Argos Sign CFL Vet

The Toronto Argonauts have added some CFL experience to their quarterback corps with the signing of QB Darnell Kennedy. Kennedy played four seasons in the CFL from 2002 to 2005 with both the Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Renegades.

While in Ottawa, he trained under Argos’ Offensive Coordinator Kent Austin as the backup to former Argonauts’ QB Romero Miller and Saskatchewan’s Kerry Joseph. Kennedy’s most productive CFL season was in 2004, with the Renegades, when he completed 69 of 131 passes for 893 yards and 5 touchdowns. He started four games that season including his first career CFL start at Rogers Centre against Toronto.

Kennedy drew the attention of scouts everywhere when he was named the starting quarterback at Alabama State as a freshman. During his five seasons, he broke several school records and drew comparisons to 2003 NFL MVP QB Steve McNair. As a senior, he was named SWAC Player of the Year, throwing 33 touchdowns and accounting for a school-record 3,618 offensive yards.

Darnell Kennedy #16

Quarterback

6’0”, 190 lbs.

Alabama State

Born: October 8, 1976

Mobile, Alabama

1^st Year Argo / 5^th Year CFL

Import

Acquired: Signed as a free agent with Toronto on June 27, 2006.

2006: Released by Ottawa in February.

2005: Signed with the Calgary Stampeders as a free agent on February 24 and released by Calgary on June 9…Signed with the Ottawa Renegades on June 12.

2004: Played in 16 games, starting four, with Ottawa and missed two games with a broken hand…Completed 69 of 131 attempts for 666 yards, 5 TDs and 3 INT…Made his first CFL start in a 28-25 loss at Toronto, finished 14 of 28 for 165 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT…Granted free agency at the end of the season.

2003: Played one game with Calgary, against Ottawa, on July 1 and threw a TD pass to Wane McGarity…Traded to Ottawa in exchange for the negotiation rights to QB Jason Gesser on July 4…Appeared in one game for the Renegades (26/10/03) against Montreal and completed five passes for 19 yards.

2002: Signed as a free agent with Calgary on April 30…Dressed in 18 games for the Stamps as the third QB…Played in first-ever CFL game against Montreal (18/07/02) and completed 2 of 5 passes for 30 yards.

College: Drew comparisons to NFL QB Steve McNair during his time at Alabama State… completed 859 passes on 1,571 completions for 11,753 yards and 102 TDs during his college career…2001 Named Division 1-AA Offensive Player of the Year and SWAC Player of the Year… Named SWAC First Team All-Star…threw 33 TDs and accounted for a school record 3,618 offensive yards (including 3,151 passing yards)…2000 Completed 3,488 yards and 33 TDs as a Junior...1999 Played in only two games due to foot injury…1998 Threw for 2,409 yards and 19 TDs as a sophmore…Named 2^nd Team All-SWAC…1997: Named starting QB as a freshman in the second game of the season…threw for 2,378 yards and 15 TDs.

Personal: Darnell lives in Atlanta with his wife Crystal and their three year-old daughter, Kamryn. He spent the off-season working for Penske Motors where he trained to be a mechanic for 18-wheel trucks. Darnell likes to read books written by African-American authors and lists his favourite movies as Pay it Forward and The Green Mile. He studied criminal justice in college and hopes to one day join the police force. Darnell and his family have a pug named Lady.