Eric Lofton (born March 6, 1993) is an American professional football offensive lineman for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Temple.
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers | |
| Born: | March 6, 1993 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Status | Active |
| CFL status | American |
| Position(s) | Offensive lineman |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Weight | 300 lb (140 kg) |
| College | Temple |
| High school | Rancocas Valley High School |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2017–2018 | Ottawa Redblacks |
| 2019* | BC Lions |
| 2019–2020 | Edmonton Eskimos / Football Team |
| 2022 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| 2023 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| 2024–present | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Career stats | |
| |
Early life
editRaised in Lumberton, New Jersey, Lofton played offensive tackle and tight end for the Red Devils at Rancocas Valley High School.[1] In addition to football, Lofton was also a member of the wrestling team.
College career
editAt Temple, Lofton redshirted the 2011 season. Over the next four years, he played in 37 games. He was named a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection as a senior in 2015.
Lofton graduated with a degree in economics.
Professional career
editAfter graduation, Lofton had tryouts with several professional teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Soul, and the Montreal Alouettes. Before landing with a team, Lofton worked for Freedom Mortgage in South Jersey.
Ottawa Redblacks
editOn February 27, 2017, Lofton was signed by the Ottawa Redblacks.[2] He earned a roster spot with the team after making it out of training camp.[3][4] In two seasons with Ottawa, Lofton saw action in four games (one in 2017, three in 2018), spending most of his time on the practice squad.
BC Lions
editLofton signed with the BC Lions on February 8, 2019.[5] On June 8, 2019, Lofton was released before the start of season.[6]
Edmonton Eskimos / Football Team
editOn July 8, 2019, Lofton was signed to the Edmonton Eskimos practice squad.[7] Lofton appeared in two games during the 2019 season. He did not play any games in 2020 because of the cancellation of the CFL season due to COVID-19. Lofton signed a contract extension with Edmonton on December 30, 2020.[8] He was released on May 24, 2021.[9]
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (first stint)
editOn March 22, 2022, it was announced that he had signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[10] He played in one game that season.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
editOn February 10, 2023, it was announced that Lofton had signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[11] He played 14 games that season for the Roughriders. He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 13, 2024.[12]
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (second stint)
editOn February 16, 2024, Lofton signed with the Blue Bombers.[13]
References
edit- ^ Eric Lofton, Temple Owls football. Accessed November 18, 2020. "Hometown: Lumberton, N.J.; High School: Rancocas Valley"
- ^ "Transactions". Ottawa Redblacks. February 27, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ Baines, Tim (June 13, 2017). "Redblacks have new Owl connection". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ Easterling, Evan (January 23, 2018). "Temple football alumni fit fast-paced CFL style of play". The Temple News. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ Cartmell, Jamie (February 8, 2019). "Lions Add Three, Including Former Redblacks Lineman". BCLions.com. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ "BC Lions Transactions". BCLions.com. June 8, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ "Eskimos Transaction". Esks.com. July 8, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ "EE Football Team extends five, signs three". Esks.com. December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "2021 CFL Transactions". CFL.ca. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
- ^ TSN ca Staff (March 22, 2022). "Bombers sign OL Lofton to one-year deal - TSN.ca". TSN. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Riders Sign Offensive Lineman Eric Lofton". Saskatchewan Roughriders. February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Official 2024 Free Agent Tracker". Canadian Football League. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ "Bombers bring back American OL Eric Lofton". CFL.ca. February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.