Kevin Eiben
Encyclopedia
Kevin Eiben is a professional Canadian football
linebacker
currently playing for Toronto Argonauts
of the Canadian Football League
.
with parents Laraine and Larry Eiben, and three siblings. He now resides in Oakville, Ontario. Eiben comes from a football family. His father played strong safety at the University of Cincinnati
and his uncle, George, played fullback
at the University of Nebraska His brother, L.J., was a third round draft choice of the Argonauts in the 1996 CFL Draft
played for the BC Lions
.
Eiben attended Vancouver College
high school, lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. He was named all-league football player three times, voted Provincial Offensive Most Valuable Player
at quarterback in football his final year, and also made 102 tackles at the safety position. In addition, he was named to the all-league in basketball his senior year.
Eiben went on to Bucknell University
, where he majored in business management. He was a Dean’s List student and member of the Patriot League
Academic Honour Roll. In his 4 years playing for the Bucknell Bison
football team, Eiben started 33 of 43 games playing at either strong or free safety position. He holds a number of school records, including sharing the single-game interception record of 4. In 1999, he received the Clarke Hinkle Award as the Bison's outstanding linebacker or defensive back. He led the Patriot League in 2000 with eight interception
s and, in 2001, was named an American Football Coaches Association All-American, a second team AP Division I-AA All-American, was a first team All-Patriot League selection, a first team ECAC All-Star, the Patriot League’s Scholar-Athlete, and the Bison's MVP.
After his first year with the Argos, he went to Florida State in the off-season to do his Masters in Sports Management.
as the 26th pick in the 2001 CFL Draft
and spent time on both the practice and active rosters in the 2001 CFL season
. In the 2002 CFL season
, he led the Argos with 19 special teams tackle
s and 4 fumble recoveries.
On February 13, 2003, Eiben became a free agent
and re-signed with the Argos on February 20. He played in all 18 games and two playoff games of the 2003 CFL season
, primarily on special teams and as a backup linebacker and led the league with 33 special teams tackles. He also achieved his first career quarterback sack
and his first career interception
.
He extended his contract with the Argos on February 14, 2009.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
currently playing for Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Early years
Eiben grew up in Delta, British ColumbiaDelta, British Columbia
Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Located south of Richmond, it is bordered by the Fraser River to the north, the United States to the south and the city of Surrey to the east...
with parents Laraine and Larry Eiben, and three siblings. He now resides in Oakville, Ontario. Eiben comes from a football family. His father played strong safety at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
and his uncle, George, played fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
at the University of Nebraska His brother, L.J., was a third round draft choice of the Argonauts in the 1996 CFL Draft
1996 CFL Draft
The 1996 CFL Draft composed of 61 Canadian football players that were chosen from eligible Canadian universities as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA...
played for the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
.
Eiben attended Vancouver College
Vancouver College
Vancouver College is an all-boys university-preparatory Catholic school located in the Shaughnessy neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. VC's elementary and secondary programs have a combined population of over 1,000 students. Despite its Catholic denomination, it is open to all...
high school, lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. He was named all-league football player three times, voted Provincial Offensive Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
at quarterback in football his final year, and also made 102 tackles at the safety position. In addition, he was named to the all-league in basketball his senior year.
Eiben went on to Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
, where he majored in business management. He was a Dean’s List student and member of the Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
Academic Honour Roll. In his 4 years playing for the Bucknell Bison
Bucknell Bison
The Bucknell Bison are the athletic teams of Bucknell University. The program is a member of the Patriot League for Division I sports, Division I-AA in football.Bucknell won the first Orange Bowl...
football team, Eiben started 33 of 43 games playing at either strong or free safety position. He holds a number of school records, including sharing the single-game interception record of 4. In 1999, he received the Clarke Hinkle Award as the Bison's outstanding linebacker or defensive back. He led the Patriot League in 2000 with eight interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
s and, in 2001, was named an American Football Coaches Association All-American, a second team AP Division I-AA All-American, was a first team All-Patriot League selection, a first team ECAC All-Star, the Patriot League’s Scholar-Athlete, and the Bison's MVP.
After his first year with the Argos, he went to Florida State in the off-season to do his Masters in Sports Management.
Professional career
Eiben was selected by the Toronto ArgonautsToronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
as the 26th pick in the 2001 CFL Draft
2001 CFL Draft
-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:- Notes :...
and spent time on both the practice and active rosters in the 2001 CFL season
2001 CFL season
The 2001 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 48th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 44th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 2001:...
. In the 2002 CFL season
2002 CFL season
The 2002 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 49th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 45th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2002:...
, he led the Argos with 19 special teams tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
s and 4 fumble recoveries.
On February 13, 2003, Eiben became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and re-signed with the Argos on February 20. He played in all 18 games and two playoff games of the 2003 CFL season
2003 CFL season
The 2003 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 50th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 46th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2003:...
, primarily on special teams and as a backup linebacker and led the league with 33 special teams tackles. He also achieved his first career quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
and his first career interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
.
He extended his contract with the Argos on February 14, 2009.