By Michael Murillo,
CFL.ca
NCAA football fans don’t have to lose track of their favourite players when they leave their competitive teams and conferences. Each week, College Connection looks at a pair of former college stars who are making waves today in the CFL. Their teams will meet in an upcoming match up, televised in the US.
This week: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Edmonton Eskimos, August 11, available on CBC.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats: Talman Gardner, WR, Florida State Seminoles. Gardner has a successful career at Florida State (1999-2002), lettering all four years of his collegiate football career and finishing as the team’s second-leading receiver in each his final two seasons in Tallahassee. As a sophomore he was the team’s top kick returner, and as a junior he led the Seminoles with 11 touchdown receptions. That same year Gardner ranked sixth in the ACC with nearly 65 receiving yards per game. As a senior he started all 14 of the team’s games, and was promptly drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2003.
Now, even though the Tiger-Cats are struggling at 1-5, Gardner is making his mark on the team, providing a reliable target for Jason Maas. In one of the team’s better offensive showing this year, a week 3 loss to Montreal, Gardner was the main target, with eight receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown. His 67-yard score in that game is the team’s longest touchdown reception so far this season. So far, Gardner has 17 catches for 267 yards and a touchdown in 2007.
Edmonton Eskimos: Trevor Gaylor, WR, Miami RedHawks. Gaylor left Miami with many RedHawks’ records in his collection. From 1996-1999, Gaylor caught more passes (128) for more yards (2131) than anyone in school history. He also held the single-season record for receiving yards (1028) and touchdowns in a season (20). Even today, after many years and plenty of talent in Miami, his 2131 yards still ranks fourth in the school record books. He showed plenty of speed and playing-ability in his college career, catching an 84-yard scoring strike in a 43-0 rout of Buffalo in 1999.
Gaylor was drafted by the San Diego Chargers and eventually played for Atlanta before reaching Edmonton in 2004. He was a part of the 2005 championship team, registering 72 catches and five scores while appearing in every game. In the 2005 West Final, he caught the winning touchdown to help the Eskimos move past the Lions and reach the Grey Cup. In that game, his seven receptions helped Edmonton defeat Montreal. He also appeared in eight games the following year, and in 2007 he’s enjoying a successful season, already surpassing last year’s reception totals and equalling his 2006 touchdowns (2). His 302 yards currently leads the team.
If you’d like to see a specific school or player featured in College Connection, contact Michael Murillo at vivamurillo@hotmail.com.
(The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily of the Canadian Football League)
