Jeremaine Copeland

Last updated

Jeremaine Copeland
Jeremaine Copeland.jpg
Copeland with the Calgary Stampeders in 2007
Profile
Position Wide receiver
Personal information
Born (1977-02-19) February 19, 1977 (age 48)
Harriman, Tennessee, U.S.
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight202 lb (92 kg)
Career information
College Tennessee
Career history
Playing
2000 Barcelona Dragons
2001 Los Angeles Xtreme
2001–2004 Montreal Alouettes
2005–2009 Calgary Stampeders
2010–2011 Toronto Argonauts
Coaching
2012 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
2015 Saskatchewan Roughriders
Awards and highlights

Stats at CFL.ca (archive)
Canadian Football Hall of Fame  (Class of 2025)

Jeremaine Copeland (born February 19, 1977) is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played with the Montreal Alouettes, Calgary Stampeders, and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as well as in the XFL and NFL Europe. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2025.

Contents

Early life

Copeland was born in Harriman, Tennessee. He would attend Harriman High School, where he played on the Blue Devils football team. While at Harriman, Copeland played at both running back and wide receiver. [1]

College career

Copeland attended the University of Tennessee, where he played under head coach Phillip Fulmer from the 1995 season to the 1998 season. [2] [3] [4]

1995 season

As a freshman with the Volunteers, Copeland played as a running back some. He recorded 14 rushes for 73 yards and two touchdowns on the season for the 11–1 Volunteers. [2] [5]

1996 season

As a sophomore with the Volunteers, Copeland played both at running back and wide receiver. He recorded 17 rushes for 72 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, he had 16 receptions for 191 yards for the 10–2 Volunteers. [2] [6]

1997 season

As a junior with the Volunteers, Copeland played at wide receiver. He recorded 58 receptions for 732 yards and nine touchdowns. In addition, he returned seven punts for the 11–2 Volunteers. [2] [7]

1998 season

In the 1998 season, Copeland and the Volunteers had a very successful season. [8] The team won the National Championship over Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl. [9] In the 23–16 victory, Copeland had one reception for 15 yards. [10] The National Championship was Copeland's last collegiate game. On the season, he recorded 27 receptions for 383 yards and one touchdown. [2]

Professional career

Copeland played a year of NFL Europe football for the Barcelona Dragons. [11] He ended the season with a team leading 74 receptions for 821 yards, for an 11.1 yards per reception average, and six touchdowns. [12]

Copeland began his CFL career with the Montreal Alouettes in 2001 and played six games. [13] During that season, he played at wide receiver with the XFL's champion Los Angeles Xtreme. [14] He scored a 19-yard receiving touchdown in the championship game. [15] After beginning the 2002 season in the Dallas Cowboys' training camp, [16] Copeland returned to the Alouettes and contributed to their Grey Cup championship that year. [17] Copeland picked up CFL all-star honours in 2003 after piling up 99 receptions and 1,757 receiving yards. [18] [19] Along with teammate slotback Ben Cahoon, Copeland set a CFL record for most receiving yards by two teammates, amassing 3,318 yards between them. [20] [21] In 2004, Copeland was one of four receivers with the Alouettes to eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark (the others were Cahoon, Thyron Anderson, and Kwame Cavil). [22]

In 2005, Copeland was lured west to join the Calgary Stampeders after he entered free agency. [23] Although his statistics did not reach the same levels as those achieved with the Alouettes, Copeland became infamous for their elaborate touchdown celebrations, including a "human bicycle" during the 2005 season, [13] and the "bobsled" at the endzone pylon during the 2006 season. [24] On November 23, 2008, Copeland and teammates of the Calgary Stampeders won the Grey Cup against the hosting Montreal Alouettes, 22–14. [25] In 2009, Copeland enjoyed his best season since 2003 when he recorded 1,235 receiving yards and led the league with 12 receiving touchdowns, earning CFL all-star honours that year. [26] [19]

On February 17, 2010, Copeland was traded to the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for wide receiver P. K. Sam. [27] He was elected as the team's offensive captain, leading an inexperienced receiving corps and being a crutch for inexperienced CFL quarterback Cleo Lemon. [28] On November 3, 2011, he surpassed the 10,000 career receiving yards mark, becoming the 15th CFL player to reach the milestone. [29] [30]

On January 25, 2012, Copeland officially retired from the CFL after 11 seasons in professional football. [31] [32]

Copeland was announced as a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame 2025 class on June 12, 2025. [33]

Coaching career

After announcing his retirement from professional football, Copeland was named the wide receivers coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, joining former offensive coordinator George Cortez who was the team's head coach at the time. [34] Following the 2012 season, Copeland left the Tiger-Cats to complete his degree at the University of Tennessee. [35]

On February 20, 2015, the Saskatchewan Roughriders announced that Copeland would be their new receivers coach. [35] [36]

CFL statistics

Receiving Regular season Playoffs
YearTeamGamesNo.YardsAvgLongTDGamesNo.YardsAvgLongTD
2001 MTL 71318214.0261
2002 MTL 51835219.64142511923.8471
2003 MTL 18991,75717.7571421418513.2260
2004 MTL 16831,15413.94210179814.0420
2005 CGY 18641,21118.9708148822.0480
2006 CGY 185497818.1706136321.0280
2007 CGY 18671,11016.68410134414.7200
2008 CGY 185276314.7607210969.6290
2009 CGY 18811,23515.25712289311.6191
2010 TOR 144863913.350321112111.0281
2011 TOR 184363314.7450Team did not qualify
MTL totals462133,44516.2572952640215.5471
CGY totals903185,29716.7844372838413.7481
TOR totals32911,27214.050321112111.0281
CFL totals16862210,01416.18475146590714.0483

References

  1. ↑ Link, Dave (August 21, 2016). "Harriman's victory over rival Kingston 'something special'". Knoxville News Sentinel . Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jermaine Copeland – Football". University of Tennessee Athletics. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  3. ↑ Harig, Bob (January 2, 1998). "Fulmer: Emotion factor is overrated". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  4. ↑ Winnett, William (December 30, 2022). "Peyton's Last Stand: The 1998 Orange Bowl". WBIR.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  5. ↑ "1995 Tennessee Volunteers Stats". Sports Reference . Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  6. ↑ "1996 Tennessee Volunteers Stats". Sports Reference . Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  7. ↑ "1997 Tennessee Volunteers Stats". Sports Reference . Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  8. ↑ "1998 Tennessee Volunteers Stats". Sports Reference . Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  9. ↑ Harralson, Dan (August 8, 2021). "Tennessee defeats Florida State to win 1998 national championship". Vols Wire. USA Today. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  10. ↑ "28th Annual Fiesta Bowl – Fiesta Bowl". Fiesta Bowl. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Barcelona 28, Scotland 25". UPI. June 17, 2000. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Jeremaine Copeland football statistics". StatsCrew. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Cope-ing with greatness". Calgary Stampeders. May 26, 2016. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  14. ↑ "2001 Los Angeles Xtreme (XFL)". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  15. ↑ "XFL Million Dollar Game Recap". All-XFL. April 22, 2001. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Washington, Copeland Are Back". OurSports Central. September 24, 2002. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  17. ↑ Epps, Darren (September 5, 2008). "Tennessee: Ex-Vol Copeland idolized for his CFL play in Calgary". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Copeland: "I'm not going to let him down"". CFL.ca. June 14, 2011. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  19. 1 2 "Argos receiver Copeland retires after stellar career". CBC.ca. Canadian Press. January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  20. ↑ Bucholtz, Andrew (January 25, 2012). "An ode to Jeremaine Copeland: 10 memorable moments from his football career". Yahoo! Sports Canada. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Ben Cahoon Dominating". OurSports Central. September 3, 2003. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  22. ↑ Baines, Tim (October 23, 2015). "RedBlacks' receiving corps taking aim at 1,000 yards". Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on October 24, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  23. ↑ Griffith, Mike (September 5, 2009). "Long and winding road has Copeland in Calgary". Knoxville News Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  24. ↑ "So you think you can dance?". CFL.ca. August 29, 2006. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  25. ↑ Francis, Eric (June 10, 2009). "Former Vol Copeland Takes Any Role in Bid for Cup Repeat". University of Tennessee Athletics. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Argonauts acquire receiver Copeland". The Globe and Mail. February 17, 2010. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Argos cut ties with Sam, two others". CFL.ca. June 20, 2011. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Cleo Lemon throws game-winning touchdown in Argos win Saturday". KAIT8. October 10, 2010. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Copeland chases career milestone against Ticats". Sportsnet.ca. November 2, 2011. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Argo receiver Jeremaine Copeland retires". The Globe and Mail. January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Copeland retires, joins Ticats coaching staff". CFL.ca. January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Jeremaine Copeland Announces Retirement". OurSports Central. January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Jeremaine Copeland, Bryan Chiu highlight CFHOF Class of 2025". Canadian Football League. June 12, 2025.
  34. ↑ Caldwell, Fraser (October 17, 2012). "Hamilton Tiger-Cats". TiCats.ca. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  35. 1 2 "Riders add two coaches to staff". The StarPhoenix. February 21, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  36. ↑ McCormick, Murray (May 6, 2015). "Chamblin wants Riders to be "one of the elite teams" in CFL". Leader-Post. Archived from the original on June 22, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
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