Shawn Lemon

Shawn Lemon (born August 25, 1988) is a Canadian football defensive lineman for the Edmonton Football Team of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at the University of Akron and attended Westlake High School in Waldorf, Maryland. He has also been a member of seven CFL teams (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Saskatchewan Roughriders,Edmonton Football Team, Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Redblacks, Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions), three arena football teams (San Jose SaberCats, Orlando Predators, Sioux Falls Storm) and two NFL teams (Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers).

Shawn Lemon
No. --     Edmonton Football Team
Lemon before the Argonauts season opener in 2019.
Born: (1988-08-25) August 25, 1988
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Career information
StatusActive
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)DL
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight250 lb (110 kg)
CollegeAkron
High schoolWestlake (Waldorf, Maryland)
Career history
As player
2011Winnipeg Blue Bombers*
2011Saskatchewan Roughriders
2012San Jose SaberCats
2012Orlando Predators
2012Sioux Falls Storm
2012–2013Edmonton Eskimos
2013–2014Calgary Stampeders
2015Pittsburgh Steelers*
2015San Francisco 49ers*
2015Ottawa Redblacks
2016Saskatchewan Roughriders
2016–2018Toronto Argonauts
2018BC Lions
2019Toronto Argonauts
2019BC Lions
2021-PresentEdmonton Football Team
*Offseason and/or practice roster member only
Career highlights and awards
CFL East All-Star2016
Career stats
Tackles166
Sacks70
Forced Fumbles22

Early years

Lemon was born on August 25, 1988, in Charleston, South Carolina.[1][2] 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]

College career

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]

Professional career

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

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]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

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]

San Jose SaberCats

Lemon was assigned to the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League (AFL) on March 11, 2012.[7]

Orlando Predators

Lemon was traded to the Orlando Predators on April 18, 2012. He was reassigned by the Predators on May 8, 2012.[8]

Sioux Falls Storm

Lemon signed with the Sioux Falls Storm of the Indoor Football League after his release from the Predators.[9]

Edmonton Football Team

Lemon spent the 2012 season with the (then named) Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL.[3] He was released by Edmonton on May 22, 2013.[10]

Calgary Stampeders

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]

Pittsburgh Steelers

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 with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015.

San Francisco 49ers

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]

Ottawa Redblacks

On September 3, 2015, Lemon signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL. He is expected to start at 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]

Saskatchewan Roughriders (II)

Lemon was signed by the Saskatchewan 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]

Toronto Argonauts

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 will keep 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.

BC Lions

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.

Toronto Argonauts (II)

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.

BC Lions (II)

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 create 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]

Edmonton Football Team (II)

On February 3rd, 2021, Lemon signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Football Team.[31]

References
  1. "8 - Shawn Lemon". gozips.com. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  2. Mingo, Rita (June 17, 2013). "Workmanlike Lemon bringing leadership and experience to Stampeders". calgaryherald.com. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  3. "Shawn Lemon". stampeders.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  4. "Transactions - July 2011". cfl.ca. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  5. "Transactions - August 2011". cfl.ca. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  6. "Transactions - September 2011". cfl.ca. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  7. "Historical Team Transactions". arenafan.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  8. "Historical Team Transactions". arenafan.com. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  9. "Storm DE Lemon Signs with NFL". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  10. O'Leary, Chris (May 22, 2013). "Eskimos release Shawn Lemon, add a running back and one outstanding name". blogs.edmontonjournal.com. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  11. "Stamps ink Tate to new deal, release Lemon". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-01-19.
  12. Alper, Josh (January 20, 2015). "Steelers sign CFL pass rusher Shawn Lemon". NBC Sports.
  13. "SHAWN LEMON". foxsports.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  14. Gutierrez, Paul (August 8, 2015). "49ers sign OLB Shawn Lemon in wake of Aldon Smith's release". espn.go.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  15. Maiocco, Matt (August 31, 2015). "Tracker: 49ers make moves to trim roster". csnbayarea.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  16. Sager, Daniel (July 29, 2015). "Steelers waive OLB Shawn Lemon". steelerswire.usatoday.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  17. "REDBLACKS agree to deal with DL Shawn Lemon". cfl.ca. September 3, 2015. Archived from the original on September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  18. Holder, Gord (December 4, 2015). "Redblacks release Lemon so he can chase NFL opportunities". ottawacitizen.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  19. "Roughriders sign defensive lineman Shawn Lemon". sportsnet.ca. January 15, 2016. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  20. "Riders ready to kick off 2016 CFL season". Retrieved 2016-07-04.
  21. Dunk, Justin (2016-06-30). "Relationship between Riders and Shawn Lemon has soured". 3DownNation. Retrieved 2016-07-04.
  22. "Report: Lemon asks for trade; Stamps interested?". CFL.ca. 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2016-07-04.
  23. "Riders trade Lemon to Argos for Sewell, Gale". tsn.ca. July 2, 2016. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  24. Mitchell, Scott (July 1, 2016). "Ex-Calgary Stampeders rush end Shawn Lemon wants out of Saskatchewan". calgaryherald.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. "Stars Aligned: CFL Divisional All-Stars announced". CFL.ca. 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  26. "Argonauts sign DE Lemon to extension - Article - TSN". TSN. 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  27. "Veteran defensive lineman Shawn Lemon returns to Toronto Argonauts". February 13, 2019.
  28. TSN ca Staff (2019-08-12). "Toronto Argonauts trade DE Shawn Lemon to the B.C. Lions for DT Davon Coleman, conditional pick - TSN.ca". TSN. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  29. https://globalnews.ca/news/5975868/winnipeg-blue-bombers-qb-matt-nichols-remains-optimistic-despite-season-ending-injury/
  30. "More to Come: Who will impact Day 2 of free agency?". CFL.ca. 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  31. "Lemon signs one-year deal with Edmonton". CFL.ca. 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
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