Your all-time fave Argo rookie star

[OV Argo]

Lots of good candidates i think: names like Paul Bennett, Cedric Minter, Willie Pless, Gil Fenerty, Marcus Ball.

My personal fave: MLB Sam Cvijanovich in 74 - won CFL rookie of the year: 7 INTs by a MLB (!!!) and i remember him all over the field on D making plays; only lasted a few Argo seasons and disappeared from the CFL soon after; if only he could have maintained his rookie season play a long time for the Argos (lacking in top notch MLBs for a lot of the time).

Bennett's rookie season was just outstanding too - not only a great DB, but also a punt return star.

Like to see another great rookie star emerge this coming season for the Argos; might be some openings there on the D, but in general now - not as many superb CFL rookies like in the old days - larger rosters now a factor ?

[Will]

Marcus Ball was pretty exciting in 2012. I don't know if Willie Pile was considered a "rookie" in 2007 (for award purposes), but he was pretty good as well.

[Argo]

Well, when I was first becoming interested in the Argos and the CFL, the Argos managed to sign a phenomenal talent named Leon "X-ray" McQuay.

And fellow Argos fans: does time fly, or does time fly?
http://espn.go.com/colleges/florida/...legacy-live-to

[Nob]

Gil "the thrill" Fenerty is my choice. Can't explain it, but he was the right piece at the right time. I was at the CNE when he ran wild over Calgary for 245 (I'm doing that off of the top of my head). Best RB performance I've ever seen in Argoland.

I'm also old enough to remember Terry Greer's rookie season. If I'm not mistaken they revamped the receiving corps and Greer and David Newman were both rookies that year. I think that there was also a third rookie receiver, but darned if I can recall who it was (or maybe I'm just wrong).

[ArgoRavi]

I'm also old enough to remember Terry Greer's rookie season. If I'm not mistaken they revamped the receiving corps and Greer and David Newman were both rookies that year. I think that there was also a third rookie receiver, but darned if I can recall who it was (or maybe I'm just wrong).

The third rookie receiver from 1980 that you are thinking of is Calvin Muhammad. He did not end up sticking with the Argos for long that season though and ended up with Washington in the NFL where he had several decent seasons. He returned to the Argos in 1987 but did not have much left in the tank by that point unfortunately.

[paulwoods13]

Willie Pless was stunningly good as a rookie. It's too bad we had to trade him to get Dunigan, but I'd make that deal again since it won us a Grey Cup. Bennett and Fenerty were also tremendous as rookies. I will never forget a picture in the Toronto Star of Bennett and Terry Metcalf (in 1978, Bennett's second season) racing upfield together on a kick return, perfectly in stride with each other. Hated to see Bennett go to Wpg, but his trade brought back Bob Bronk so it wasn't entirely one-sided.

[AngeloV]

Terry Greer showed that he was going to be a great one in 1980, but IIRC Bob Gaddis seemed to be the favourite target of Mark Jackson that season. Willie Pless was awesome as a rookie too. So I have to go 1a and 1b there. Was Mookie Mitchell considered a rookie in '97, or had he spent previous time in the NFL?

[ArgoRavi]

Terry Greer showed that he was going to be a great one in 1980, but IIRC Bob Gaddis seemed to be the favourite target of Mark Jackson that season. Willie Pless was awesome as a rookie too. So I have to go 1a and 1b there. Was Mookie Mitchell considered a rookie in '97, or had he spent previous time in the NFL?

I believe that Mitchell won rookie-of-the-year in 1997 which prompted the league to redefine what a rookie is.

[paulwoods13]

Terry Greer showed that he was going to be a great one in 1980, but IIRC Bob Gaddis seemed to be the favourite target of Mark Jackson that season.

Greer was the left-side wideout in 1980 and caught only 37 passes in 1980 although he showed incredible speed and potential. Gaddis led the East with 68 receptions, and Greer's fellow rookie Dave Newman led the East with 10 TD receptions.

[OV Argo]

Well, when I was first becoming interested in the Argos and the CFL, the Argos managed to sign a phenomenal talent named Leon "X-ray" McQuay.

And fellow Argos fans: does time fly, or does time fly?
http://espn.go.com/colleges/florida/...legacy-live-to

Yeah - i sort of forgot about Leon - he was awesome as a rookie - break away threat with both speed and power; him and Gill the Thrill Fenerty, plus Cedric Minter and Cory Boyd too = the Argos have revealed some RBs who had very good rookie seasons.

And at rookie linebacker - Cvijanovich, Pless and either of Martavious Houston or Marcus Ball = tremendous rookie talent.

[zontar]

Mohammed Deen

[paulwoods13]

And at rookie linebacker - Cvijanovich, Pless and either of Martavious Houston or Marcus Ball = tremendous rookie talent.

All great (especially Houston, whom I had forgotten about), but IMO one of the two best rookie import LBs I've seen (along with Pless) was Daryl Ford in 1990. He was great that year, and even better in 1991.

[Argo57]

Willi Pless would be at the top of my list, smallish linebacker but phenomenal football instincts and great tackling ability!

[paulwoods13]

Mohammed Deen

One-game wonder, but what a game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtvdh2WtvyM

[ArgoZ]

Rookie CFL or pro? If we are talking true rookies, I'd have to go with Ismail. The excitement around that team was incredible. Along with the team, Rocket delivered us a Grey Cup which made that 1991 team a favorite for many of us.

[OV Argo]

Rookie CFL or pro? If we are talking true rookies, I'd have to go with Ismail. The excitement around that team was incredible. Along with the team, Rocket delivered us a Grey Cup which made that 1991 team a favorite for many of us.

Yeah - the Rocket was great - impact at receiver, returner and also ran the ball out of the backfield some; between him and Leon McQuay maybe for most impact as a rookie offensive weapon.

[OV Argo]

All great (especially Houston, whom I had forgotten about), but IMO one of the two best rookie import LBs I've seen (along with Pless) was Daryl Ford in 1990. He was great that year, and even better in 1991.

Yep - Ford was very good, and i think played MLB? - not as good as Cvijanovich though IMO.

[D-Gap-Willie]

Dick Shatto in 1954, playing for a dismal Argo team and being their great hope for the future. Over 700 yards from scrimmage as a RB ( rushing and receiving) with 8 TD's, and threw 2 TD passes. Also had 5 interceptions that year while playing DB. Not sure if that was a 12 game or a 14 game season.

[doubleblue]

Dick Shatto in 1954, playing for a dismal Argo team and being their great hope for the future. Over 700 yards from scrimmage as a RB ( rushing and receiving) with 8 TD's, and threw 2 TD passes. Also had 5 interceptions that year while playing DB. Not sure if that was a 12 game or a 14 game season.

I was thinking about Dick Shatto as well. But it is pretty difficult to pick just one because of the different era's. Jim Rountree and Jim Andreotti were stars in the 50's as well right out of college. The Rocket, McQuay, Fenerty, Greer, Pless, Stillwagon, Big Cookie. Hard for me to just pick one.

[ArgoGabe22]

Having started in the early to mid 2000's, there have been a lot of bad teams through out my time as an Argo fan so there weren't much rookie stars so the first one to come to mind for me is Cory Boyd. To finally have a 1000 yard rusher in the backfield and I know Robertson become the first since Jenkins but Boyd was a sign that the franchise was finally turning the corner from those horrible seasons with Joseph, Andrus etc.

There probably have been good rookies like Parker in '05 and Younger in '04, I just don't remember them during their rookie season or knew they were rookies at the time while I knew Boyd was a rookie RB. I could say Inman, Chiles, Ball, Watkins, Armstead but there was just more of an excitement with Cory and I think it has to do with all those losing seasons.