Luke Tasker

Last updated

Luke Tasker
No. 17
17, Luke Tasker, June 22, 2019.jpg
Born: (1991-01-18) January 18, 1991 (age 33)
East Aurora, New York, U.S.
Career information
StatusActive
CFL status American
Position(s) WR
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight191 lb (87 kg)
College Cornell
Career history
As player
2013 San Diego Chargers*
2013–2019 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star 2018
CFL East All-Star 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018
Career stats

Lucas Steele Tasker (born January 18, 1991) is a former Canadian football wide receiver and sports broadcaster. He spent the entirety of his seven-season Canadian Football League (CFL) career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Tasker played college football at Cornell, and is the son of 7-time Pro Bowler and former CBS Sports color analyst Steve Tasker.

Contents

Early years

Tasker attended St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York. Tasker was named first-team all-state in his senior season as a defensive back. He was a team captain for his junior and senior seasons at high school. [1] Tasker also was selected as academic player of the year [1] and was a member of the Western New York all-academic team as a defensive back during his senior season in high school. [2]

College career

Tasker played college football at Cornell University, and was enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. [1] He was an honorable mention all-Ivy pick during his junior season. [1] On September 15, 2012, In the season-opening loss against Fordham in which he recorded 10 receptions along with 177 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. [3] In the next game against Yale in which he had a team leading 10 receptions and a team leading 138 receiving yards along with two receiving touchdowns. [4] On October 16, 2012, he was named the Ivy League co-offensive player of the week along with Cornell Quarterback Chris Amrhein for his outstanding performance against Monmouth in which he had 11 receptions, a school-record 280 receiving yards along with one receiving touchdown. [5] During his senior season, on October 27, 2012 in a regular-season game against Princeton in which he had 10 receptions for 201 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns as Cornell beat the Princeton Tigers 37-35. [6] On November 20, 2012, he was selected to the Ivy league team during his senior season. [7] He finished college with 171 receptions, 2,482 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns. [8]

Professional career

San Diego Chargers

On April 27, 2013, Tasker signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent. However, Tasker did not make the team and was cut on August 30. [9]

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Tasker signed to the practice roster with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on September 17, 2013. [10] Tasker was reunited with Kent Austin (the head coach of the Tiger-Cats), who had been his head coach at Cornell University. He was moved to the active roster and made his CFL debut on September 28, 2013 against the Calgary Stampeders. He caught his first career touchdown in a 33–19 win over the Toronto Argonauts on October 4, 2013. [11] Tasker only appeared in 5 games for the Ti-Cats during his rookie season, finishing the year with 202 receiving yards on 13 catches with 1 touchdown. His second season in the CFL, the 2014 CFL season, was a breakout year for Luke Tasker. He led the team in receptions (72), receiving yards (937) and was tied for the lead in receiving touchdowns (5) along with Brandon Banks. Tasker was recognized for his successful season when he was named a CFL East All-Star for the 2014 season. Following the 2014 season Tasker passed up on an offer from the Green Bay Packers of the NFL and the agreed to a contract extension with the Ti-Cats. [12] [13] Tasker continued his exceptional play in the next three seasons, highlighted by his 2017 campaign in which he set career highs in receptions (104) yards (1,167) and touchdowns (7). One day before the start of free agency the Ti-Cats and Tasker agreed to a two-year contract extension on February 12, 2018. [14] Tasker ended the 2018 as one of the few healthy Hamilton receivers; Brandon Banks, Terrence Toliver, Chris Williams, and Jalen Saunders all finished the year with season ending injuries. Tasker however amassed 1104 yards and a career high 11 touchdowns on 78 catches, and was named to the 2018 CFL All-Star Team. [15] [16] Tasker missed about half the season in 2019 with a broken finger and a hamstring injury, limiting him to only 406 receiving yards on 36 receptions. Tasker was not re-signed by the Ti-Cats following the 2019 season and became a free agent on February 11, 2020. [17]

Personal life

His father is Steve Tasker, who was a wide receiver and special teams player in the National Football League for 13 seasons mostly with the Buffalo Bills. [1] Luke married Jenna Fishback on May 17, 2014. The couple met during kindergarten in their hometown of East Aurora, New York. [18]

Broadcast career

On March 11, 2014, Tasker joined the staff of WBBZ-TV as a sports reporter; as Buffalo and Hamilton were separated by less than 50 miles, he was able to continue his career with the Tiger-Cats while working for WBBZ. He served in that capacity before WBBZ discontinued sports coverage in 2015. [19]

On August 3, 2021, Tasker was named the new color commentator for the Tiger-Cats' radio broadcasts on The Ticats Audio Network. [20]

Related Research Articles

Darren Paul Flutie is an American former Canadian football wide receiver for the BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He is the Canadian Football League's fifth all-time leader in catches, behind Nik Lewis, Geroy Simon, Ben Cahoon, and Terry Vaughn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arland Bruce III</span> American gridiron football player (born 1977)

Arland Richard Bruce III is a former Canadian football wide receiver. He is a two-time Grey Cup champion, having won in 2004 with the Toronto Argonauts and in 2011 with the Lions. He has played 10 seasons in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and BC Lions. During the 2011 season, he became the 14th CFL receiver to record over 10,000 yards receiving in a career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Fantuz</span> Canadian football player (born 1983)

Andrew Fantuz is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver. Fantuz spent the majority of his professional career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played for the Riders for six seasons after he was drafted by them in the first round of the 2006 CFL Draft. He then played six seasons for the Tiger-Cats. Fantuz was also signed by the Chicago Bears in 2011. He played CIS football for the Western Ontario Mustangs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquay McDaniel</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1984)

Marquay McDaniel is the receivers coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver who played for 10 seasons in the CFL, six with the Calgary Stampeders and four with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was originally signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2007. McDaniel was named a CFL All-Star in 2013, and won a Grey Cup championship in 2014. He played college football for the Hampton Pirates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. J. Gable</span> American gridiron football player (born 1987)

C. J. Gable is a former Canadian football running back. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football for the University of Southern California Trojans. He has also been a member of the Denver Broncos (NFL), Nebraska Danger (IFL), and Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Edmonton Eskimos (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremiah Masoli</span> American gridiron football player (born 1988)

Jeremiah Taeatafa Masoli is an American professional football quarterback for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at the City College of San Francisco, University of Oregon, and the University of Mississippi. Masoli has also been a member of the Omaha Nighthawks (UFL), the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) and the Edmonton Eskimos (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prechae Rodriguez</span> American gridiron football player (born 1985)

Prechae Rodriguez is a former American football wide receiver. He signed with Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League as an undrafted free agent in 2008. During his rookie 2008 season, Rodriguez accumulated 1099 yards in only 14 games, en route to being named the East Division Most Outstanding Rookie. He played college football for the Auburn Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Williams (wide receiver)</span> American gridiron football player (born 1987)

Chris Williams is an American professional free agent Canadian football wide receiver of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at New Mexico State. Williams was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He made his professional debut for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) in 2011. Williams was also a member of the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Ottawa Redblacks, BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Banks</span> American gridiron football player (born 1987)

Brandon Desean Banks is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He was signed by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts. He played college football at Bakersfield College and Kansas State. Originally coming into the NFL at 149 pounds, Banks was the lightest active player in the league. Banks is also currently the lightest player in the CFL at 150 pounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Green</span> American gridiron football player (born 1988)

Alexander Denell Green is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2011, and was also a member of the New York Jets of the NFL and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL.

Shamawd Chambers is a former Canadian football wide receiver. He most recently played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). After the 2011 CIS season, he was ranked as the third best player in the Canadian Football League’s Amateur Scouting Bureau final rankings for players eligible in the 2012 CFL Draft and second by players in Canadian Interuniversity Sport. At the 2012 CFL Evaluation Camp, Chambers ran the fastest 40-yard dash, clocking in at 4.42. He was selected sixth overall by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2012 CFL Draft.

Kevin Elliott is a former gridiron football wide receiver. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and was also a member of the Buffalo Bills, Brooklyn Bolts (FXFL), Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Ottawa Redblacks, BC Lions, and Edmonton Eskimos / Football Team of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Florida A&M.

Bakari Grant is a former Canadian football wide receiver. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Grant played college football at UC Davis. He has also been a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Mathews</span> American gridiron football player (born 1991)

Jeffrey Kyle Mathews is a former American football quarterback who played four seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Cornell, where he was ranked among the top 20 quarterbacks in passing yardage in Division I FCS history. He surpassed the Cornell record for total passing yards by more than 2,000 yards and ended his collegiate career as the holder of 47 Cornell and 18 Ivy League conference records. After going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Mathews spent the summer with the Atlanta Falcons, and was a practice squad member of the Indianapolis Colts and the Arizona Cardinals. He moved north to the CFL, playing two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and a season each with the Toronto Argonauts and the Montreal Alouettes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dane Evans</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Stephen Dane Evans is an American former professional football quarterback who played for six seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and BC Lions. He played college football at Tulsa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bralon Addison</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Bralon Addison is an American professional football wide receiver for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Oregon. Addison has also been a member of the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Minnesota Vikings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Jones (wide receiver)</span> Canadian football player (born 1994)

Brian Jones is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver and is the special teams coordinator for the York Lions of U Sports football. He played professionally for the Toronto Argonauts, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) football with the Acadia Axemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Thomas Erlington</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1992)

Sean Thomas Erlington is a Canadian professional football running back for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaelon Acklin</span> American gridiron football player (born 1995)

Jaelon Acklin is an American professional Canadian football wide receiver for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Western Illinois. Acklin has also been a member of the Baltimore Ravens and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson Bennett</span> Professional Canadian football running back

Jackson Bennett is a Canadian former professional football running back who played for five seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ottawa Redblacks. He played U Sports football with the Ottawa Gee-Gees from 2014 to 2017.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cornell profile". cornellbigred.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013.
  2. ↑ "From The Past: All-WNY Team 2008". wgrz.com. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Cornell vs Fordham Box Score". foxsports.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Yale vs Cornell Box Score". foxsports.com. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Amrhein, Tasker Share Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week Honors". cornellbigred.com. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Princeton vs Cornell Box Score". foxsports.com. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Tasker, Tretter As Unanimous First-Teamers Highlights All-Ivy Football Team". cornellbigred.com. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Luke Tasker college statistics". washingtonpost.com.
  9. ↑ "Chargers cut LT Starks, 10 others". foxsports.com. August 30, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Tiger-Cats add WR Luke Tasker". ticats.ca. September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Ticats thwart Argos comeback bid with road victory". TSN.ca. October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  12. ↑ Edwards, Drew. "Tasker makes the unusual (but smart) choice". The Scratching Post.
  13. ↑ "Tiger-Cats sign WR Tasker to contract extension". TSN. January 15, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Tiger-Cats ink Tasker to two-year deal - CFL.ca". CFL.ca. February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Star Power: 2018 CFL Divisional All-Stars announced - CFL.ca". November 7, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Stars aligned: 2018 CFL All-Stars unveiled". Canadian Football League. December 4, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  17. ↑ "More to Come: Who will impact Day 2 of free agency?". CFL.ca. February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  18. ↑ Staff. "Couple's story goes way back Jenna Fishback and Lucas Tasker". Buffalo News. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Ranney leaving WBFO, WNED to work for State Sen. Gallivan - Talkin' TV - the Buffalo News". Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  20. ↑ TIGER-CATS LAUNCH ‘TICATS AUDIO NETWORK’, DELIVERING LIVE GAME BROADCASTS & ON-DEMAND CONTENT TO FANS. Press release, retrieved August 3, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.