Dejon Brissett facts for kids
| No. 18 Toronto Argonauts | |
Brissett with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024
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| Born: | July 9, 1996 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
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| Career information | |
| Status | Active |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | Wide receiver |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| College |
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| High school | Loyola Catholic Secondary School (Mississauga, Ontario) Lake Forest Academy (Lake Forest, Illinois) Hazel McCallion Senior Public School (Mississauga, Ontario) |
| CFL Draft | 2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2 |
| Drafted by | Toronto Argonauts |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2021–present | Toronto Argonauts |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career stats | |
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Dejon Brissett, born on July 9, 1996, is a Canadian professional football player. He plays as a wide receiver for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Dejon has won the Grey Cup, a big championship, two times with the Argonauts. He helped his team win in 2022 and again in 2024. Before becoming a professional, he played college football for the Richmond Spiders and the Virginia Cavaliers.
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Early Life and Sports
Dejon Brissett grew up in Mississauga, Ontario. When he was younger, he mostly played basketball. Later, he started focusing on football.
He moved to Lake Forest Academy in Illinois for his second year of high school. There, he played basketball, football, and ran track. He was very good at triple jump, having the best jump in 2015. In football, he played wide receiver, defense, and special teams. He was known for being fast and able to jump high. He was even named the best offensive player in his league.
College Football Journey
Dejon started his college football career at Richmond University. In 2016, he caught five passes for 66 yards. The next year, in 2017, he had a great season. He caught 63 passes for 896 yards and scored seven touchdowns. This meant he averaged over 81 yards per game. He was recognized as one of the best players in the Colonial Athletic Association.
In 2018, his season was cut short after only three games because of an ankle injury. During his time at Richmond, Dejon caught 86 passes for 1,282 yards and nine touchdowns. He also returned kicks, gaining 941 yards and scoring one touchdown.
After getting a special permission from the NCAA, Dejon decided to transfer. He moved to Virginia University for his final year of college football in 2019. He played in 12 games that season, catching two passes for 18 yards.
Professional Career with the Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts picked Dejon Brissett second overall in the 2020 CFL Draft. This was a big achievement for him. He was the fourth player from Virginia University to be drafted into the CFL since 2012.
Dejon did not play in 2020 because the 2020 CFL season was cancelled. He officially signed with the Argonauts in May 2021. He made the team's main roster after training camp. His first professional game was on August 7, 2021, against the Calgary Stampeders. He scored his first touchdown in October 2021. This happened when he returned a blocked punt 23 yards for a score against the Ottawa Redblacks.
In the 2021 season, Dejon played in all 14 regular season games. He started five of those games. He caught nine passes for 131 yards. He also made tackles on defense and special teams. He even recovered a fumble for a touchdown. He played in his first playoff game, but the Argonauts lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Grey Cup Champion
In the 2022 season, Dejon played in 15 regular season games. He caught ten passes for 102 yards and scored one touchdown. He also played a bigger role on special teams, making six tackles. He helped his team in both playoff games. This included the 109th Grey Cup, where the Argonauts won against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The 2023 season saw Dejon take on an even bigger role in the offense. He played in all 18 regular season games and started 13 of them. He had his best year yet, catching 38 passes for 594 yards and scoring five touchdowns. He also continued to be strong on special teams. In February 2024, the Argonauts announced that Dejon had signed a new contract to stay with the team.
Dejon missed most of the 2024 season due to a knee injury. He caught five passes and scored a touchdown in the first two games before getting injured. He returned to play in the last four regular season games. He finished the season with 14 catches for 171 yards and three touchdowns.
In the 111th Grey Cup, Dejon caught three passes for 45 yards and scored a touchdown. He also recovered an onside kick attempt. The Argonauts won the game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. For his excellent performance in the game, he was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian.
Personal Life
Dejon Brissett's parents are McKeitha McFarlane and Bernard Brissett. He is of Jamaican descent. Dejon has a younger brother named Oshae Brissett. Oshae is also a professional athlete who plays basketball. He played college basketball at Syracuse and won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2024.
