The Toronto Argonauts released defensive lineman Nelson Jordan II and linebacker Emmanuel Falola on Saturday according to the CFL Transactions page. In addition, the Argonauts placed wide receivers Jeff Badet and Aaron Parker, and linebacker Malik Clements on the retired list, and placed defensive lineman John Daka on the suspended list.
Nelson Jordan II is six foot two and weighs 251 pounds. The 25-year-old from Starkville, Mississippi, signed with the Toronto Argonauts on November 22, 2023.
Collegiately, Jordan II played four seasons at Samford University (2018-21) with 124 tackles (65 solo, 59 assists), 21.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and four pass breakups in 39 games for the Bulldogs. He was named Second Team All-SoCon in 2021.
Then, Jordan II transferred to Alabama State in 2022 with 28 tackles (11 solo, 17 assists), seven tackles for loss, and 11 sacks in nine games for the Hornets.
Emmanuel Falola is six foot two and weighs 231 pounds. The 26-year-old from the United Kingdom signed with the Prague Lions (ELF) in 2023. The Argonauts drafted Falola in the second round (18th pick) of the 2023 CFL Global Draft. He spent most of the season on Toronto’s practice squad in 2023.
In 2022, Falola played for the Bristol Aztecs in the Premiership of the British league helping the team make a deep playoff run. In addition, he played for the Kent Exiles, and for Coventry of the University League second division, leading both teams in tackles and guiding Coventry to back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2019.
He was also part of the NFL International Pathway Program, designed to increase the number of non-American and Canadian players in the NFL and to grow the game globally.
Jeff Badet is five foot eleven and weighs 183 pounds. The 29-year-old from Orlando, Florida, signed with the Toronto Argonauts on February 8, 2024.
Before Toronto, Badet signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and spent a couple of seasons on the practice squad. In 2020, he played for the Dallas Renegades (XFL) making 16 catches for 108 yards in five games before the XFL ceased operations due to the pandemic. His play would lead him to sign with the Washington Football Team, and later spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons.
In 2022, Badet was drafted by the Michigan Panthers (USFL) in the 15th round (123rd pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. He spent the majority of the season on the injured list due to a hamstring injury and played one game for the Panthers making one catch for 12 yards against the Houston Gamblers.
After Michigan, The Vegas Vipers (XFL) drafted Badet in the sixth round (44th pick) of the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, Badet made 34 catches for 448 yards, five touchdowns, and six carries for seven yards in nine games for the Vegas Vipers (XFL).
Collegiately, Badet played four seasons at Kentucky (2013-16) making 82 catches for 1,385 yards, seven touchdowns, one carry for 25 yards, and 15 kick returns for 344 yards in 32 games for the Wildcats. Then, he transferred to Oklahoma in 2017 making 26 catches for 400 yards, three touchdowns, six carries for 41 yards, 15 kick returns for 313 yards, and two punt returns for five yards in 14 games for the Sooners.
Aaron Parker is six foot two and weighs 210 pounds. The 25-year-old from Prince George’s County, Maryland, was on the Toronto Argonauts practice squad in 2023 and re-signed with Toronto on November 22, 2023. Before Toronto, Parker attended training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. He played one preseason game against Green Bay with one catch for 27 yards.
Parker signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Later, he signed with the Carolina Panthers and played one regular season game on October 24th, against the New York Giants. In three preseason games for the Panthers, Parker had five catches for 76 yards and one touchdown.
Collegiately, Parker played four seasons at Rhode Island (2016-19) with 216 catches for 3,443 yards, 30 touchdowns, 15 carries for 46 yards, one touchdown, and 12 punt returns for 109 yards in 44 games, of which he started 35 of them for the Rams. He was a two-time CAA Football First Team All-Conference and the 2018 New England Football Writer’s Association All-New England selection.
Malik Clements is six foot and weighs 216 pounds. The 27-year-old from Danville, Virginia, signed with the Toronto Argonauts on February 14, 2024.
Before Toronto, signed with the Edmonton Elks on January 24, 2020. He played one season in Edmonton in 2021 with 11 tackles and two tackles on special teams in seven games. Clements signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a free agent on March 4, 2022.
In 2022, Clements made 31 tackles, four tackles for loss, and one sack in 12 games. In 2023, Clements made 23 tackles, six tackles on special teams, three sacks, and one forced fumble in 12 games for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2023.
Collegiately, Clements played four seasons at Cincinnati (2015-18) with 187 tackles (88 solo, 99 assists), nine tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception for 14 yards, one touchdown, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 50 games for the Bearcats.
John Daka is six foot two and weighs 240 pounds. The 26-year-old from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2020. He also spent time with the New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams, and Chicago Bears.
In 2022, Daka was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) in the second round (13th pick) in Phase 3 of the 2022 XFL Draft. He made 26 tackles (13 solo, 13 assists), six tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, five quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles in ten games.
The Roughnecks were not included in the XFL and USFL merger which formed the United Football League (UFL) but the Gamblers took on the Roughnecks brand. The St. Louis Battlehawks drafted Daka in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. He was later released on March 10, 2024. Then, Daka signed with the Toronto Argonauts on April 29, 2024.
Collegiately, Daka played four seasons at James Madison University (2016-19) with 137 tackles (67 solo, 70 assists), 47.5 tackles for loss, 27.5 sacks, four pass breakups, six forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick in 51 games for the Dukes. He was named First Team All-CAA and STATS FCS All-American in 2018. Daka finished his collegiate career ranked fourth all-time in sacks (27.5).
