The Toronto Argonauts have signed American defensive lineman Derek Parish.
The 25-year-old was a seventh-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2023 NFL Draft. He converted from defensive end to tight end with the team but was waived at the end of training camp. He was added to Jacksonville’s practice roster shortly thereafter but was released again six weeks later.
The six-foot-one, 245-pound defender played 51 collegiate games at the University of Houston from 2017 to 2022 and made 158 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He was named second-team All-ACC in 2021.
Parish ran a 4.62-second forty-yard dash at his pro day in Houston along with a 6.76-second three-cone drill, 4.07-second short shuttle, a 37-inch vertical jump, 118-inch broad jump, and 27 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.
