REDBLACKS SIGN RUBY: Offensive Lineman Leaves Vaccination Status Behind

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Released by the Edmonton Elks in 2021, Jacob Ruby paid a heavy price for making the team believe he was vaccinated.

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The Elks had multiple players test positive for COVID-19 last season, forcing a game to be postponed. Ruby took the fall. It was reported that the CFL issued an order that no other team could sign Ruby during the 2021 season. And, now, for the 29-year-old offensive lineman, he is heading to a new city. A new opportunity. A breath of fresh air. In addition, he has since been vaccinated.

On Monday it was announced that 6-foot-7, 325-pound Ruby, who started out as a left guard for the Elks until he was cut in late August “due to a violation of COVID protocols,” signed a two-year contract. with the Ottawa Redblacks. Husband to Blair and father of a three-year-old daughter, Zoee, and a two-year-old son, Asher, Ruby is excited to get his CFL career back on track.

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“I made a mistake misrepresenting my vaccination status,” Ruby said during a Zoom conference call. “I think I paid the consequences for that. The last 20 or more months have been disappointing. There have been many emotions, all the emotions you can have: frustration, sadness, disappointment, and a lot of different things. That’s part of what makes this new opportunity and being here extremely exciting. I am looking to move on from what happened in 2021.

“I am extremely excited and excited about this opportunity to be a Redblack. You hear people talk about going through adversity and there is no question that my family and I went through it. I feel like we are on the other side and we are better people having that experience. You also learn how much you love soccer when you miss it. I have two young boys who love to watch Daddy play soccer; they love being in the stadium, they love being around other players. That was something we missed in the last few months. We are extremely excited to have that opportunity again.

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“I had a conversation with the commissioner (CFL) (Randy Ambrosie), a good conversation with him, shortly after I left Edmonton. It was a difficult but positive conversation. After that, I thought I felt like I would come back. Ottawa made it a very easy decision for me. They weren’t the only team that came out, but I’m very grateful to be here. “

When asked if she had been vaccinated since the “gap”, Ruby said: “It is going to be very difficult for anyone to play soccer in Canada without doing it. I got it done and out of the way. I really want to be able to participate and play soccer and be a great contributor to this team and to this city ”.

A four-year starter at the University of Richmond, Ruby was selected in the first round, eighth overall, by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2015 CFL Draft. Ruby appeared in three games for the Als, before signing with the Edmonton Elks in 2017. After dressing for 15 games, starting with two, in 2018, Ruby became a regular and was a starter in 2019. One of the things I like about Ruby is her versatility. When asked where he can play on the offensive line, he said: “In my time in the league, I think I’ve played every position on the other side of the line. I feel like I can do them all. In recent times I have been a left guard, but I have the ability to go anywhere, left or right, and then I have the ability to play center too ”.

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He’s a good fit for the Redblacks, who, with veteran guard Nolan MacMillan injured, had four rookies starting on the offensive line for much of 2021. Mark Korte, who has experience as a center, guard and tackle, is potentially free agent the February 8th. The Redblacks are believed to have offered Korte up to $ 200,000 a season to sign a new contract and return to Ottawa.

“Having skilled Canadians on the offensive line is critical in the CFL and we are delighted to be able to add a veteran presence like Jacob Ruby to our group,” said Redblacks general manager Shawn Burke. “Jacob brings size and experience to our five forwards and he will fit in perfectly with what we are building here.”

Signing with the Redblacks made sense geographically for Ruby, who is from the London area. There were other factors that came into play.

“It doesn’t matter who you talk to. Ottawa is probably the # 1 destination where people want to come and play, ”he said. “You have everything here in Lansdowne. The stadium is amazing, the atmosphere is amazing, the city is great. It is exciting to come to this city, even when you are a visitor. Practicing here, being here every day and being a part of this is something I look forward to ”.