Andy Fantuz

Andrew Fantuz (born December 18, 1983) is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver.

Fantuz spent the majority of his professional career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Fantuz attended John McGregor Secondary School from 1997 to 2002, where he played football and basketball.

He also played for the Essex County Ravens of the Ontario Varsity Football League.

Andy Fantuz attended the University of Western Ontario from 2002 to 2005, where he established himself as one of the best receivers in Canadian Interuniversity Sport history.

Fantuz was awarded the CIS Rookie of the year award in 2002 with 1300 receiving yards (a single season record) and nine touchdowns.

He was a four-time CIS all-Canadian and four-time OUA all-star while being named to the first-team all-Canadian in 2002, 2004, and 2005.

Fantuz won the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in the CIS in 2005, finishing with 44 catches for 825 yards to become only the fifth receiver to win the award and first since Calgary's Don Blair in 1995.

He finished his university career as the OUA and CIS leader with 189 receptions for 4,123 yards and 41 touchdown receptions.

He played for the Riders for six seasons after he was drafted by them in the first round of the 2006 CFL Draft.

He then played six seasons for the Tiger-Cats.

On January 21, 2006, Fantuz represented Eastern Canada in the East-West Shrine Game which showcases the best college talent in the United States and with invitees from Canada.

While many thought that he could go first overall in the 2006 CFL Draft, Andy Fantuz was chosen in the first round and third overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

After the draft, Fantuz tried out for the Detroit Lions in May 2006, but was not offered a contract and, as such, signed a one-year plus an option contract with Saskatchewan on May 20, 2006.

Because he had signed the contract late, he missed a beginning portion of the 2006 training camp.

Fantuz was integrated slowly into the Roughriders offence in 2006, and caught his first pass against Toronto on July 22, 2006.

He made his first start against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in week 10 and started the last nine games of the season as well as two playoff games.

He scored his first touchdown in a bizarre play against the BC Lions on September 24, 2006.

Quarterback Kerry Joseph was rushing towards the endzone deep in BC territory when he was tackled from behind and fumbled the ball forward.

Fantuz promptly jumped on the ball in the endzone, culminating in his first CFL touchdown, which counted as a rushing touchdown by CFL rules.

Incidentally, the same game would go into overtime, with Fantuz catching his first touchdown reception and winning the game for the Roughriders, meaning that he got his first rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game.

He had his first 100-yard receiving game in week 20 against the Edmonton Eskimos.

Fantuz finished the season with 30 catches for 408 yards, 3 receiving touchdowns, and 1 rushing touchdown.

On November 30, 2006, Fantuz agreed to a two-year plus an option contract.

The 2007 season was presumably a promising one for Fantuz as the media and coaching staff alike were expecting big things from the sophomore receiver.

However, the sophomore slump took its toll on Fantuz as numerous dropped balls at critical junctures led to his demotion from the starting line-up in week 5 by head coach Kent Austin.

After catching just 17 balls for 201 yards through the first eight games, Fantuz had a turnaround game against Winnipeg with four reception for 96 yards.

He continued his strong play with a 7 catch – 142 yard performance against the Montreal Alouettes, filling in for Matt Dominguez who was injured in the Banjo Bowl.

On October 14, 2007, he had a blowout game with seven catches for 240 receiving yards and three touchdowns against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

It was the third best receiving yardage game in team history and tied for the best touchdown performance by a Roughrider in a single game.

As a result, he was named the Canadian Player of the Month for September.

Fantuz finished the season just short of 1,000 yards with 978 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

He was the Roughriders' nomination for Most Outstanding Canadian.

In 2008, Andy Fantuz had an excellent start to the season with 24 catches for 328 yards and was on pace for his first 1000-yard season.

However, in a game against Toronto, Fantuz suffered a broken fibula, the smaller, non-weight bearing bone in his left leg while being tackled in the fourth quarter of the July 27, 2008, 28–22 victory.

He was placed on the nine-game injured list and did not return until week 18 versus the Edmonton Eskimos.

Fantuz was also signed by the Chicago Bears in 2011.

He played CIS football for the Western Ontario Mustangs.

In three playoff games, Fantuz had 16 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns, including four catches for 70 yards and one touchdown in the 95th Grey Cup.

Because of his performance in the Grey Cup game, he was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian after the Roughriders won their third championship.