THE HOT CORNER: McFadden looks to have edge in battle for starting job versus Hamilton

Published Jun 27, 2024 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 5 minute read

File photo/ Toronto Argonauts defensive back Tarvarus McFadden (20) goes to cath the ball during the second half of CFL action at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday, October 21, 2023 in Regina. Photo by KAYLE NEIS /POSTMEDIA

Tarvarus McFadden has a football resume that really should get him a job anywhere, in any league in which he wants to play.

In 2014, his final year of high school, he won an award as the best defensive player in Florida.

While being recruited for college, he was said to have “five-star” abilities and was ranked as a Top 3 defensive back in the U.S. and a Top 13 player overall in the U.S..

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McFadden decided to stay close to home and had an outstanding career with the Florida State Seminoles.

As a sophomore, his first year as a starter, he had eight interceptions to tie for the most in the U.S. and second most in FSU history.

Among his many accolades, he was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award, which goes to the top defensive player in the U.S.

Still, he went undrafted, and after stints with the San Francisco 49ers (twice) and Detroit Lions without ever playing a NFL game, spent a season with the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL.

McFadden signed with the Toronto Argonauts in 2021 and was their starting corner in the 109th (2022) Grey Cup, contributing four tackles in the 24-23 victory over the Blue Bombers.

Yet at 27, and with enviable size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) for a DB, he suddenly became unemployed when the Argos made him one of their last camp cuts earlier this month.

The Redblacks, who lost both starting cornerbacks Brandon Dandridge and Alijah McGhee to injures during camp, promptly snapped him up.

And now, with Money Hunter also heading to the one-game injured list, Ottawa is down another corner.

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Competing for promotion from the practice roster to the position are McFadden and Sherrod Baltimore, a former Redblacks veteran who wasn’t re-signed over the off-season but then brought back as depth when the injuries started to hit.

“We’re in a pretty good situation in that both those guys are CFL veterans,” head coach Bob Dyce said after Thursday’s practice, in which McFadden had more reps than Baltimore. (Baltimore had more in Wednesday’s practice). “I think Toronto’s defence back when McFadden played over there was a little more similar to what we’re doing, so it’s a good fit, and Baltimore’s been in the system (here).

“They’re both out there working really hard. And I’m not going to say after the two days that we’ve got got our answer, but we know whichever we put out there, we’ll be really comfortable with.”

The smart money says that for Sunday night’s tilt at TD Place against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats,the Redblacks will turn to McFadden who, for the record, still doesn’t know why he was cut by the Argos.

“If I had the answer I would tell you, but I honestly don’t know,” he said. “I guess God had bigger plans for me this year. It definitely caught me by surprise, but you know that’s all part of the business. You can’t let your feelings get too invested in it. I appreciate Ottawa for giving me the opportunity to show my talents over here now.”

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Asked about the battle with Baltimore for Sunday’s start, McFadden said: “I feel like every day we come out here it’s a competition. At the end of the day we’re just trying to put the best people on the field and I pray that it is me. I’m just going to keep working every day.”

Being a cornerback isn’t easy, as Hunter would tell you after moving over from halfback against the Alouettes.

“I feel like cornerback is the hardest position on the field next to quarterback, because we’re always starting backwards,” said McFadden. “We’ve got world class athletes right in front of us who in the CFL, get a waggle and start, so that makes it a little bit more harder. But I just think the philosophy as a corner is next play mentality. You can’t be afraid to make plays and you can’t be afraid to beat also.”

You would think that after being so highly touted while growing up to fighting for a pro job at an age in which some players are entering their prime, McFadden’s confidence would be shredded.

He says it’s not, but the roller coaster ride of emotions as left him asking some questions.

“It was more so of like: ‘Why do all the things happened to me in a way?’, ” said McFadden. “But also in the same breath I can’t say that and have faith. I keep my faith. And the real question is like: ‘What is God trying to teach me, what is he trying to tell me with all these transitions?’

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“At the end of the day, I know I can play, my family knows I can play and I’m just trying to put the best in me on the field.”

GOING DEEP

With the Tiger-Cats owning an 0-3 record, Dyce was asked if the game Sunday might be considered a “trap game”. He shuddered at the notion. “I’ve never even understood that term “trap game,” said Dyce. “All I know is this: We’re 1-1 and we want to get to 2-1. And Hamilton is the team we’re playing this week. They’ve got a very experienced veteran quarterback (in Bo Levi Mitchell). They’ve got great coaches over there. And they’ve got a good team, because like I said, they’ve been in games. We’re not at a point where we’re thinking anything is trap game or anything like that. We’re focused on getting to 2-1. It’s an Eastern game and we need to beat Eastern teams. That’s our focus.” …After suffering a concussion in Montreal, WR Jaelon Acklin eased into Thursday’s practice, but it’s still too early to say he’ll be able to play against the Tiger-Cats. “I will say this: Always with a concussion you want to err on the side of caution,” said Dyce. “If you saw him later in practice, he was he out competing in the drills, so I think if the protocol allows it and he were able, he will be out there (on Sunday). If the protocol says no, he didn’t pass the test study he needs to in the timeframe, then he won’t, and we’ll just move forward from there.” Moving forward would mean training camp standout Kalil Pimpleton will step in and make his CFL debut ….The Redblacks had moved Ottawa-born and former Gee-Gees LB James Peter from the practice roster to the game roster. Peter played in the Game 1 win over Winnipeg, recording one special teams tackle … Former Ottawa DB Jonathan Rose has signed a one-day contract with the team and officially retired as a Redblack.

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