EDMONTON, ALBERTA --- Tusculum College and South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame cornerback Ricardo Colclough has signed as a free agent with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, announced officials Monday.
Colclough (pronounced Coke-lee) enjoyed one of the finest
football seasons in SAC history in 2003, helping lead the Pioneers
to a 9-2 record and earning consensus All-America honors from six
organizations. He was named the 2003 Football Gazette National
Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill
Trophy, which recognizes the most outstanding football player in
Division II.
He was selected the 2003 SAC Defensive Player of the Year and
2003-04 SAC Male Athlete of the Year. He still holds 12 school
records, including longest kickoff return, longest punt return,
career interceptions and career passes defended.
Colclough was considered one of the nation's top cornerbacks and
was a second-round draft pick, the 38th pick overall, in the 2004
NFL Draft. Colclough became the highest-drafted player in SAC
history. His six-year NFL career includes stints with the
Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns and Kansas
City Chiefs. He has played in six NFL playoff contests, including
Pittsburgh's 21-10 victory over Seattle in Super Bowl XL.
In his NFL career Colclough registered 69 tackles (54 solo, 15 assisted), 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception for 14 yards. The Sumter, S.C. native also returned five punts for 19 yards and 49 kickoff returns for 1065 yards. He spent last season with the UFL's Omaha Nighthawks.
He was inducted to the Tusculum College Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the SAC Hall of Fame in 2010.
Edmonton will open its regular season June 15 when the Eskimos face the Calgary Stampeders.
Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of 10 colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.
- TC -
