CFL.ca Staff
MISSISSAUGA — The Toronto Argonauts Football Club is thrilled to announce that it has secured its final pick from the 2008 CFL Draft, Toronto-native Matt Black, as well as import defensive linemen Clifford Dukes and Ronald Jones.
Matt Black commented on coming home, “It’s a dream come true to play in Toronto. I grew up watching the Argos and I’m excited to play in front of my family and friends. I’m ready to help the organization in anyway possible and work toward winning a Grey Cup championship.“
The Argonauts selected Black, a defensive back, with the 45th overall pick in the 2008 CFL Canadian Draft. A red-shirt freshman, he retuned to Saginaw Valley State for his final year of eligibility in 2008. His decision paid off as Black earned First-Team All-Conference and Academic All-Star, and was named to the Valero Cactus Bowl Senior All-Star game. The Toronto native attended Northern Secondary School and finished his senior season with 42 tackles and led the team with five interceptions for 119 yards.
Dukes earned Michigan State’s Outstanding Underclassman Lineman award in 2002 while leading the Spartans in sacks. He played all 12 games as a senior and then signed with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent. He spent the past two years with the Tampa Bay Storm in the AFL.
Ronald Jones last played for the San Jose SabreCats of the AFL. He set the club single-season record with 9.5 tackles for a loss in 2007, and added 5 sacks in 2008. His defensive highlights with the SabreCats include twice tying the club’s single-game record of two forced fumbles, recording 7 sacks in a single game (third-highest total in team history), earning Second-Team All-AFL honours and Defensive Player of the week in 2007.
