Wes Cates

Last updated
Wes Cates
No. 20
WesCatesRiders.JPG
Born: (1979-10-03) October 3, 1979 (age 44)
Columbus, Ohio
Career information
CFL status American
Position(s) RB
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight215 lb (98 kg)
College California (PA)
Career history
As player
2006 Calgary Stampeders
20072011 Saskatchewan Roughriders
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star2008
CFL West All-Star2008, 2010
Career stats
  • Playing stats at CFL.ca (archive)

Wes Cates (born October 3, 1979) is a former professional Canadian football running back.

Contents

College career

Cates attended California University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 2001 without ever missing a game in his four-year career. He had 5,647 total yards, a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) record, on 937 carries, 63 rushing touchdowns and 386 total points, all school records. He was an All-American for the last two years of his college career and he led the PSAC in rushing for three of his four seasons. Cates was also the PSAC-West Offensive Player of the Year in 2001 and he led the PSAC in rushing for three seasons. He was a PSAC-West first team All-Star selection for three years and he was also nominated for the Harlon Hill Award for best player in division 2 in his sophomore and senior seasons. A 1999 and 2001 All-American, Cates was drafted into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame in his first eligible year.

Professional career

Cates made his professional debut in 2006 after signing a contract with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He dressed for 17 of the Stampeders' 18 regular season games, but he did not get much playing time. He finished the season with only 25 rushing attempts for 181 yards and two touchdowns, while also catching 21 passes for 286 yards and one touchdown.

Just before the 2007 season began, Cates was traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Cates immediately turned into a fan favourite and a hero to many with his speed and determination. He ran for 866 yards on 153 carries, caught 45 passes for 452 yards and scored five touchdowns. During the 2007 playoffs, Cates rushed for 128 yards on 25 attempts with a broken foot and he helped the Saskatchewan Roughriders win the Grey Cup Championship. [1]

In 2008, Cates rushed for 1229 yards, amassed 451 receiving yards and scored 16 touchdowns. He earned a spot on the CFL All-Star team for his accomplishments and ranked second in the most rushing yards. [2]

Prior to the 2009 CFL season, Cates underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder and had been considered questionable to start the 2009 Saskatchewan Roughriders season. [3]

In February 2012, after 6 CFL seasons, Cates was not offered a new contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. [4]

Transactions

Career statistics

[5]

Rushing Regular season Playoffs
YearTeamGamesNo.YardsAvgLongTDGamesNo.YardsAvgLongTD
2006 CGY 17251817.26421000.000
2007 SSK 141528665.74952251285.1220
2008 SSK 1521612295.7491219232.640
2009 SSK 161959324.83752271485.5170
2010 SSK 1820310545.283153372085.6243
2011 SSK 141386804.9324
CFL totals 949304,9425.383439985075.2243

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saskatchewan Roughriders</span> Football team based in Regina, Canada

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Glenn</span> American gridiron football player (born 1979)

Kevin Glenn, Jr. is a former American professional Canadian football quarterback. He was originally signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football for the Illinois State Redbirds and high school football at Detroit St. Martin de Porres. Glenn is a journeyman quarterback who is the only player to ever have had his rights held by every team in the CFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Burris</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1975)

Henry Armand Burris Jr. is an American former professional football quarterback, and a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He is currently the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Florida A&M. Burris played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1998 to 2016. He won three Grey Cup championships, two with the Calgary Stampeders, in 1998 and 2008, having spent 10 years of his career with them, and one with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2016. He was also a sports broadcaster and football analyst at TSN, appearing as a panel member on the network's CFL on TSN broadcasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darian Durant</span> American gridiron football player (born 1982)

Darian Bernard Durant is a former professional Canadian football quarterback. He played college football at the University of North Carolina. By the end of his college career, he held school records for completion percentage, touchdowns, passing yards, total offense and completions. Durant was signed as a free agent by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2006, and became the club's full-time starting quarterback in 2009. He was named a CFL West Division All-Star in 2009 and 2013. Durant was the starting quarterback when the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the 101st Grey Cup in 2013 on their home field. Durant also played for the Montreal Alouettes in 2017. His brother Justin played in the National Football League as a linebacker.

<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">Micah Johnson (gridiron football)</span> American gridiron football player (born 1988)

Micah Johnson is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats. He has also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Calgary Stampeders, BC Lions, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Mace</span> Canadian gridiron football player and coach (born 1985)

Corey Mace is the head coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and is a former professional gridiron football defensive tackle. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Wyoming.

Maurice Price is a former gridiron football wide receiver who played for the Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Charleston Southern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacques Chapdelaine</span> Canadian football coach and former professional slotback

Jacques Chapdelaine is a Canadian football coach and former professional slotback in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He most recently served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. He has also served as the offensive coordinator for four other CFL teams, the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes (2016-17), and the head coach for two Canadian university football teams. He has won three Grey Cup championships as an assistant coach and one Vanier Cup as the head coach of the Laval Rouge et Or. He played collegiately for the Simon Fraser Clan as a wide receiver and played between 1983 and 1989 for four different CFL teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skip Walker</span> American gridiron football player (1954–2022)

Alvin Ray "Skip" Walker was an American professional football running back who played five seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes and Ottawa Rough Riders, including two seasons where he led the CFL in rushing yards in 1982 and 1983. He was named a CFL All Star in 1982 and 1983, and a CFL East All-Star in 1980, 1982 and 1983. He played college football at Texas A&M and was selected in the 11th round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers. He also spent time with the Toronto Argonauts, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Green Bay Packers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Getzlaf</span> Canadian professional football receiver

Chris Getzlaf is a Canadian former professional football slotback who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 2007 to 2017. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2007 CFL Draft, 33rd overall, by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and was later traded that season to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was also a member of the Edmonton Eskimos. Prior to turning pro, Getzlaf played with the junior team Prairie Thunder and the collegiate team Regina Rams in his hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Charles</span> American gridiron football player (born 1986)

Hugh Charles is a former Canadian football running back. He was originally signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2007 before signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2008. He played college football at Colorado. He was traded to Edmonton in 2011.

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

Zachary J. Collaros is an American professional Canadian football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Collaros won the 107th Grey Cup and 108th Grey Cup as the starting quarterback with the Blue Bombers when they defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in both games. He had previously won the Grey Cup as the backup quarterback with the Toronto Argonauts in the 100th Grey Cup. Collaros played football at the University of Cincinnati, and has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Toronto Argonauts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Harris</span> American gridiron football player (born 1986)

Trevor Harris is an American professional football quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Harris has also played in the Arena Football League (AFL) and United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Edinboro University. As Edinboro's starting quarterback, he broke "every career passing record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference" and was a two-time finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded each year to the individual selected as the most valuable player in NCAA Division II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome Messam</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1985)

Jerome Messam is a former professional Canadian football running back who played in nine seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for five teams. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the BC Lions. After being traded to the Edmonton Eskimos, he became the seventh Canadian running back since 1955 and the first since 2000 to rush for over 1,000 yards while also winning the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award. He won the award again in 2016 and was also the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian in 2017. He is a two-time CFL All-Star and three-time CFL West All-Star. Messam played college football for Graceland University.

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

Cody Michael Fajardo is an American professional football quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Saskatchewan Roughriders season</span> CFL team season

The 2013 Saskatchewan Roughriders season was the 56th season for the team in the Canadian Football League. The Roughriders improved upon their 8–10 record from 2012 and made the playoffs for the second straight season, while hosting their first playoff game since 2010. After defeating the BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders in the playoffs, the Roughriders qualified for their fourth Grey Cup appearance in seven years and first ever at their home stadium. The team defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 45-23 in the 101st Grey Cup en route to winning the franchise's fourth championship. With the added seats at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field, the Roughriders led the league in attendance for the first time, with an average of 37,503 fans attending each regular season game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Dillard (gridiron football)</span> American football player (1938–2022)

James Austin Dillard was an American football halfback who played for the Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Rough Riders and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater and also had stints with the Baltimore Colts and Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Harty</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1991)

Jake Paul Harty is a Canadian professional football wide receiver for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a Grey Cup champion after winning with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2016 and with Montreal Alouettes in 2023. He is also a Vanier Cup champion as a coach after the Calgary Dinos won the 55th Vanier Cup in 2019.

Jamal Morrow is a professional Canadian football running back who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

References

  1. Riders' Cates ready to run
  2. 2008 CFL Offensive All-Stars Announced
  3. McCormick, Murray (2009-06-08). "Wes Cates may miss Game 1 for the Riders". Leader-Post. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
  4. "Roughriders part ways with Wes Cates". The Globe and Mail. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  5. "Wes Cates #20". CFL. Retrieved 2009-12-14.