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Matt Black (Canadian football)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Black is a professional Canadian football
defensive back
currently with the Toronto Argonauts
of the Canadian Football League
.
, Ontario, Canada, to parents Marlane and Donovan, and has a younger brother Eric. While playing football at Northern Secondary School
, alongside star left tackle Sam Pozner, 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.
at Saginaw Valley State University
where he studied communications and marketing and was a four-year starter for the Cardinals football team. He was redshirt
ted in 2004 but started all games in 2005 as a true 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.
by the Toronto Argonauts
and signed to play on March 10, 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...
defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
currently with the 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
Black was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario, Canada, to parents Marlane and Donovan, and has a younger brother Eric. While playing football at Northern Secondary School
Northern Secondary School
Northern Secondary School is a public high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It teaches grades 9 through 12.Northern's football team, the Red Knights, have won numerous titles in Toronto's high school league...
, alongside star left tackle Sam Pozner, Black was named the Mid-Town Football Most Valuable Player. In addition to football, Black played rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
, ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, and Track and field athletics at high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. 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.
College career
Black went on to play college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Saginaw Valley State University
Saginaw Valley State University
Saginaw Valley State University, commonly known as SVSU, is a state university in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in the middle of Michigan's lower peninsula in the Saginaw Valley region. The university is located in Kochville Township, Saginaw County...
where he studied communications and marketing and was a four-year starter for the Cardinals football team. He was redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
ted in 2004 but started all games in 2005 as a true freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
. 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
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
. 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
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a competitive intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division II. The GLIAC was founded in June 1972. Member institutions are located in the midwestern United States in the States of Michigan and Ohio, with affiliate...
team, selected to the Valero Cactus Bowl
Cactus Bowl
The Cactus Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played each January in Kingsville, Texas which showcases the best NFL draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility in NCAA Division II...
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.
Toronto Argonauts
Black was drafted in the sixth round of the 2008 CFL Draft2008 CFL Draft
The 2008 CFL Draft took place on April 30, 2008. 48 players were chosen from among 752 eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA....
by the 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...
and signed to play on March 10, 2009.