- The Toronto Argonauts prioritized rebuilding their defensive line during the off-season, bringing in high-profile additions like Ralph Holley and Jonathan Kongbo, along with positional coach Demetrius Maxie from Edmonton
- Paris Shand, a GTA native and second-round draft pick, returned home after brief stints with the Buffalo Bills and represents the team’s investment in young talent at defensive end/tackle
- Soane Toia, a 2025 CFL Global Draft pick from San Jose State, is making an immediate impact with his explosive play style and high motor, potentially starting alongside Holley at tackle when the season opens June 12
- Both young linemen bring multi-sport athleticism and strong family football pedigrees—Shand played NCAA basketball at a high level, while Toia’s brothers currently play in the NFL and UFL
- Coach Maxie emphasizes the development process for these rookies, highlighting their potential while tempering expectations as they adapt to professional football
- The Argos’ final pre-season game is Friday night in Guelph against the Tiger-Cats at Alumni Stadium, providing the young defensive line a final tune-up before the regular season
Read the full story here: https://www.argonauts.ca/article/hogan-argos-turn-to-youth-on-d-line
