MONTREAL, Canada — All Rakeem Cato has asked for is a chance to make a professional football roster and prove the critics wrong. A chance to show the experts who say he is “too small” to play pro football or the ones that labeled him a “system quarterback” he belongs in the professional ranks.
Cato is getting that chance, north of the border. The Canadian Football League Montreal Alouettes signed Cato to a two-year contract following the CFL Draft this past weekend. The team also has an option for a third year.
“The ultimate goal still remains to become an NFL quarterback, but I intend to make Montreal the best team in the CFL and to win championships,” Cato said.
The Miami native has just been looking for an opportunity to play professionally following his record-breaking career with the Herd. He owns Marshall’s passing records for career yards (14,079), completions (1,153), attempts (1,838), touchdowns (131) and total offense (14,918), topping Herd legends Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich. He also finished his career with an NCAA record 46 consecutive games with a touchdown pass.
But since Marshall’s 52-23 win over Northern Illinois in the Boca Raton Bowl, Cato’s football future had been in doubt. He was not selected in the NFL Draft and in the following days was not signed as a free agent. He was extended an invitation to attend the Cleveland Browns rookie camp, but was not offered a contract following the three-day tryout.
Cato will have to earn his spot on the field with the Alouettes, which have six quarterbacks on the roster, including Canadian quarterback Brandon Bridge, who was taken in the fourth round of the CFL Draft.
Last year’s starter, former Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton returns for the Alouettes after leading Montreal to the East Division final. Compton threw or 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions last season. Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), Tanner Marsh (Arkansas Tech) and John Skelton (Fordham) are also on the roster.