February 8, 2012

Edmonton Eskimos
ESKS.com Staff


(Edmonton) Newest Eskimo defensive lineman Rashad Jeanty was in Edmonton today after the club recently announced that the 28-year-old would return to Edmonton after spending four years in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals.

A native of Miami, Rashad played two seasons at the University of Central Florida before coming up to Edmonton as a 19-year-old rookie. "Being here as a 19 or 20-year-old and being in the locker room with guys such as Ed Hervey, Singor Mobley, Dan Comiskey, AJ Gass...the amount of veteran guys who were in here, I just soaked up all that I could in that short span of three years that I was here," says Jeanty. "Edmonton definitely blessed me and gave me the opportunity to better my skills on the field, as well as off the field. And I had the opportunity to play in the NFL and took advantage of that. But I'm back here now and that's all the counts."

Jeanty wore Green and Gold from 2003 - 2005, and the team had a lot of success during those years winning two Grey Cups. But he admits this is a whole different team from the last time he was here. Rashad knows he is a new face in the room and needs to earn the respect of his new teammates. "There only like two guys who were on the team who are currently on the team now, but I'm pretty sure the front office is going to bring quality guys in here who have the same goal as far as winning the Grey Cup and I'm glad they brought me in to help with that."

A linebacker for the Bengals, Jeanty is expected to return to the defensive line for the Eskimos. With the exception of his NFL days, Rashad has been an defensive lineman all his life and isn't worried about having to transition back to his old position. Nor is he worried about his abilities on the field after missing significant playing time since breaking his leg on the opening kickoff of the AFC Wild Card game in the 2009-10 season. He missed the entire next season. Jeanty signed with Philadelphia in 2011 and dressed for three pre-season games, but was released prior to the start of regular season.

Rashad, who will wear #55 next season, has stayed friends with several of his former Eskimo teammates and has continued to follow the Eskimos closely since he's been gone. "I definitely kept up with Edmonton. When you walk in these doors there's a saying 'Once an Eskimo, Always an Eskimo' and that's a true belief of mine."