Jamal Robertson

Former Ohio Northern All-American running back Jamal Robertson was traded to the Toronto Argonauts from the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

Robertson was traded for Leron Mitchell, a corner back from the University of Western Ontario, after signing a free agent contract with Saskatchewan in March.

He is one of six running backs hoping to land a spot on the Argonauts’ 46-man roster for the 2008 season, which begins June 27 at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Robertson will be looking for one of the 19 roster spots available to imports (usually Americans). There are also 20 non-imports (usually Canadians) and three quarterbacks on the active 42-man roster each week.

The Argonauts’ first preseason game is June 12 at home against the Montreal Alouettes.

Robertson, who spent a year on the Calgary Stampeders practice squad in 2001, is a 5-year veteran of the National Football League, playing with the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons.

He played in one game with the Falcons in 2006 after spending 1 1/2 years with the Carolina Panthers.

Robertson signed with Carolina midway through the 2004 season after playing 2 1/2 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

In 34 career NFL games, Robertson has carried the ball 62 times for 248 yards and one TD.

He has also returned 58 kickoffs for 1,325 yards, an average of 23.4 yards per return, with a long return of 49 yards.

He was named the Offensive MVP of NFL Europe in 2002 as a member of the Rhine Fire. He rushed for 792 yards and scored a league-high eight touchdowns during his MVP season. He also set an NFL Europe record with a 90-yard touchdown run against Frankfurt

At Ohio Northern, Robertson was a two-time All-American at running back.

He remains ONU’s all-time career rushing leader with 4,169 yards from 1997-2000 and ranks second at Ohio Northern with 5,388 all-purpose yards.

In all, Robertson owns 17 school records.