April 29, 2017

Back in Blue: Argos sign free agent DL Cleyon Laing

TORONTO — A week after adding S.J. Green, the Toronto Argonauts have made another off-season splash with the signing of national defensive tackle Cleyon Laing.

Laing signed with the Ottawa REDBLACKS late in the 2016 season, after he was waived by the Miami Dolphins and collected a single defensive tackle in the Eastern Semi-Final against the Edmonton Eskimos en route to the Grey Cup game in Toronto.

The 6-foot-3, 280 pound Edmonton native spent three seasons with Toronto before pursuing the NFL and spending most of the 2016 campaign with the Dolphins.

In Laing’s rookie season in 2013, he suited up for 14 games and collected 15 defensive tackles and four sacks. The next season, he played in 12 games and nabbed 14 defensive tackles and three sacks.

In 2015, the Iowa State alumni played in all 18 games for the Double Blue and collected career best in defensive tackles (34) and sacks (eight) to go along with two forced fumbles.

Laing was the ninth overall pick for the Argonauts in 2012 and spent one more season with Iowa State University before starting his CFL career.