Dean Faithfull

Last updated

Dean Faithfull
2023, 18, Dean Faithfull.jpg
Faithfull with the Edmonton Elks in 2023
No. 18 – Edmonton Elks
Position: Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1987-05-23) 23 May 1987 (age 37)
Fareham, England
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
College: Florida Tech (2007–2010)
CSU Pueblo (2021)
CFL Draft: 2023G  / Round: 1 / Pick: 2
Career history
Roster status:Practice Roster
CFL status:Global

Dean Faithfull (The Badger) (born 23 May 1987) is an English gridiron football placekicker for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Formerly a soccer player, he played the sport in college from 2007 to 2010 at Florida Tech and later played across the world in semi-professional leagues. In 2021, he began playing football for the CSU Pueblo Thunderwolves, becoming the oldest NCAA Division II football player in history. He was selected with the second overall pick of the 2023 CFL Global Draft by the Elks.

Contents

Early life and soccer career

Faithfull was born on 23 May 1987, in the United Kingdom. [1] He grew up in Hampshire and attended Tauntons College, but later moved to the U.S. to play college soccer for the Florida Tech Panthers. [2] [3] He played four years for the Panthers, from 2007 to 2010, as a defender. [3] As a freshman, he started 13 games and scored one goal, after which he started 15 games in 2008 and posted nine shots. [3] In 2009, Faithfull played in all 17 matches and started 16, tying for the team lead with four assists. [3] He started all 18 games in 2010 and anchored the team's defense, totaling a career-high seven points and a team-high 1,626 minutes played. [3]

After his stint with the Florida Tech Panthers, Faithfull played two years of soccer for a club in the second tier of the Australian soccer league system, followed by one year in the Liga FPD, the top division of Costa Rica. [2] He then went on to play in Trinidad and Tobago and for a team in the Belgian Second Division. [2]

College football career

Faithfull visited his Florida Tech coach in 2019, who asked him if he wanted to play for the school's football team as they needed a new placekicker. [4] He still was academically eligible for two semesters and tried out for the team. [5] His tryout was successful and he was offered a scholarship, with the plan that he would join the team in the summer of 2020; however, the team was discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4]

Faithfull was later brought in for a tryout by the CSU Pueblo Thunderwolves, after they hired a coach who knew him. [4] He made the team for the 2021 season and, aged 34, became the oldest NCAA Division II player of all time. [4] [6] His role included kicking field goals, extra points, and making the kickoffs. [4] In his only year with the ThunderWolves, he went 7-for-12 on field goals, scored 20 extra points, and averaged 58.5 yards off 44 kickoffs, while making 24 touchbacks. [7] Faithfull graduated from the school in December 2021 with a master's degree in business. [8]

Professional career

Faithfull was selected with the second overall pick of the 2023 CFL Global Draft by the Edmonton Elks. [2] In preseason, he made 6-of-9 attempts, with the final one being blocked against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. [6] He made the final roster and became the team's oldest player at 36 despite being a rookie. [6] [9] In his debut, against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he converted both of his two field goal attempts and averaged 66.5 yards per kickoff. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmonton Elks</span> Canadian Football League team

The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at Commonwealth Stadium. The Elks were founded in 1949 as the Edmonton Eskimos and have won the Grey Cup championship fourteen times, most recently in 2015 and the most of any CFL club based in Western Canada. The team has a rivalry with the Calgary Stampeders and is one of the three community-owned teams in the CFL. The team discontinued using the Eskimos name in 2020, with the new name Elks formally announced on June 1, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damon Duval</span> American gridiron football player (born 1980)

Damon Duval is an American former professional football placekicker and punter. Duval played college football for Auburn University, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He played professionally for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL), and the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Field goal</span> Means of scoring in gridiron football

A field goal (FG) is a means of scoring in gridiron football. To score a field goal, the team in possession of the ball must place kick, or drop kick, the ball through the goal, i.e., between the uprights and over the crossbar. The entire ball must pass through the vertical plane of the goal, which is the area above the crossbar and between the uprights or, if above the uprights, between their outside edges. American football requires that a field goal must only come during a play from scrimmage while Canadian football retains open field kicks and thus field goals may be scored at any time from anywhere on the field and by any player. The vast majority of field goals, in both codes, are placekicked. Drop-kicked field goals were common in the early days of gridiron football but are almost never attempted in modern times. A field goal may also be scored through a fair catch kick, but this is also extremely rare. In most leagues, a successful field goal awards three points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Medlock</span> American football player (born 1983)

Justin Charles Medlock is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning consensus All-American honors in 2006. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Medlock also played in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers, as well as the Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL.

Hugh O'Neill is a professional Canadian football punter and placekicker who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally drafted 11th overall by the BC Lions in the 2011 CFL Draft and spent parts of three seasons with the team. He has also been a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He played CIS football with the Alberta Golden Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rene Paredes</span> Professional Canadian football placekicker

Rene Paredes is a Canadian football placekicker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a two-time Grey Cup champion after winning with the Stampeders in 2014 and 2018 and is a four-time CFL All-Star. He also won the John Agro Special Teams Award as the CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams player in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Foucault</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1989)

David Foucault is a Canadian football offensive lineman for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) football for the Montreal Carabins. He has also played for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL) and the BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes of the CFL.

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

Martez Ivey is a professional gridiron football offensive tackle for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Florida. Ivey has also been a member of the New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Vipers, Carolina Panthers, and Toronto Argonauts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richie Leone</span> Canadian and American football player (born 1992)

Richie Leone is an American professionl football punter for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played collegiate football for the University of Houston. He has also been a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, BC Lions, and Arizona Cardinals.

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

Adam Konar is a Canadian football linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally drafted 25th overall in the 2015 CFL Draft by the Edmonton Eskimos and played for six non-consecutive seasons with the team. He played CIS football for the Calgary Dinos.

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

Derel Walker is an American professional gridiron football wide receiver who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was named a CFL All-Star in 2015 and 2016 and received the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 2015. He is a Grey Cup champion after winning the 103rd Grey Cup with the Edmonton Eskimos in his rookie year. He previously attended Texas A&M University where he played college football for the Aggies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boris Bede</span> French gridiron football player (born 1989)

Boris Bede is a French-born Canadian football placekicker and punter for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He first enrolled at Tiffin University before transferring to Université Laval. Bede has been nicknamed "Boom Boom" for his strong leg on kickoffs and punts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Scarlett (American football)</span> American football player (born 1996)

Jordan Scarlett is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Florida and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Diego Jair Viamontes Cotera is a Mexican professional gridiron football wide receiver and kickoff returner for the Reyes de Jalisco of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA). He was the first overall pick by the Eskimos in the 2019 CFL–LFA Draft after playing with the Mayas CDMX in the LFA.

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

David Côté is a Canadian football placekicker for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

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

Michael Domagala is a professional Canadian football placekicker for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Maurice Lamont Ffrench is an American football wide receiver. He played college football for Pittsburgh and was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He has also been a member of the Los Angeles Chargers, Edmonton Elks, and Ottawa Redblacks.

Jordan Beaulieu is a professional Canadian football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He played U Sports football at Western University. Beaulieu has also been a member of the Edmonton Elks and the Ottawa Redblacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J-Min Pelley</span> J-Min Pelley,a Canadian gridiron football player (born 1998)

J-Min Pelley is a Canadian football defensive lineman for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played U Sports football for the Calgary Dinos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josiah Schakel</span> Canadian football player (born 1999)

Josiah Schakel is a Canadian football linebacker for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played U Sports football at Alberta. He has also been a member of the Calgary Stampeders.

References

  1. ↑ "Dean Faithfull". Canadian Football League. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Moddejonge, Gerry (30 May 2023). "Elks kicker Dean Faithfull taking the opposite journey as Ted Lasso". Edmonton Sun . Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dean Faithfull". Florida Tech Panthers. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Letofsky, Jeff (23 October 2021). "CSU Pueblo's 34-year-old field goal kicker Dean Faithfull fitting in nicely with 'the boys'". The Pueblo Chieftain . Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  5. ↑ Bouldin, Tyler (25 October 2021). "CSU Pueblo senior adds English to Thunderwolves' special teams". KXRM-TV. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Campbell, Dave (1 June 2023). "Elks offence looking for a little finish before 2023 season begins". Global News . Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "Elks Select Two in Global Draft". OurSports Central. Edmonton Elks. 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  8. ↑ Hiler, Megan (28 October 2021). "CSU-Pueblo kicker Dean Faithfull's unconventional journey to football: "I don't take a moment for granted"". KKTV. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  9. ↑ Moddejonge, Gerry (1 June 2023). "Arceneaux hands off title of oldest Elks player to 36-year-old rookie". Edmonton Sun . Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  10. ↑ Hoskins, Andrew (12 June 2023). "Here we go again: eight thoughts on the Edmonton Elks' loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders". 3DownNation.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
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.