Justin Dunk
Special to CFL.ca
GUELPH, Ont. — Expect Gryphon receiver Jedd Gardner to go out with a bang.
The talented pass catcher enters his fifth, and final, season as a member of the University of Guelph Gryphons football program. He will be striving to continue to produce explosive, game-changing plays Gryphon fans have become accustomed to seeing out of the speedy receiver.
Gardner is just 19 yards away from becoming the all-time leading receiver in Gryphon football history. He has amassed exactly 2,000 yards receiving during his first four seasons as a Gryphon and it’s only a matter of time until he becomes the most productive receiver to ever suit up in Gryphon colours.
“We are very excited to have Jedd back for one more season, great teams rely on fifth year players to be successful,” said University of Guelph head football coach Stu Lang.
“He is an offensive weapon that attacks the field vertically and horizontally. We rely on Jedd’s speed to open the field for us. Combined with our returning receivers, new receivers and recruited receivers we should have the best receiving team in the OUA.”
Gardner is a quiet leader who leads by example both on and off the field. Off the field he is an Academic All-Canadian and works as a Student-Athlete Mentor (SAM) in the varsity sports study hall program. This year he has been accepted as a teaching assistant. In practice and in the weight room Gardner sets the bar high with his strong work effort and his drive to be the best he can be.
It has been a busy 2011 so far for the Niagara Falls native, on May 8, Gardner was selected with in the fourth round, 28th overall, by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2011 CFL Canadian Draft. Gardner made it all the way to the end of training camp before being released, just a few days prior to the Argos season opener on July 1.
After spending an entire CFL training camp learning from professional coaches and players, Gardner picked up some valuable skills and knowledge of the game, which he can use to enhance his performance on the field for the Gryphons in 2011.
Gardner’s experience at the Toronto Argonaut training camp this past summer has prompted him to ask to be on more special teams for the Gryphons
“This is a prerequisite for Canadian’s wanting to get into the CFL. Although Jedd has always been used on our return teams he wants to also be part of our coverage teams,” commented Lang.
Gardner put on one other jersey this summer when he suited up for Team Canada at the 2011 IFAF World Championship of American Football. He was a part of a Canadian contingent, featuring many CIS players, who brought home a silver medal from the tournament, which took place in Austria from July 8-16.
Now with professional and world-class experience under his belt, Gardner is primed to become the unquestioned go-to player when Guelph has the football this season. Also, with the loss of the Gryphons all-time leading rusher, Nick FitzGibbon, Gardner will be counted upon – more than ever – to be the leader of the Guelph offensive attack.
Gardner and the Gryphons open camp on Monday, August 22, two weeks before they begin their 2011 season with the season-opener against the Ottawa Gee-Gees at home on Monday, August 5th at 1pm. The Gryphons will also be holding an exhibition game on August 27th at Alumni Stadium against the Concordia Stingers, game time at 1:00 p.m.
Awards & honours (since start of CIS career): 2nd team All-Canadian and 1st team OUA All-Star in 2008, two-time 2nd team OUA All-Star (2009 and 2010)
