ottawa Redblacks
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|9|18}}
| birth_place = Amsterdam, Netherlands
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 231
| high_school =
| college = {{ubl|West Hills Coalinga (2016)|Garden City CC (2017)|North Dakota (2018–2019)}}
| CFLDraftedYear = 2021G
| CFLDraftedRound = 2
| CFLDraftedPick = 10
| playing_years1 = {{0|0000}}–2016
| playing_team1 = Amsterdam Crusaders
| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|2021}}–present
| playing_team2 = Ottawa Redblacks
| status = Active
| import = Global
| highlights =
| CFL = tyron-vrede/166168/
}}
Tyron Vrede (born 18 September 1996) is a Dutch professional gridiron football linebacker for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was the tenth overall pick by the Redblacks in the 2021 CFL Global Draft.
Early life
Vrede grew up playing association football in his hometown of Amsterdam, describing himself as a physical player, but got interested in American football after he was gifted a copy of the video game Madden 2000 for the PlayStation.{{cite news|url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/with-the-help-of-madden-2000-and-two-years-working-at-an-amsterdam-airport-und-linebacker-tyron-vrede-thankful-for-his-opportunity-to-play|title=With the help of Madden 2000 and two years working at an Amsterdam airport, UND linebacker Tyron Vrede thankful for his opportunity to play|work=Grand Forks Herald|first=Tom|last=Miller|date=23 March 2019|access-date=7 April 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021/04/10/dutch-prospect-vrede-getting-drafted-mean-lot/|title=Dutch prospect Vrede on getting drafted: 'It would mean a lot to me'|publisher=Canadian Football League|date=10 April 2021|access-date=7 April 2022}} Since the Netherlands does not allow kids to play tackle football until they are 17, he played flag football for a few months before he could join a full-contact team. However, with no exposure to international recruiters, Vrede did not receive any offers to play college football after graduating from high school. Over the next two years, he carried luggage at an Amsterdam airport, coached flag football, and managed a gym to make enough money for a potential move to the United States.
Vrede played with the Amsterdam Crusaders in his hometown, even serving as the team's placekicker.{{cite news|url=https://www.sportkreis-frankfurt.de/neuigkeiten-sportkreis/news-303.html|title=Samsung Frankfurt Universe gewinnt European Football League-Finale|work=Sportkreis Frankfurt|date=13 June 2016|access-date=6 April 2022|language=de}} He played in the EFL Bowl in 2016, which they lost to the Frankfurt Universe. Vrede was also called up to the Dutch junior national teams on several occasions. He was eventually selected to play in the International Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, representing Team World against Team USA under-19s. "That's when I knew I could play at an American level," Vrede said of the experience. He began sending his highlight film to American junior colleges and attended football camps in Germany to attract attention from coaches.
College career
Vrede enrolled at West Hills College Coalinga with the help of fellow Amsterdam native Dylan Bakker, who had played at West Hills and North Dakota. As a freshman, Vrede recorded 36 tackles and five pass breakups in nine games at defensive back.{{cite web|url=https://www.westhillsfalcons.com/sports/fball/2016-17/bios/vrede_tyron_33x2?view=profile|title=Tyron Vrede|publisher=West Hills Falcons Athletics|access-date=7 April 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://fightinghawks.com/news/2017/12/20/211690352.aspx|title=Schweigert adds 21 during early signing period|publisher=North Dakota Fighting Hawks Athletics|date=20 December 2017|access-date=7 April 2022}} He also helped the Falcons upset an unbeaten Shasta College team in the 2016 {{abbr|NCFC|Northern California Football Conference}} American Division Bowl, tallying nine tackles in the 20–14 comeback victory.{{cite news|url=https://www.westhillsfalcons.com/general/2016-17/Bowl_Win|title=Bowl Champs: Falcons Shock No. 1 Shasta, 20-14|publisher=West Hills Falcons Athletics|date=19 November 2016|access-date=6 April 2022}} However, the coaching staff was fired in the offseason, leading Vrede to transfer to Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas. Now listed as a linebacker, he recorded 28 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in his lone season with the Broncbusters.{{cite web|url=https://www.kjccc.org/sports/fball/2017-18/players/tyronvrede0tea?view=profile|title=Tyron Vrede|publisher=Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference|access-date=10 April 2022}} His performance helped him land a scholarship to play NCAA Division I football at the University of North Dakota.
Vrede played in all 11 games for the Fighting Hawks during his junior year in 2018, logging 23 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks as a reserve linebacker. Because of differences between the Dutch and American education systems, he was originally labelled a senior throughout the season by the NCAA and was not cleared to play his actual senior year until spring break.{{cite news|url=https://www.willistonherald.com/sports/collegiate_sports/und-inside-linebackers-go-from-weak-link-to-major-strength/article_4a5062b2-cb4e-11e9-a5a8-97a56e284d39.html|title=UND inside linebackers go from weak link to major strength|work=Williston Herald|first=Tom|last=Miller|date=30 August 2019|access-date=11 April 2022}} In 2019, Vrede played in all 12 games and recorded 33 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.{{cite news|url=https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/ottawa-redblacks-sign-three-global-draft-picks-and-another-global-player/|title=Ottawa Redblacks sign three Global Draft picks plus another Global player|work=American Football International|date=30 April 2021|access-date=11 April 2022}} He tallied five tackles in their season opening win against Drake.{{cite news|url=https://fightinghawks.com/news/2019/8/31/football-new-offense-cranks-out-efficiency-in-season-opening-win.aspx|title=Love the Drake: UND rolls Bulldogs in season opener|publisher=North Dakota Fighting Hawks Athletics|date=31 August 2019|access-date=11 April 2022}}
Vrede graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://und.edu/academics/commencement/_files/docs/2020-spring-commencement-program.pdf|title=2020 Spring Commencement Program|publisher=University of North Dakota|access-date=11 April 2022|page=25}}
Professional career
Vrede was selected by the Ottawa Redblacks with the tenth overall pick in the 2021 CFL Global Draft.{{cite press release|url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2021/04/15/redblacks-draft-four-international-talents-2021-cfl-global-draft/|title=Redblacks draft four international talents at the 2021 CFL Global Draft|publisher=Ottawa Redblacks|date=15 April 2021|access-date=7 April 2022}} Before the draft, JC Abbott of 3DownNation.com had rated him as the second-best linebacker available after Les Maruo.{{cite news|url=https://3downnation.com/2021/04/14/cfl-global-draft-position-rankings-linebackers/|title=CFL Global Draft Position Rankings: Linebackers|work=3 Down Nation|first=JC|last=Abbott|date=14 April 2021|access-date=7 April 2022}} Vrede signed with the Redblacks in late April, and officially made the roster after final cuts were announced a week before the start of the 2021 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/cfl-dutch-lb-tyron-vrede-makes-the-cut-with-ottawa-redblacks/|title=CFL: Dutch LB Tyron Vrede makes the cut with Ottawa Redblacks|work=American Football International|date=2 August 2021|access-date=11 April 2022}} He recorded four special teams tackles in his first four games and finished the year third on the team with ten special teams tackles in 14 games played.{{cite news|url=https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/global-players-starting-to-make-a-mark-on-cfl-teams/|title=Global players starting to make a mark on CFL teams|work=American Football International|first=JC|last=Abbott|date=10 September 2021|access-date=12 April 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/2021-cfl-season-featured-global-starters-sack-artists-and-first-ever-all-star/|title=2021 CFL season featured Global starters, sack artists and first ever all-star|work=American Football International|first=JC|last=Abbott|date=26 November 2021|access-date=7 April 2022}} He also broke into the defensive rotation towards the end of the season, where he recorded five defensive tackles.
In 2022, Vrede played in 12 regular season games where he recorded seven special teams tackles.{{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=February 18, 2025}} At the start of the 2023 season, he played in the first four games where he had 18 defensive tackles, including a career-high 11 defensive tackles on July 8, 2023, against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/tyron-vrede/166168/ |title=Tyron Vrede |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=February 18, 2025}} He also recorded two special teams tackles in those games, but suffered a season-ending injury and was out for the remainder of the year.
In 2024, Vrede played in 10 regular season games where he had 16 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, and one sack. He also played in the team's East Semi-Final loss to the Toronto Argonauts where he recorded two special teams tackles.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/games/6482/toronto-argonauts-vs-ottawa-redblacks/ |title=Toronto Argonauts vs Ottawa Redblacks |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=February 18, 2025}} After becoming a free agent in the following offseason, Vrede re-signed with the Redblacks to a one-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2025/02/18/redblacks-re-sign-global-linebacker-tyron-vrede/ |title=Redblacks re-sign Global linebacker Tyron Vrede |publisher=Ottawa Redblacks |date=February 18, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [https://fightinghawks.com/sports/football/roster/tyron-vrede/8632 North Dakota Fighting Hawks bio]
- [https://www.kjccc.org/sports/fball/2017-18/players/tyronvrede0tea?view=profile Garden City Broncbusters bio]
- [https://www.westhillsfalcons.com/sports/fball/2016-17/bios/vrede_tyron_33x2?view=profile West Hills Falcons bio]
{{Ottawa Redblacks roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vrede, Tyron}}
Category:Dutch players of American football
Category:Dutch players of Canadian football
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Canadian football linebackers
Category:West Hills Falcons football players
Category:Garden City Broncbusters football players
Category:North Dakota Fighting Hawks football players