#ProTops: Dowling Signed By Toronto Argonauts
On Thursday afternoon, the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts announced they had signed former Hilltopper Jonathan Dowling, along with two other players.
Dowling is on a pro football roster for the first time since being cut by the Buffalo Bills in June of last year after he was signed to their practice squad in December of 2015.
The Florida native was drafted by Oakland in the seventh round of the 2014 draft, and signed a four-year deal in May of 2014. He played in seven games with Oakland, logging four tackles.
Oakland waived Dowling due to reported “maturity issues,” in 2015, and he landed on the Miami practice squad (on and off again) from September to October of 2015.
His last game played in the NFL came on Nov. 9, 2014 against Denver, when he logged one tackle.
The Argos also announced they have signed Isame Faciane, a product of FIU who has NFL stops in Minnesota, Buffalo and Miami along with Chris Harper, who played at Cal and has prior NFL stops in New England and San Francisco.
After turning in an abysmal 2016 season, winning only five games, Toronto turned things around in 2017, going 9–9, finishing first in the CFL East and winning the Grey Cup over Calgary, 27–24, for their 17th league title.
The Argos’ preseason begins in 50 days in the Battle for Ontario against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Toronto opens their regular season on June 15 at the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who boast former Topper Antwane Grant in their receiving corps. The Argos and Riders will meet in Toronto on Sept. 22.
