Tyron Vrede

Last updated
Tyron Vrede
No. 46     Ottawa Redblacks
2022, 46, Tyron Vrede.jpg
Vrede with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2022
Born: (1996-09-18) 18 September 1996 (age 27)
Career information
StatusActive
CFL status Global
Position(s) Linebacker
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight231 lb (105 kg)
College
CFL draft 2021G, Round: 2, Pick: 10
Career history
As player
0000–2016 Amsterdam Crusaders
2021–present Ottawa Redblacks
Career stats

Tyron Vrede (born 18 September 1996) is a Dutch professional gridiron football linebacker for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was the tenth overall pick by the Redblacks in the 2021 CFL Global Draft.

Contents

Early life

Vrede grew up playing association football in his hometown of Amsterdam, describing himself as a physical player, but got interested in American football after he was gifted a copy of the video game Madden 2000 for the PlayStation. [1] [2] Since the Netherlands does not allow kids to play tackle football until they are 17, he played flag football for a few months before he could join a full-contact team. [1] [2] However, with no exposure to international recruiters, Vrede did not receive any offers to play college football after graduating from high school. [1] Over the next two years, he carried luggage at an Amsterdam airport, coached flag football, and managed a gym to make enough money for a potential move to the United States. [1]

Vrede played with the Amsterdam Crusaders in his hometown, even serving as the team's placekicker. [3] He played in the EFL Bowl in 2016, which they lost to the Frankfurt Universe. [3] Vrede was also called up to the Dutch junior national teams on several occasions. [2] He was eventually selected to play in the International Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, representing Team World against Team USA under-19s. [1] [2] "That's when I knew I could play at an American level," Vrede said of the experience. [1] He began sending his highlight film to American junior colleges and attended football camps in Germany to attract attention from coaches. [1] [2]

College career

Vrede enrolled at West Hills College Coalinga with the help of fellow Amsterdam native Dylan Bakker, who had played at West Hills and North Dakota. [1] As a freshman, Vrede recorded 36 tackles and five pass breakups in nine games at defensive back. [4] [5] He also helped the Falcons upset an unbeaten Shasta College team in the 2016 NCFC American Division Bowl, tallying nine tackles in the 20–14 comeback victory. [6] However, the coaching staff was fired in the offseason, leading Vrede to transfer to Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas. [1] Now listed as a linebacker, he recorded 28 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in his lone season with the Broncbusters. [7] His performance helped him land a scholarship to play NCAA Division I football at the University of North Dakota. [1] [2]

Vrede played in all 11 games for the Fighting Hawks during his junior year in 2018, logging 23 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks as a reserve linebacker. [1] Because of differences between the Dutch and American education systems, he was originally labelled a senior throughout the season by the NCAA and was not cleared to play his actual senior year until spring break. [1] [8] In 2019, Vrede played in all 12 games and recorded 33 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. [9] He tallied five tackles in their season opening win against Drake. [10]

Vrede graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2020. [11]

Professional career

Vrede was selected by the Ottawa Redblacks with the tenth overall pick in the 2021 CFL Global Draft. [12] Before the draft, JC Abbott of 3DownNation.com had rated him as the second-best linebacker available after Les Maruo. [13] Vrede signed with the Redblacks in late April, [9] and officially made the roster after final cuts were announced a week before the start of the 2021 season. [14] He recorded four special teams tackles in his first four games, [15] and finished the year third on the team with ten special teams tackles. [16] He also broke into the defensive rotation towards the end of the season, where he recorded five additional tackles. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Pottinger</span>

Jason Pottinger is a former professional Canadian football linebacker who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted second overall by the BC Lions in the 2006 CFL Draft. He played CIS football for the McMaster Marauders.

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

Jonathan Newsome is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Ohio State and Ball State, and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Ottawa Redblacks and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antoine Pruneau</span> Canadian football defensive back (born 1989)

Antoine Pruneau is a former Canadian football defensive back who played for eight seasons for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Prior to being drafted into the CFL, he played Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) football for the Montreal Carabins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorenzo Mauldin</span> American gridiron football player (born 1992)

Lorenzo Malik Mauldin IV is an American professional football defensive end for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football at Louisville.

Ese Mrabure-Ajufo is a Canadian football defensive lineman who is currently a member of the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played CIS football for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Francis (Canadian football)</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1993)

Kevin Francis is a Canadian professional football linebacker for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played as a tight end during his college football career with the North Carolina A&T Aggies. Francis has also been a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, BC Lions, and Edmonton Elks.

Christophe Mulumba-Tshimanga, sometimes called Chris Mulumba, is a professional Canadian football linebacker and special teams player who last played for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Born in Zaire and raised in Montreal, he attended the Kent School in Connecticut before playing college football with the University of Maine Black Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avery Williams (linebacker)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Avery A. Williams Sr. is an American professional gridiron football middle linebacker who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent after the 2017 NFL Draft. He played college football at Temple University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kwaku Boateng (Canadian football)</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1995)

Kwaku Boateng is a Canadian football defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played U Sports football for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Ackie</span> Professional Canadian football linebacker

Chris Ackie is a former professional Canadian football linebacker. Ackie spent the majority of his professional career playing for the Montreal Alouettes Canadian Football League (CFL). He played CIS football for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks from 2011 to 2014. He was drafted fourth overall by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2015 CFL Draft. Ackie was also a member of the New York Giants, Ottawa Redblacks and Toronto Argonauts.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraser Sopik</span> Professional Canadian football linebacker

Fraser Sopik is a Canadian professional football linebacker for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

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

Kevin Brown II is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football at Cincinnati. He was a member of the Ottawa Redblacks, Edmonton Elks and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kene Onyeka</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1996)

Kene Onyeka is a Nigerian-Canadian professional professional defensive lineman for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Calver</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1993)

Brandon Calver is a Canadian professional football linebacker for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Knox (Canadian football)</span> Professional Canadian football coach

Greg Knox is a Canadian football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the York Lions of U Sports football. He played professionally as a defensive back with the Calgary Stampeders for seven years where he won two Grey Cup championships. He is also a two-time Vanier Cup champion after winning as a player with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in 1991 and then as a defensive coordinator with the McMaster Marauders in 2011. He was formerly the head coach of the Marauders from 2016 to 2018.

Grant McDonald is a former Canadian football linebacker. He previously played for the Edmonton Elks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the Elks with the 14th overall selection in the 2021 CFL Draft. From 2018 to 2019, he played U Sports football for the University of Calgary Dinos, where he was a Vanier Cup champion in 2019. Prior to transferring to Calgary in 2018, he attended and played one season for the University of Maine Black Bears of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Auclair</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1996)

Adam Auclair is a Canadian professional football linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Cowan</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1998)

Brad Cowan is a Canadian football linebacker who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Basambombo</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1997)

Dan Basambombo is a Congolese professional Canadian football linebacker for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played U Sports football at Laval and was selected by the Redblacks in the second round of the 2020 CFL Draft.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Miller, Tom (23 March 2019). "With the help of Madden 2000 and two years working at an Amsterdam airport, UND linebacker Tyron Vrede thankful for his opportunity to play". Grand Forks Herald . Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Dutch prospect Vrede on getting drafted: 'It would mean a lot to me'". Canadian Football League. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Samsung Frankfurt Universe gewinnt European Football League-Finale". Sportkreis Frankfurt (in German). 13 June 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  4. ↑ "Tyron Vrede". West Hills Falcons Athletics. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "Schweigert adds 21 during early signing period". North Dakota Fighting Hawks Athletics. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Bowl Champs: Falcons Shock No. 1 Shasta, 20-14". West Hills Falcons Athletics. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Tyron Vrede". Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference . Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  8. ↑ Miller, Tom (30 August 2019). "UND inside linebackers go from weak link to major strength". Williston Herald . Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Ottawa Redblacks sign three Global Draft picks plus another Global player". American Football International. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "Love the Drake: UND rolls Bulldogs in season opener". North Dakota Fighting Hawks Athletics. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "2020 Spring Commencement Program" (PDF). University of North Dakota. p. 25. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Redblacks draft four international talents at the 2021 CFL Global Draft" (Press release). Ottawa Redblacks. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  13. ↑ Abbott, JC (14 April 2021). "CFL Global Draft Position Rankings: Linebackers". 3 Down Nation. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  14. ↑ "CFL: Dutch LB Tyron Vrede makes the cut with Ottawa Redblacks". American Football International. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  15. ↑ Abbott, JC (10 September 2021). "Global players starting to make a mark on CFL teams". American Football International. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  16. 1 2 Abbott, JC (26 November 2021). "2021 CFL season featured Global starters, sack artists and first ever all-star". American Football International. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
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.