 Ralph before a Toronto Argonauts game in 2018. | |
| Born: | (1992-10-16)October 16, 1992 (age 32) Raymond,Alberta |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | Wide receiver |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| College | Weber State Wildcats |
| University | Alberta Golden Bears |
| CJFL | Calgary Colts |
| CFL draft | 2017, undrafted |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2017–2019 | Toronto Argonauts |
| 2020–2021* | Edmonton Eskimos / Football Team / Elks |
| Career stats | |
| |
Jimmy Ralph (born October 16, 1992) is a former professionalCanadian footballwide receiver. He began his professional career with theToronto Argonauts in 2017 where he won his firstGrey Cup as a member of the105th Grey Cup championship team.
Ralph played for theCalgary Colts of theCanadian Junior Football League in 2012 before enrolling atWeber State University to play for theWildcats.[1] Heredshirted for the 2013 season and, following a coaching overhaul the following year, elected to transfer to theUniversity of Alberta to play for theGolden Bears for the2014 season.[2] He was a member of the Golden Bears from 2014 to 2016, but sat out the 2016 season due to injury.
After not being selected in the2017 CFL Draft, Ralph was signed as anundrafted free agent with theToronto Argonauts on May 17, 2017.[3][4] After an impressive showing in the pre-season, Ralph made the team's roster. He dressed in his first game with the Argonauts on June 25, 2017 and had his first career reception in his first career start on July 13, 2017 against theWinnipeg Blue Bombers on a nine-yard pass fromRicky Ray.[5] He recorded 26 receptions for 278 yards in 16 regular season games in 2017. He played in the105th Grey Cup game and earned his firstGrey Cup championship as a member of the Argonauts' winning team.
In his second season with the Argonauts, Ralph began the season as the starting slot receiver due to an injury to teammateAnthony Coombs. After failing to provide much of an impact through the first few games, and the team struggling with the loss of starting quarterback Ricky Ray, the Argonauts coaching staff moved Ralph from the starting lineup into a reserve role, and eventually onto the practice roster. Ralph ended the 2018 season with eight receptions for 70 yards.
In2019, he earned a spot in the starting lineup following training camp for the first game of the season.[6] He scored his first career CFL touchdown on August 25, 2019 on a six-yard pass fromMcLeod Bethel-Thompson inMoncton for theTouchdown Atlantic game.[7] He finished the 2019 with a career-high 38 receptions for 355 yards and one touchdown in 18 regular season games. As a pending free agent in 2020, he was released during the free agency negotiation window on February 7, 2020.[8]
As a free agent, Ralph signed with theEdmonton Eskimos on February 13, 2020, but did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the2020 CFL season.[9] He re-signed with the since re-namedEdmonton Elks on a contract extension through 2021 on December 26, 2020.[10] He retired from football on June 30, 2021.[11]
Ralph was born inRaymond,Alberta, to parents Jim and Shelly Ralph.[2][12] He has three older brothers who also played football at a high level, at the same position ofwide receiver.[2] The eldest brother, Dustin, playedcollege football for theWyoming Cowboys andAlberta Golden Bears and was Jimmy's head coach in high school.[2][12]Brock also played for Wyoming before playing professionally for nine years in theCanadian Football League for three teams, winning twoGrey Cup championships.[13]Brett played collegiately for Alberta and played for five seasons with theCalgary Stampeders where he was a member of the96th Grey Cup championship team.[14]
