Arland Bruce III facts for kids
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Bruce at the 99th Grey Cup
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| Born: | November 23, 1977 Olathe, Kansas, U.S. |
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| Career information | |
| Status | Active |
| CFL status | American |
| Position(s) | WR/SB |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 191 lb (87 kg) |
| College | Minnesota |
| High school | Olathe North (Olathe, Kansas) |
| NFL draft | 2000 / Undrafted |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2000 | Kansas City Chiefs* |
| 2001–2002 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| 2003 | San Francisco 49ers |
| 2004–2009 | Toronto Argonauts |
| 2009–2011 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| 2011–2012 | BC Lions |
| 2013 | Montreal Alouettes |
| *Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| CFL All-Star | 2006, 2009, 2010 |
| CFL East All-Star | 2005, 2006, 2008–2010 |
| Records | Most receptions in a single game (16) |
| Career stats | |
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Arland Richard Bruce III (born November 23, 1977) is an American former professional football player. He was a wide receiver in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL). Arland won the Grey Cup championship twice. He won in 2004 with the Toronto Argonauts and again in 2011 with the BC Lions.
He played for 12 seasons in the CFL. His teams included the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, BC Lions, and Montreal Alouettes. During the 2011 season, he became one of only 14 CFL receivers to gain over 10,000 yards receiving in his career. Bruce also played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers.
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Early Life and High School Football
Arland Bruce III grew up in Olathe, Kansas. He went to Olathe North High School. There, he was a star player in football. He was known as a "letterman," which means he earned a special award for playing well.
As a senior, he was named one of the top 100 players by BlueChip Illustrated. He was also the Kansas State Player of the Year. That year, he ran for an amazing 1,696 yards. By the end of his high school career, Arland had rushed for over 3,000 yards and scored 50 touchdowns.
College Football Journey
After high school, Arland Bruce went to Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas. In his first year, he was named a First-team All-American. He rushed for over 1,000 yards, showing his talent early on.
In his second year, he continued to play well. He ran for 997 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. He was recognized again as a Second-team All-American.
Later, Bruce transferred to the University of Minnesota. As a senior, he helped his team have a great season. They finished with an 8–3 record and earned a spot in the Sun Bowl game.
Professional Football Career
Arland Bruce III had a long and exciting career in professional football. He played for teams in both the NFL and the CFL.
Starting in the NFL: Kansas City Chiefs
On April 19, 2000, Arland Bruce signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL. He was later moved to the team's practice squad. This is where players train with the team but don't usually play in games.
Making a Mark in the CFL: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
On May 1, 2001, Bruce moved to the CFL and joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Here, he got his first real chance to play a lot. He played in all 18 regular season games. In his first year, he had 818 receiving yards and scored 7 touchdowns. His team even made it to the Grey Cup championship, but they lost to the Calgary Stampeders.
In 2002, Arland continued to shine. He gained over 1,000 receiving yards, with 1,062 yards and 12 touchdowns in 17 games.
Another NFL Try: San Francisco 49ers
In 2003, Bruce decided to try the NFL again. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He spent most of his time playing on special teams. This means he helped with plays like kickoffs and punts. He was released by the 49ers in 2004.
Becoming a Champion: Toronto Argonauts
In 2004, Arland Bruce returned to the CFL and joined the Toronto Argonauts. He signed with them in September, partway through the season. He quickly made an impact. In his first seven games, he had 247 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Bruce was also a great kick returner. He returned two kicks for touchdowns that season. In the East Division final, he caught 12 passes for 101 yards. He also returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. This helped the Argonauts reach the Grey Cup championship. In the Grey Cup, Bruce and his teammate Bashir Levingston were such a threat that the opposing team often kicked the ball out of bounds to avoid them. Bruce also caught 5 passes for 79 yards. The Argonauts won the Grey Cup that year!
In 2005, Bruce became the Argonauts' top receiver. He had 1205 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He was named an East division all-star, which was his first all-star award in the CFL.
In 2008, after scoring a touchdown, Bruce wore a Spider-Man mask during his celebration. The CFL fined him for this. In 2009, he was fined again for another touchdown celebration. He took off his helmet and jersey, which was against the rules.
Moving to Hamilton: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
On July 29, 2009, Arland Bruce was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This happened after he had a disagreement with his coach. He played well for the Tiger-Cats.
In July 2011, Bruce announced he wanted to change his name to "Runako Reth."
Winning Another Grey Cup: BC Lions
On August 3, 2011, Bruce was traded again, this time to the BC Lions. He had a very good season with the Lions. He caught 49 passes for 755 yards and scored eight touchdowns in 12 games. In the 99th Grey Cup game, he caught passes for 73 yards and scored a touchdown. He won his second championship with the Lions!
He signed a contract to stay with the Lions, but he was released on January 18, 2013.
Final CFL Stop: Montreal Alouettes
On January 21, 2013, Bruce signed with the Montreal Alouettes. He had a good season in 2013, catching 64 passes for 851 yards and 5 touchdowns. This was his most receptions since 2010. In February 2014, Bruce was released by the Alouettes. This was partly due to his high salary and a change in the team's strategy.
Personal Life
Arland Bruce III's parents are Yolanda Bruce and Arland Richard Bruce Jr. He was married to Linda Bruce, and they have three sons: Arland Bruce IV, Aiden Bruce, and Akobi Bruce. He also has two sisters, Denise and Kama, and one brother, Bryson. Arland Bruce is the cousin of former NFL wide receiver Isaac Bruce.
