Matt Black (Canadian football)

Matthew Black (born March 1, 1985) is a former professional Canadian football defensive back who played ten seasons with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He won two Grey Cup championships in 2012 and 2017.

Matt Black
refer to caption
Black in 2023
Personal information
Born: (1985-03-01) March 1, 1985
Toronto, Ontario
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:182 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:Northern
College:Saginaw Valley State
Position:Cornerback/Kick returner
CFL Draft:2008 / Round: 6 / Pick: 45
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career CFL statistics
Tackles:128
Sacks:2
Interceptions:3
Player stats at CFL.ca (archive)

Early years

Black was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to parents Marlane and Donovan, and has a younger brother Eric and a younger sister Destiny. As young boy, Black was in a French immersion program at Market Lane School Public School in downtown Toronto. While playing football at Northern Secondary School in Toronto, Ontario, Black was named the Mid-Town Football Most Valuable Player. In addition to football, Black played rugby, ice hockey, baseball, and Track and field athletics at high school. He was also an all-star member of the Metro Toronto Wildcats of the Ontario Varsity Football League, where he was named the league's Most Outstanding Defensive Back.[1][2]

College career

Black went on to play college football at Saginaw Valley State University where he studied communications and marketing and was a four-year starter for the Cardinals football team. He was redshirtted in 2004 but started all games in 2005 as a red-shirt freshman. In 2006, he led the Cardinals with a 14.8-yard punt return average and took 8 kickoff returns back for a total of 203 yards and a touchdown. Black was named to the Academic All-Conference team in 2007 and returned 12 punts for 91 yards in 8 games played. In his final season, Black, was named to the First-Team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team, selected to the Valero Cactus Bowl senior all-star game, recorded 42 tackles, 4 pass break-ups, and ranked third in the GLIAC with 5 interceptions for 119 yards, including 1 for a 19-yard touchdown. He earned a GLIAC Player of the Week honour in 2008 as well.[1]

Professional career

Black was drafted in the sixth round of the 2008 CFL Draft by the Toronto Argonauts and signed to play on March 10, 2009.[3] In his first eight seasons with the club Black played in 109 games, with his two most significant seasons being 2013, when he contributed 34 tackles and 2016 when he set a career-high with 44. He was released by the Argos early in the 2017 season (having not played a game), but was re-signed a week later.[4] Black's interception in the final seconds of the 105th Grey Cup sealed a 27–24 victory for the Argos over the Calgary Stampeders. One day before becoming a free agent Black and the Argos agreed to a two-year contract extension.[5]

References
  1. "Matt Black". Roster. Toronto Argonauts Football Club. Archived from the original on 2009-05-26. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  2. Nelson, Norm (2009-08-18). "Three TDSB south division grads now suit up for Argos". Toronto Community News. Archived from the original on 2009-08-22. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  3. "Argos sign 2008 draft pick, Black". CFL.ca. 2009-03-10. Archived from the original on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  4. "Argonauts re-sign Canadian DB Black – Article – TSN". TSN. 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  5. "Argos ink DB Black through 2019 – CFL.ca". CFL.ca. 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
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