Matt O'Donnell (Canadian football)
Encyclopedia
Matthew O'Donnell is an American football
offensive lineman who is currently playing for the Cincinnati Bengals
of the National Football League
. O'Donnell played high school football at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School
in Kingston Ontario. In the Canadian Football League
's Amateur Scouting Bureau final rankings, he was ranked as the 11th best player for players eligible in the 2011 CFL Draft
, and sixth by players in the CIS
. On December 17, 2010, it was announced that O'Donnell was one of two CIS players to be named to the East–West Shrine Game.
. Heading into the draft O'Donnell was ranked 11th on the CFL Amateur Scouting Bureau's list of the top prospects.
The ranking is certainly deserved after an impressive college career. He won the Gaels’ Justin Schwieg Trophy as most improved player in 2008, and was named The Orrin Carson Memorial Trophy for best Offensive Lineman twice, for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He was also named a first-team All-Canadian in both 2009 and 2010, and took home the OUA award for best lineman this past season.
. O'Donnell was the fourth offensive lineman taken in the draft, but was the highest CIS offensive lineman selected.
's Boston Celtics
expressing an interest in trying him out. This move was seen as peculiar given the fact that he had not played basketball
since high school.
one day following the 2011 NFL Lockout
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman who is currently playing for the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. O'Donnell played high school football at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School
Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School
Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School is a Catholic secondary school located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada offering education for about 1,250 students in grades 9-12. It is one of three Catholic high schools in the city. The principal is Paul Walsh.-History:The school was established in September...
in Kingston Ontario. In 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....
's Amateur Scouting Bureau final rankings, he was ranked as the 11th best player for players eligible in the 2011 CFL Draft
2011 CFL Draft
The 2011 CFL Draft took place on Sunday, May 8, 2011 live at 12:30 PM ET on TSN. 47 players were chosen from among eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA. The Toronto Argonauts, Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats had...
, and sixth by players in the CIS
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
. On December 17, 2010, it was announced that O'Donnell was one of two CIS players to be named to the East–West Shrine Game.
College Career
When O’Donnell first suited up at Queen's back in 2007 he was a sizable yet very green 18-year-old rookie. But his time spent under the Queen's coaching staff allowed him to develop into one of the top offensive line prospects in the country heading into the 2011 CFL Draft2011 CFL Draft
The 2011 CFL Draft took place on Sunday, May 8, 2011 live at 12:30 PM ET on TSN. 47 players were chosen from among eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA. The Toronto Argonauts, Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats had...
. Heading into the draft O'Donnell was ranked 11th on the CFL Amateur Scouting Bureau's list of the top prospects.
The ranking is certainly deserved after an impressive college career. He won the Gaels’ Justin Schwieg Trophy as most improved player in 2008, and was named The Orrin Carson Memorial Trophy for best Offensive Lineman twice, for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He was also named a first-team All-Canadian in both 2009 and 2010, and took home the OUA award for best lineman this past season.
CFL Draft
O'Donnell was chosen in the second round and 15th overall by the Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
. O'Donnell was the fourth offensive lineman taken in the draft, but was the highest CIS offensive lineman selected.
Boston Celtics
On May 31, 2011, it was reported that O'Donnell had chosen to delay his signing with the Roughriders due to the NBANational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
expressing an interest in trying him out. This move was seen as peculiar given the fact that he had not played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
since high school.
Cincinnati Bengals
On July 26, 2011, O'Donnell signed a contract with the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
one day following the 2011 NFL Lockout
2011 NFL lockout
The 2011 National Football League lockout was a lockout that lasted from March 11 to July 25. It occurred primarily during the offseason for 18 weeks and 4 days...
.