Born: | Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. | August 25, 1988
---|---|
Career information | |
Status | Active |
CFL status | American |
Position(s) | Defensive lineman |
Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
Weight | 242 lb (110 kg) |
College | Akron |
High school | Westlake (Waldorf, Maryland) |
Career history | |
As player | |
2011 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers* |
2011 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
2012 | San Jose SaberCats |
2012 | Orlando Predators |
2012 | Sioux Falls Storm |
2012–2013 | Edmonton Eskimos |
2013–2014 | Calgary Stampeders |
2015 | Pittsburgh Steelers* |
2015 | San Francisco 49ers* |
2015 | Ottawa Redblacks |
2016 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
2016–2018 | Toronto Argonauts |
2018 | BC Lions |
2019 | Toronto Argonauts |
2019 | BC Lions |
2021 | Edmonton Elks* |
2021–2022 | Calgary Stampeders |
2023 | BC Lions* |
2023 | Montreal Alouettes |
Career highlights and awards | |
CFL All-Star | 2022 |
CFL East All-Star | 2016 |
CFL West All-Star | 2022 |
Career stats | |
Tackles | 237 |
Sacks | 101 |
Forced fumbles | 30 |
Interceptions | 3 |
Shawn Lemon (born August 25, 1988) is an American former professional football defensive lineman who played primarily in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Akron and attended Westlake High School in Waldorf, Maryland. He has been a member of eight CFL teams (BC Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Edmonton Eskimos / Elks, Ottawa Redblacks, Toronto Argonauts, Calgary Stampeders, and Montreal Alouettes) three indoor football teams (San Jose SaberCats, Orlando Predators, Sioux Falls Storm) and two NFL teams (Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers).
Lemon was born on August 25, 1988, in Charleston, South Carolina. [1] [2] His family moved to Waldorf Maryland and he participated in football, basketball and track and field for the Westlake High School Wolverines. He broke the single-season at Westlake and the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference record with 21 sacks. Lemon recorded 97 tackles as a senior and was named first team All-Metro. He was also named to the Maryland Big School All-State second team. He accrued 80 tackles, 16 sacks, and two interceptions as a junior in 2004, being named second team All-Metro. [1]
Lemon played college football for the Akron Zips of the University of Akron. [1] He was an All-Mid-American Conference selection as a senior, leading the team with seven sacks and four fumble recoveries. He ended his college career with 102 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, five fumble recoveries and six forced fumbles. [3]
On July 18, 2011, Lemon was signed to the practice roster of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. He was released by the Blue Bombers on July 21, 2011. [4]
Lemon signed with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders on August 10, 2011. [5] He made his CFL debut on September 11, 2011, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. [3] He was released by the Roughriders on September 21, 2011. [6]
Lemon was assigned to the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League (AFL) on March 11, 2012. [7]
Lemon was traded to the Orlando Predators on April 18, 2012. He was reassigned by the Predators on May 8, 2012. [8]
Lemon signed with the Sioux Falls Storm of the Indoor Football League after his release from the Predators. [9]
Lemon spent the 2012 season with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL (now named Edmonton Elks). [3] He was released by Edmonton on May 22, 2013. [10]
Lemon signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL on June 2, 2013. He played six games in 2013, recording 18 tackles, three quarterback sacks and a fumble recovery. He was on the reserve list for twelve games. Lemon recorded six tackles in the Western Final. He started all 18 games for the Stampeders in 2014, recording 13 sacks, five tackles for a loss and eight forced fumbles (CFL League Record) . He also totaled 31 tackles, a special-teams tackle and an interception. Lemon was named the Defensive Player of the Week for Week 15 when he recorded three tackles, a pair of sacks and a forced fumble in a victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Stampeders won the 102nd Grey Cup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on November 30, 2014. [3] On January 19, 2015, the Stampeders released Lemon, allowing him to become a free-agent and pursue employment opportunities in the NFL. [11]
Lemon agreed to a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) on January 20, 2015. [12] He was released by the Steelers on August 3, 2015. [13]
Lemon was signed by the NFL's San Francisco 49ers on August 8, 2015. [14] He was released by the 49ers on August 31, 2015. [15] He was listed as a linebacker during his time with the Steelers and 49ers. [15] [16]
On September 3, 2015, Lemon signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL to play as a defensive end for Ottawa. [17] Lemon played in the last half of the season with the Redblacks, contributing five quarterback sacks during the regular season. He was released by the Redblacks on December 4 so he could pursue NFL opportunities. [18]
Lemon was signed by the Roughriders on January 15, 2016. [19] Lemon was listed as the third-string defensive end for opening night, effectively confirming rumours that Lemon was unhappy with the Roughriders coaching staff. [20] [21] Following a week 1 defeat Lemon asked to be traded. [22]
After reports that Lemon was not happy in Saskatchewan, Lemon was traded to the Toronto Argonauts on July 2, 2016, after playing limited reps in only one game for the Roughriders. [23] [24] Lemon and a conditional 2018 CFL Draft pick were sent to the Argonauts in exchange for Mitchell Gale and Matt Sewell. [23] Lemon played in 16 games for the Argos during the 2016 season and finished tied for second in the CFL with 14 sacks. He was recognized by his peers for his performance and was named a CFL East Division All-Star. [25] On December 1, 2016, Lemon and the Argos agreed on a contract extension which kept him with the 'double-blue' through the 2018 CFL season. [26] Lemon was hampered by injury during 2017, and was the only starter on Toronto's defensive line not to make the CFL East All Stars list (Victor Butler, Dylan Wynn, and Cleyon Laing all made the list), but Lemon still managed 8 sacks and a forced fumble in 12 games played. During the playoffs, Lemon recorded 3 sacks in a victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Lemon and the Argos would go on to defeat Lemon's former team, the Stampeders to win the 105th Grey Cup. Lemon played in 5 games for Toronto in 2018, before being traded away. In those games he made 5 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
On July 24, 2018, Lemon was traded to the BC Lions for a negotiation list player. Lemon formed a formidable pass rush tandem with Odell Willis, and went on to record 10 sacks in 13 games for BC, including two against Toronto in two meetings later that season.
After becoming a free agent in February 2019, Lemon signed with Toronto again on a one-year contract. [27] Lemon played in four games for the Argos in 2019, contributing 15 tackles and one quarterback sack.
On August 12, 2019, for the second time in his career, Lemon was traded from Toronto to the BC Lions in the middle of the season, this time for Davon Coleman. [28] Lemon's first game back with the Lions saw him record 2 sacks and force a fumble, while also inflicting a season ending injury upon Winnipeg quarterback Matt Nichols. [29] Lemon recorded 8 sacks in 10 games with the Lions. Lemon was not re-signed by the Lions following the 2019 season and became a free agent on February 11, 2020. [30]
On February 3, 2021, Lemon signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Football Team (since renamed the Elks). [31] However, he was released near the end of training camp on July 29, 2021. [32]
On July 30, 2021, it was announced that Lemon had signed with the Calgary Stampeders. [33] Lemon continued his stellar play in the 2021 and 2022 seasons playing in 28 games for the Stamps, and posting 55 defensive tackles, 22 quarterback sacks, and seven forced fumbles. He was named a CFL All-Star following the 2022 season, his first such honour. [34] He was also named the winner of the Norm Fieldgate Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding defensive player in the West Division. Following the season Lemon was not re-signed by the Stampeders and became a free agent on February 14, 2023. [35]
On February 26, 2023, Lemon signed again with the BC Lions. [36] Lemon was released by the Lions during training camp on May 22, 2023. [37]
On July 23, 2023, Lemon signed with the Montreal Alouettes. [38] On September 30, 2023, he scored the first touchdown of his career as he returned a fumble 30 yards for the score in the game against the Ottawa Redblacks. [39] The following week, he recorded the 100th sack of his career, on October 9, 2023, also against the Redblacks, as he sacked Dustin Crum. [40] Overall, he played in just 13 games, but recorded nine sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one touchdown. [41] In the team's two playoff games, Lemon recorded seven defensive tackles, three sacks, and one fumble recovery as the team advanced to the 110th Grey Cup game. He had three defensive tackles and one sack in that game as the Alouettes defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Lemon won his third Grey Cup championship. [42] He announced his retirement on April 10, 2024. [43]
On April 24, 2024, the Canadian Football League announced that Lemon had been suspended indefinitely for betting on league games while a member of the Stampeders in 2021. [44]
Year | Team | GP | DT | ST | Sacks | INT | TD | FF |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | SSK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2012 | EDM | 12 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2013 | CGY | 6 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014 | CGY | 18 | 26 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
2015 | OTT | 9 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2016 | SSK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
TOR | 16 | 22 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
2017 | TOR | 12 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2018 | TOR | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
BC | 13 | 16 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2019 | TOR | 4 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BC | 10 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
2020 | Season cancelled | |||||||
2021 | CGY | 11 | 26 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2022 | CGY | 17 | 29 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
2023 | MTL | 13 | 26 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
TOTAL | 148 | 237 | 2 | 101 | 3 | 1 | 30 |
The 2006 CFL season is considered to be the 53rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 49th Canadian Football League season.
Corey Mace is the head coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and is a former professional gridiron football defensive tackle. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Wyoming.
Odell Willis, nicknamed "the Mayor of Swaggerville", is a professional Canadian football defensive end who is a free agent. He was most recently a member of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Spokane Shock as a free agent in 2007. He played college football for the West Georgia Wolves. Willis has also played for the Huntington Heroes, Peoria Pirates, Green Bay Blizzard, Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Edmonton Eskimos, and BC Lions.
Khalif Quadree Mitchell is a professional Canadian football and American Football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He has played for the B.C. Lions, Toronto Argonauts in the CFL and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL. In 2011, he won a Grey Cup with the BC Lions. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and released in 2010.
Cassius M. Vaughn is a former Canadian football defensive back. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Ole Miss. Vaughn has also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League (NFL). He made his CFL debut in 2016 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Hénoc Muamba is a Congolese-Canadian former professional football linebacker who played in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He is a two-time CFL All-Star, three-time CFL Divisional All-Star, and was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian in 2017. In 2022, he won the Grey Cup with the Argonauts and was named the game's most valuable player (MVP) and Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian, becoming the second player in history to earn both awards. He has also been a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Indianapolis Colts, Montreal Alouettes, Dallas Cowboys, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Duron Christopher Carter is an American professional Canadian football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He was initially a member of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a wide receiver and has also played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions, Edmonton Elks.
The 2015 CFL season was the 62nd season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 58th Canadian Football League season. The Edmonton Eskimos won the 103rd Grey Cup on November 29, defeating the Ottawa Redblacks 26–20 in Winnipeg. The schedule was released February 13, 2015 and the regular season began on June 25, 2015.
Davon Coleman is an American gridiron football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In college, he first enrolled at Fort Scott Community College before transferring to Arizona State University. He has also been a member of four National Football League (NFL) teams and three other CFL teams.
The 2016 CFL season was the 63rd season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 59th Canadian Football League season. Toronto hosted the 104th Grey Cup on November 27. The regular season began on June 23 and ended on November 5.
The 2016 Ottawa Redblacks season was the third season for the team in the Canadian Football League. The Redblacks finished in first place in the East Division with an 8–9–1 record. This was the first time in CFL history that a team with a losing record finished first in their division.
James Tuck is a Canadian football fullback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played CIS football at York. Tuck also played junior football for the Newmarket Storm of the Ontario Varsity Football League.
The 2017 CFL season was the 64th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 60th season of the Canadian Football League. The regular season began on June 22 and concluded on November 4. The playoffs commenced on November 12 and concluded on November 26 with the Toronto Argonauts defeating the Calgary Stampeders to win the 105th Grey Cup.
Micah Awe is a Nigerian-born Canadian football linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Texas Tech. Awe has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, Toronto Argonauts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Ottawa Redblacks, BC Lions, and Montreal Alouettes.
Antonio Pipkin is an American professional Canadian football quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Tiffin. Pipkin has also been a member of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL), and the Montreal Alouettes, Edmonton Football Team, Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL.
Chris Ackie is a former professional Canadian football linebacker. Ackie spent the majority of his professional career playing for the Montreal Alouettes Canadian Football League (CFL). He played CIS football for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks from 2011 to 2014. He was drafted fourth overall by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2015 CFL Draft. Ackie was also a member of the New York Giants, Ottawa Redblacks and Toronto Argonauts.
The 2021 CFL season was the 67th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 63rd season of the Canadian Football League. The regular season began on August 5 and ended November 20. Each team played 14 regular season games over 16 weeks. Previously, the season was scheduled to begin on June 10 and end on October 30, with 18 games being played per team over 21 weeks, but this was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Hamilton hosted the 108th Grey Cup on December 12, 2021.
The 2022 CFL season was the 68th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 64th season of the Canadian Football League. The regular season began on June 9 and ended on October 29, with 18 games played per team over 21 weeks. Regina hosted the 109th Grey Cup on November 20, 2022.
Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund is a Canadian football defensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Adefolarin Adebayo Orimolade is an American professional Canadian football defensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).