The 10 years of Ottawa REDBLACKS history have produced many highlights, celebrations, and memorable moments. For the fans, the players on the field have become idols, important figures in the community, and in some cases, close friends.
In celebration of the REDBLACKS’ All-Decade game on August 24th, members of the media were given the opportunity to vote on who they believed earned a spot on the All-Decade Team, and now, you’ll find out who made the list. Today, it’s the defensive backfield.
Halfback – Brandyn Thompson
Brandyn Thompson joined the REDBLACKS as an underdog, being drafted into the NFL by Washington in the seventh round in 2011. He was released, and signed with the Toronto Argonauts, but was again cut. In 2014, however, he signed in Ottawa, and became a fixture in the secondary.
Though the team struggled in 2014, Thompson didn’t, nabbing four interceptions, and establishing himself as one of the fixtures in the REDBLACKS secondary. He earned his way onto the revamped 2015 roster, and was once again fantastic. Thompson added another three interceptions to his docket, also forcing a fumble.
Thompson continued his CFL career in Edmonton, but his two seasons in Ottawa were by far the best in his career, wrapping up with 99 tackles.
Halfback – Abdul Kanneh
Along with the other names on this list, Abdul Kanneh quickly became a fan favourite in Ottawa, and across two different stints separated by four years, he was always an important cog in the defensive machine.
His first stint with the REDBLACKS came between 2014 and 2016, and it was special. He picked off 12 passes in three seasons, added another five forced fumbles, and contributed three sacks as well, proving to be a diverse athlete. He was named an East All-Star in both 2015 and 2016, and earned a spot on the CFL All-Star roster in 2015.
After spending time with both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Argonauts, Kanneh returned to the nation’s capital for the 2021 season, and immediately made an impact once again, picking off a pair of passes in a win over the Edmonton Elks to kick off the first post-pandemic season, and helping with a massive goal-line tackle at the end of the game.
Kanneh added four more interceptions while with the REDBLACKS until 2023, and another forced fumble. Who could forget, though, his shoe-string tackle at the end of the Grey Cup game in 2016, where he brought down Andrew Buckley, sending the game to overtime.
Cornerback – Jonathan Rose
Having already retired as a REDBLACK earlier this season, Jonathan Rose has cemented a place in Ottawa sports history. He broke into the league in 2016, winning a Grey Cup in his first CFL season.
In his four seasons with the REDBLACKS, Rose recorded nine interceptions, not including his pick in the 2018 Grey Cup on the frozen Edmonton turf.
Rose was named an East All-Star in both 2016, and 2018, leading the league in both interceptions and forced fumbles in the latter.
Cornerback – Jovon Johnson
Jovon Johnson’s two seasons with the REDBLACKS were special. He brought six years of CFL experience with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as one of the league’s better defensive backs.
A pair of sacks underscored his single interception in 2014, and in 2015, Johnson endeared himself to the Ottawa faithful with five interceptions. He was named an East All-Star for his efforts, and helped lead the REDBLACKS to their first Grey Cup appearance.
Safety – Antoine Pruneau
If Antoine Pruneau wasn’t the most passionate REDBLACK, he’s definitely in the conversation. The Montreal native played with reckless abandon, whether on defence, or on special teams, he was always willing to sacrifice his body for the sake of his team.
In eight seasons in Ottawa, Pruneau had 383 defensive tackles, and another 74 on special teams. He picked up four sacks, and 10 interceptions, one of which he took back for a touchdown.
The 2016 Grey Cup champion was named an East All-Star in 2017, but his lack of attention at award time meant nothing to the fans, and to this day, it’s common to see his number six on the jerseys of fans in the stands.
