ARGOS BRING BACK SIX FROM LAST SEASON
ADD INT RB KELVIN TAYLOR
TORONTO - The Toronto Argonauts football club announced today the signing of seven players; NAT DL Cam Walker, INT DL Troy Davis, NAT OL J'Micheal Deane, NAT OL Tyler Holmes, NAT OL Jamal Campbell, INT DL Frank Beltre and INT RB Kelvin Taylor.
Walker, 26, played all 18 games for the Double Blue last season, posting three defensive tackles, 11 special teams tackles and one sack. A 2015 third-round CFL Draft selection, Walker has played all four of his CFL seasons with Toronto and in 53 games played for the club has tallied 26 special teams tackles. A four-year player at the University of Guelph, the 6'4, 237-pound lineman tallied 122.5 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and three forced fumbles over four seasons and was a First Team OUA All-Star in his senior season.
Davis, 28, is entering his third season in Double Blue after playing 15 games last season, recording 34 defensive tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. The Georgia native signed with the Argos in October of 2016 and over his 2017 rookie season played 13 games and posted 21 defensive tackles and four sacks. Previous to the CFL Davis spent time in the NFL with the New York Jets in 2013 and 2014 and then briefly with the Dallas Cowboys in October of 2014. Played in four games with the Jets and made five tackles. The Central Florida product played 50 games over four seasons for the Knights, racking up 127 tackles, 18.5 sacks, 13 pass deflections and an interception. Was named First Team All-C-USA and was UCF's Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman as a senior.
Deane, 32, is entering his third season with his hometown team after coming out of retirement and playing in eight games a season ago. The 6'5, 328-pound offensive lineman is an eight-year CFL veteran after being drafted 21st overall by Calgary in the 2010 CFL Draft. After three years and 38 games in Calgary, the Michigan State product signed with Ottawa where he played 51 games over three years and helped the Redblacks win the 2016 Grey Cup, the first of back-to-back championships for Deane (Toronto, 2017). Deane has played in 110 regular season CFL games.
Holmes, 30, was the Argos seventh overall pick in the 2011 CFL Draft. The Ottawa native signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2012 and spent the season on their practice squad. After being released by Minnesota the following season, Holmes re-joined the Argos playing in four games as a rookie. The 6'4, 299-pounder has been as sturdy as they come playing in all 18 games each of the last five seasons and was named an East All-Star in 2014 and 2016. Over four seasons at the University of Tulsa, Holmes started 30 games including 14 as a redshirt freshman and was named Conference USA Honourable Mention in 2010 and 2011.
Campbell, 25, was a third-round draft selection by the Argos in 2016 and has played 32 games on the offensive line for the Boatmen in his three-year career. The 6'7, 300-pound graduate of York University played 27 games over four seasons for the Lions after being converted from the defensive line in his third year. Another Toronto native, Campbell played in the 2015 U Sports East-West Bowl.
Beltre, 29, is entering his second season with the club after playing in 15 games last season while compiling 35 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble. Previous to Toronto, the Dominican Republic native played three seasons for the Calgary Stampeders, winning a Grey Cup in 2014. The 6'2, 242-pound defensive end signed with the San Diego Chargers coming out of college but was released during final cuts. Signed with the Oakland Raiders in January of 2014 before coming to Calgary in September. Beltre played 45 games, including 40 starts, between 2009 and 2012 for the University of Towson Tigers and tallied 232 tackles and 11 sacks en route to being named All-Colonial Association twice. Was named Special Teams Player of the Year as a freshman.
Taylor, 25, is a 2016 sixth-round NFL draft selection of the San Francisco 49ers. The 5'10, 207-pound running back spent part of 2016 on the Niners practice squad before being signed by the Seattle Seahawks later that season. The Florida native spent the 2017 off-season with the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons before being signed by the Cleveland Browns in January of 2018. The former University of Florida Gator played three seasons in blue and orange, rushing for 2,108 yards and 23 touchdowns in 35 games, including 1,035 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior. The son of NFL Pro Bowler and all-time Jacksonville Jaguars leading rusher Fred Taylor, Kelvin also graduated high school as the all-time leading rusher in Florida state history.