Mario Villamizar

Mario Villamizar (born March 3, 1995) is a professional Canadian football fullback for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Mario Villamizar
No. 34     Edmonton Elks
Villamizar with the Lions in 2022
Born: (1995-03-03) March 3, 1995
St. Catharines, Ontario
Career information
Status1-Game Injured List
CFL statusNational
Position(s)Fullback
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight237 lb (108 kg)
UniversityWilfrid Laurier
High schoolHoly Cross Catholic
CFL Draft2019 / Round: 6 / Pick: 51
Drafted byBC Lions
Career history
As player
2019–2022BC Lions
2023Toronto Argonauts*
2023–presentEdmonton Elks
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career stats

University career

After using a redshirt season in 2014, Villamizar played U Sports football for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks from 2015 to 2018.[1] He was part of the 2016 Yates Cup championship team and played in 31 regular season games and seven playoff games over four seasons.[1] In his career, he had 16 receptions for 191 yards and five touchdowns and was named an OUA second-team all-star in 2018.[2]

Professional career

BC Lions

Villamizar was drafted 51st overall, in the sixth round, by the BC Lions in the 2019 CFL Draft and signed with the team on May 16, 2019.[3] He made the team's active roster following 2019 training camp and played in his first professional game on June 15, 2019, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[2] He made his first career reception late in the season on October 5, 2022, against the Toronto Argonauts, and finished the year having played in all 18 regular season games with two catches for 13 yards.[2]

Villamizar did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season. During off-season workouts in preparation for the 2021 season, he suffered an Achilles injury and began the year on the retired list.[4][5] He re-signed with the team on October 8, 2021, and played in the team's final five games of the season.[5]

On December 14, 2021, it was announced that Villamizar had signed a contract extension with the Lions.[6] He again made the team's active roster following training camp in 2022.[2] He played in 17 regular season games where he had one kickoff return for seven yards. Villamizar became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 14, 2023.[7]

Toronto Argonauts

On the first day of free agency, on February 14, 2023, it was announced that Villamizar had signed with the Toronto Argonauts.[7][8] However, he was part of the final cuts and was released on June 2, 2023.[9]

Edmonton Elks

Villamizar was added to the Edmonton Elks practice roster on June 26, 2023.[10]

References
  1. "Mario Villamizar". Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  2. "Mario Villamizar". BC Lions. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  3. "B.C. Lions sign all seven players they selected in 2019 CFL draft". National Post. May 16, 2019.
  4. "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  5. "Bazzie, Posey, Villamizar Return To Den, Lions Add 3 More". BC Lions. October 8, 2021.
  6. "Lions Re-Sign Six Nationals, Including Captain David Mackie". BC Lions. December 14, 2021.
  7. "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  8. "Argos sign DL Costigan, FB Villamizar". TSN. February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  9. "Toronto Argonauts Transactions – Friday, June 2, 2023". Toronto Argonauts. June 2, 2023.
  10. Swane, Brian (June 26, 2023). "TRANSACTIONS | Elks release Locksley (QB), sign two". Edmonton Elks.
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