Fresno State Athletics
Former Bulldogs Continuing Their Football Careers
6/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 3, 2015
By Jason Clay
jaclay@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - A number of former Fresno State football players have stayed in the game they love and extended their careers playing in various football leagues in both America and Canada.
With the Canadian Football League about to open its season on June 8, four former Bulldogs have made rosters of CFL teams heading into the 2015 season. Three of them - DB Isaiah Green, DB A.J. Jefferson and DL Tristan Okpalaugo - are with the Toronto Argonauts while LB Travis Brown is in his second season with the Ottawa Redblacks.
In addition to those four in the CFL, another four Bulldogs are currently playing in the Arena Football League or Indoor Football League.
Here is a look at the Bulldogs continuing their playing careers outside of the NFL.
LB, Travis Brown - Ottawa Redblacks - CFL
Brown, a three-time All-Conference selection for the Bulldogs who made 38 consecutive starts to close out his collegiate career in 2012, enters his second season with the Redblacks. In 2014, Brown posted 56 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions, one of which he returned 37 yards for a touchdown.
DB, Isaiah Green - Toronto Argonauts - CFL
Green was signed by the Toronto Argonauts on Oct. 13, 2014. Prior to joining the CFL, Green spent time on the rosters of the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL from 2012-14. He appeared in three games for the Steelers in 2013, but was released by them on Aug. 30, 2014. Playing defensive back, Green appeared in 46 games for the Bulldogs form 2008-11 and recorded 94 tackles as a Bulldog.
K, Kevin Goessling - Portland Thunder - AFL
Goessling is in his first season with the Portland Thunder. One of only 11 players in Fresno State history to earn first-team all-conference accolades three times in a career and still stands as Fresno State's all-time leading scorer, Goessling has previously spent time in training camp with the Oakland Raiders since finishing up his career as a Bulldog in 2011.
DE, Logan Harrell - Los Angeles Kiss - AFL
Harrell has played in one game for the Los Angeles Kiss in his first season in the AFL. He recorded 32 tackles and two sacks during the 2014 season playing with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL. Harrell has also spent time on the practice squad with the San Diego Chargers in the NFL. Harrell was a first-team All-WAC selection for the Bulldogs in 2010 and 2011.
DB, A.J. Jefferson - Toronto Argonauts - CFL
Jefferson signed as a free agent with the Argonauts on May 25, 2015 and is entering his first CFL season. After finishing up his career at Fresno State in 2009, Jefferson signed as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals and appeared in two games with them as a rookie in 2010. He played in all 16 games with the Cardinals in 2011 before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 2012 where he played there for the better part of two seasons. In 2014 he was signed by the Seattle Seahawks but was released by the team prior to the start of the season after suffering an ankle injury.
DL, Tristan Okpalaugo - Toronto Argonauts - CFL
Okpalaugo is entering his second season with the Argonauts, and is coming off a big rookie year in the CFL. In 2014, Okpalaugo was fifth on the team in tackles with 38 and led Toronto with 12 sacks. He ranked in a tie for fifth in the entire CFL with those 12 sacks last year. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one in 2014. Coming out of Fresno State, he was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2013, but was waived before making it into training camp. He later landed with the Minnesota Vikings on its practice roster that year and in 2014 signed with the Dallas Cowboys before being waived on May 12, 2014 and heading up to Toronto.
RB, Robbie Rouse - Iowa Barnstormers - IFL
Rouse, Fresno State's all-time leading rusher, is in his first season with the Barnstormers in the Indoor Football League. Playing in seven games this season, he has 209 rushing yards and five touchdowns while catching 25 passes for 191 yards.
DL, Jason Stewart - San Jose Sabercats - AFL
Stewart is in his seventh AFL season, playing 2006-08 and 2012-15. He was the 2014 Riddell Defensive Player of the Year for the AFL and has twice garnered All-Arena league honors. The nose guard for the Sabercats had a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2014 to go with 28.5 tackles, four pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and a safety. Stewart was a first-team All-WAC selection for the Bulldogs as a senior in 2002.
"Be Bold" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes 1600 AM. Purchase your 2015 Bulldog football season tickets by calling 559-278-DOGS.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateFB
Instagram: Fresno_State_Football
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
