Rashaun Simonise

Rashaun Simonise (born May 31, 1995) is a gridiron football wide receiver who is currently a member of the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He most recently played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has been a member of the Chicago Eagles (CIFL), Cincinnati Bengals (NFL), Okanagan Sun (CJFL), Baltimore Brigade (AFL), BC Lions (CFL), and Jousters (TSL).

Rashaun Simonise
No. 3     Edmonton Elks
Born: (1995-05-31) May 31, 1995
Vancouver, British Columbia
Career information
StatusPractice Roster
CFL statusNational
Position(s)WR
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight200 lb (91 kg)
CollegeCalgary
CFL Draft2018 / Round: 2 / Pick: 12
Drafted byWinnipeg Blue Bombers
Career history
As player
2016Chicago Eagles
2016Cincinnati Bengals*
2016-2017Okanagan Sun
2018Baltimore Brigade*
2018Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2019BC Lions
2020-2021Jousters
2021Montreal Alouettes
2022-PresentEdmonton Elks
Career stats
Receptions10
Receiving yards182
Receiving average18.2
Receiving Touchdowns0

Early years

Rashaun Simonise (Sy-mo-ny-z) is a coach's son. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the son of John Simonise (who is of Haitian descent). He was an elite play-maker at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, corner, safety. Rashaun was known for his electrifying kick returns and punt returns and was the type of play-maker to make big plays in crucial situations. He led the Vancouver College Irish (Christian Covington also attended)[1] through the playoffs all the way to the BCHS championship where they had unfortunately came up short. Simonise led all receivers in playoffs with 238 yards in 3 games with 5 touchdowns.[2] Rashaun Simonise averaged 79 yards per game throughout the playoffs. On the defensive side of the ball, Rashaun made 27 solo tackles, and 3 interceptions through the playoffs. Rashaun had managed to play for 2 football teams throughout his high school career giving him back to back gamedays every weekend with games on Friday and Saturdays. Simonise has dressed for every single game he has been a part of, excusing one game in college where he was ruled ineligible. Simonise was also a competitive basketball star and had also dominated in track and field running all sprint and jumping events.

College career

Freshman season

Rashaun Simonise came into the University of Calgary and started every game as a true freshman (18 years old). Rashaun hauled in 33 receptions and 481 yards with 1 touchdown on the offensive side of the ball, along with 111 kick return yards on the season which earned him the Canada West Rookie of the Year. Rashaun had contributed in the playoffs catching 4 receptions for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 18 returns for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns.[3] His big play ability was shown off in front of a huge showcase in the Vanier Cup National Championship in Laval, Quebec where he brought in a 47-yard reception to change the momentum of the game in the Dino's favour but unfortunately had torn his meniscus just a play after the catch causing him to leave the game.[4]

Sophomore season

Rashaun had brought in 20 receptions for 391 yards and 1 touchdown his sophomore regular season. In the playoffs he had 200 yards receiving on 11 receptions and 3 touchdowns in only 2 games. He also had 2 kick returns for 61 yards.[5]

Junior season

Simonise had his break-out season in his junior year and tied for the lead in Canada in touchdowns with 11. He also had 1,013 yards and 65 catches in only 8 games. Simonise was averaging 134.9 yards per game with 22 yards per catch giving him national attention. His most notable night came against University of Alberta where he racked up 9 catches for 272 yards and 3 touchdowns. Simonise also had 4 receptions that were all longer than 30 yards but were called back because of penalties.[6] Rashaun was named 1st team all Canadian and was the number one ranked receiver in Canada.[7] After an outstanding 2015 season he was academically ineligible for the 2016 season. Six teams scouted Simonise including the Los Angeles Rams who used a supplementary pick in the 2015 NFL Draft on Isaiah Battle.

Professional career

CIF

In 2016 Simonise played for the Chicago Eagles of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). He played in 5 games catching 11 passes for 105 yards with 2 touchdowns. He then had a workout with the Jacksonville Sharks of the Arena Football League (AFL), but was not signed because of his NFL pro day opportunity.[8]

NFL

Simonise signed with the Cincinnati Bengals after going undrafted in the 2016 NFL supplemental draft.[9] Rashaun Simonise tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug during his time in Cincinnati Bengals' training camp. During his short time there he had accumulated 64 yards on two catches during the preseason.[10] On September 3, 2016, he was waived by the Bengals.[11]

AFL

On March 28, 2018, Simonise was assigned to the Baltimore Brigade of the Arena Football League (AFL).[12]

CJFL

Two weeks after being released by the Cincinnati Bengals Simonise signed with the Okanagan Sun of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL).[13] He played two seasons with the Sun, 2016 and 2017, playing a total of seven games, catching 23 passes for 392 yards with three touchdowns.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

As a result of Simonise's positive performance-enhancing drug test with his time in Cincinnati his CFL draft status was deferred from 2017 to 2018.[14] Heading into the 2017 draft Simonise had been the No. 7 ranked prospect in September 2016 and then moved up to No. 4 in December 2016.[15][16] Rashaun Simonise was the ninth ranked prospect entering the 2018 CFL Draft.[17] Simonise has been compared to a mixture of A. J. Green, Julio Jones and Randy Moss in stature.[18] He was selected by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the second round (12th overall) in the 2018 CFL Draft.[19] He dressed in all 18 regular season games for the Blue Bombers in 2018 where he recorded four receptions for 122 yards. He lasted just one season with the team as he was part of training camp cuts the following year on June 8, 2019.[20]

BC Lions

One day after his release from Winnipeg, Simonise signed with his hometown BC Lions on June 9, 2019 to a one-year contract.[21] He again played in all 18 regular season games, but had only five receptions for 53 yards. He became a free agent in February 2020.

The Spring League

Simonise was selected by the Jousters of The Spring League during its player selection draft on October 10, 2020.[22]

Montreal Alouettes

On June 30, 2021, it was announced that Simonise had signed with the Montreal Alouettes.[23] He played in 11 games where he had one catch for seven yards. He was released on May 5, 2022.[24]

Edmonton Elks

On May 18, 2022 Simonise signed with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[25]

References
  1. "Howard Tsumura: Vancouver College's Covington ready to rope Brady for Texans". Vancouver Sun. January 13, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  2. "BC Secondary Schools Football Association". www.bchighschoolfootball.com. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  3. "Calgary - U SPORTS - English". presto-en.usports.ca. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  4. Stewart, Megan. "Vanier Cup ends too soon for Simonise". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  5. "Canada West Universities Athletic Association". Canada West Universities Athletic Association. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  6. "Buckley sets national passing record as Dinos wrap up perfect regular season". Canada West Universities Athletic Association. October 31, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  7. "Breakout season has Dinos' Simonise chasing CIS receiving lead". Calgary Herald. October 21, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  8. Dunk, Justin (July 8, 2016). "Rashaun Simonise taking circuitous route to pro football career". 3DownNation. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  9. Gantt, Darin (July 14, 2016). "Bengals sign Canadian wide receiver Rashaun Simonise". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  10. "Joe Licata finds Rashaun Simonise for big gain". Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  11. "Bengals cut down to 53-man roster, Hardison to IR".
  12. "Team Transactions". arenafan.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. "Football player cut by NFL signs with B.C. amateur team | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  14. Mitchell, Scott; Sun, Toronto. "New drug policy makes receiver Rashaun Simonise ineligible for CFL draft". Toronto Sun. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  15. "Senior headlines Central Scouting Bureau September Rankings". CFL.ca. September 15, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  16. "Auclair skyrockets in December CFL Scouting Bureau Rankings". CFL.ca. December 8, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  17. "Hunter takes top spot in final Central Scouting Bureau rankings - CFL.ca". CFL.ca. April 12, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  18. "Scouts size up best CFL prospects in Vanier Cup - Sportsnet.ca". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  19. "Bombers intrigued by draft pick Rashaun Simonise - CFL.ca". CFL.ca. May 5, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  20. "Bennett, Simonise among 17 players released by Bombers". Winnipeg Free Press. June 8, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  21. "BC Lions Transactions". BC Lions. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  22. @TheSpringLeague (October 10, 2020). "The Jousters #TSL2020 WR group" (Tweet). Retrieved November 3, 2020 – via Twitter.
  23. "Alouettes sign FB Alexandre Dupuis, seven others". Montreal Alouettes. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  24. "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  25. "Elks sign Canadian receiver Simonise, American DB Sonnier - TSN.ca". TSN. The Canadian Press. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
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