Obby Khan
Encyclopedia
Ibrahim "Obby" Khan is a centre for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
of the Canadian Football League
. He is a Canadian starter and a team captain. He was acquired in the dispersal draft when the Ottawa Renegades
franchise folded before the start of the 2006 CFL season
. He was the Bombers first selection (2nd overall) in that draft.
and was born in Ottawa
where he attended Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School
and played football and rugby
. He played minor football for the Gloucester Dukes.
Khan played CIS football
with the Simon Fraser Clan
. Khan won the J. P. Metras Trophy
as the top lineman in Canadian university football in 2003. Khan was one of three Canadians to participate in the 2004 East-West Shrine Game
, an all-star game for graduating college players, mainly from the United States.
. He dressed for the Ottawa Renegades
during the first two games of the 2004 CFL season
but did not see action. In Game 3 versus Edmonton
, he saw the first live action of his CFL career. In Game 7 versus Calgary
, he got the first start of his pro career at right guard
. In Game 8 at BC
, he started for the second time in as many weeks against the Lions. In Game 9 versus Hamilton
he backed-up Mike Sutherland
at right guard. He also had a special teams' tackle. In Game 10 versus Edmonton, he backed-up Alexandre Gauthier
at left tackle and had a special teams' tackle. In Game 11 versus Montreal, Khan began the game as a back-up and filled in well for centre George Hudson
when he went down with a back injury. He started Game 12 versus B.C. he started as centre against the Lions.
Khan started five of 15 games for the Ottawa Renegades in the 2005 CFL season
, sitting out three games due to injury. He was one of the 'Gades most versatile offensive linemen, seeing playing time at guard, centre and tackle.
In the 2006 CFL season
, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
acquired Khan as their first selection in the Ottawa Dispersal Draft. He was the only member of the Blue Bombers’ offensive line to start all 18 regular season games as well as the football club’s East Semifinal contest with the Toronto Argonauts
. Khan had never played centre at the pro level until being shifted there during training camp. Khan’s solid play helped running back Charles Roberts
rush for a league-leading 1,609 yards on 303 carries. His contributions did not go unnoticed. Khan was named the co-winner of the CJOB Offensive Player of the Game Award in Week 8 versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He and the rest of the Bombers' offensive line turned in another performance in the East Semifinal. The Big Blue rushed for 200 yards, including 179 by Roberts, in a losing cause. Khan was recognized in the CFL’s post-season awards as the Bombers' nominee as Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
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....
. He is a Canadian starter and a team captain. He was acquired in the dispersal draft when the Ottawa Renegades
Ottawa Renegades
Ottawa Renegades was the most recent name of a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario founded in 2002, seven years after the storied Ottawa Rough Riders folded...
franchise folded before the start of the 2006 CFL season
2006 CFL season
-2006 Rogers CFL Awards:* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Geroy Simon , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions...
. He was the Bombers first selection (2nd overall) in that draft.
Early years
Khan is a Muslim of Pakistani descentPakistani Canadian
- History in Canada :People from the region that would become Pakistan were among the pioneers who migrated from British India to British Columbia at the turn of the century. By 1905, as many as 200 participated in the building of that first community from modern-day Pakistan, which for a time had...
and was born in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
where he attended Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School (Ottawa)
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School is part of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and it is located in the neighbourhood of Fallingbrook, in the suburb of Orleans, in Ottawa Ontario, Canada. Since 2009, the school's principal has been Ruggles Pritchard.-History:Sir Wilfrid Laurier was...
and played football and 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:...
. He played minor football for the Gloucester Dukes.
Khan played CIS football
CIS football
Twenty-six universities across Canada compete in football under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport . The teams are divided into four conferences, drawing from the four regional associations of the CIS: Canada West Universities Athletic Association, Ontario University Athletics, Quebec...
with the Simon Fraser Clan
Simon Fraser Clan
Simon Fraser Clan are the athletic teams that represent Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.SFU's teams formerly played in the United States National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for all sports. In 1997, Simon Fraser sought to join the U.S. NCAA as a Division II...
. Khan won the J. P. Metras Trophy
J. P. Metras Trophy
J. P. Metras Trophy is awarded to the Outstanding Down Lineman in CIS football.-External links:*...
as the top lineman in Canadian university football in 2003. Khan was one of three Canadians to participate in the 2004 East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
, an all-star game for graduating college players, mainly from the United States.
Professional career
Khan was selected in the first round (second overall) of the 2004 CFL Draft2004 CFL Draft
-Round one:-Round two:-Round Three:-Round Four:-Round Five:-Round Six:...
. He dressed for the Ottawa Renegades
Ottawa Renegades
Ottawa Renegades was the most recent name of a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario founded in 2002, seven years after the storied Ottawa Rough Riders folded...
during the first two games of the 2004 CFL season
2004 CFL season
The 2004 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 51st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 47th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2004:...
but did not see action. In Game 3 versus Edmonton
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
, he saw the first live action of his CFL career. In Game 7 versus Calgary
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
, he got the first start of his pro career at right guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
. In Game 8 at BC
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...
, he started for the second time in as many weeks against the Lions. In Game 9 versus Hamilton
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
he backed-up Mike Sutherland
Mike Sutherland
Michael Sutherland is a former professional Canadian football offensive lineman who played ten seasons for four different teams in the Canadian Football League.-References:...
at right guard. He also had a special teams' tackle. In Game 10 versus Edmonton, he backed-up Alexandre Gauthier
Alexandre Gauthier
Alexandre Gauthier is a Canadian football offensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was a CFL East All-Star in 2007. He was signed by the Roughriders in 2011 after being released by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats....
at left tackle and had a special teams' tackle. In Game 11 versus Montreal, Khan began the game as a back-up and filled in well for centre George Hudson
George Hudson
George Hudson , English railway financier, known as "The Railway King", was born, the fifth son of a farmer, in Howsham, in the parish of Scrayingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire, north of Stamford Bridge, east of York. He is buried in Scrayingham...
when he went down with a back injury. He started Game 12 versus B.C. he started as centre against the Lions.
Khan started five of 15 games for the Ottawa Renegades in the 2005 CFL season
2005 CFL season
The 2005 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2005:...
, sitting out three games due to injury. He was one of the 'Gades most versatile offensive linemen, seeing playing time at guard, centre and tackle.
In the 2006 CFL season
2006 CFL season
-2006 Rogers CFL Awards:* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Geroy Simon , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions...
, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
acquired Khan as their first selection in the Ottawa Dispersal Draft. He was the only member of the Blue Bombers’ offensive line to start all 18 regular season games as well as the football club’s East Semifinal contest 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...
. Khan had never played centre at the pro level until being shifted there during training camp. Khan’s solid play helped running back Charles Roberts
Charles Roberts (football player)
Charles Roberts is a free agent running back who most recently played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and BC Lions in the Canadian Football League.-College:...
rush for a league-leading 1,609 yards on 303 carries. His contributions did not go unnoticed. Khan was named the co-winner of the CJOB Offensive Player of the Game Award in Week 8 versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He and the rest of the Bombers' offensive line turned in another performance in the East Semifinal. The Big Blue rushed for 200 yards, including 179 by Roberts, in a losing cause. Khan was recognized in the CFL’s post-season awards as the Bombers' nominee as Outstanding Offensive Lineman.