Dean Faithfull
| No. 18 Edmonton Elks | |
Tauntons College | |
| CFL draft | 2023G, Round: 1, Pick: 2 |
|---|---|
| Drafted by | Edmonton Elks |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2023–present | Edmonton Elks |
| Career stats | |
| |
Dean Faithfull (The Badger) (born 23 May 1987) is an English
Early life and soccer career
Faithfull was born on 23 May 1987, in the United Kingdom.
After his stint with the Florida Tech Panthers, Faithfull played two years of soccer for a club in the second tier of the Australian soccer league system, followed by one year in the Liga FPD, the top division of Costa Rica.[2] He then went on to play in Trinidad and Tobago and for a team in the Belgian Second Division.[2]
College football career
Faithfull visited his Florida Tech coach in 2019, who asked him if he wanted to play for the school's football team as they needed a new placekicker.[4] He still was academically eligible for two semesters and tried out for the team.[5] His tryout was successful and he was offered a scholarship, with the plan that he would join the team in the summer of 2020; however, the team was discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
Faithfull was later brought in for a tryout by the CSU Pueblo Thunderwolves, after they hired a coach who knew him.[4] He made the team for the 2021 season and, aged 34, became the oldest NCAA Division II player of all time.[4][6] His role included kicking field goals, extra points, and making the kickoffs.[4] In his only year with the ThunderWolves, he went 7-for-12 on field goals, scored 20 extra points, and averaged 58.5 yards off 44 kickoffs, while making 24 touchbacks.[7] Faithfull graduated from the school in December 2021 with a master's degree in business.[8]
Professional career
Faithfull was selected with the second overall pick of the
References
- ^ "Dean Faithfull". Canadian Football League. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d Moddejonge, Gerry (30 May 2023). "Elks kicker Dean Faithfull taking the opposite journey as Ted Lasso". Edmonton Sun. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Dean Faithfull". Florida Tech Panthers. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Letofsky, Jeff (23 October 2021). "CSU Pueblo's 34-year-old field goal kicker Dean Faithfull fitting in nicely with 'the boys'". The Pueblo Chieftain. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ Bouldin, Tyler (25 October 2021). "CSU Pueblo senior adds English to Thunderwolves' special teams". KXRM-TV. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ a b c Campbell, Dave (1 June 2023). "Elks offence looking for a little finish before 2023 season begins". Global News. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "Elks Select Two in Global Draft". OurSports Central. Edmonton Elks. 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ Hiler, Megan (28 October 2021). "CSU-Pueblo kicker Dean Faithfull's unconventional journey to football: "I don't take a moment for granted"". KKTV. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ Moddejonge, Gerry (1 June 2023). "Arceneaux hands off title of oldest Elks player to 36-year-old rookie". Edmonton Sun. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ Hoskins, Andrew (12 June 2023). "Here we go again: eight thoughts on the Edmonton Elks' loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders". 3DownNation.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.