Will Arndt to Take Over at Quarterback for the Ottawa Redblacks

It has been a trying season for the Ottawa Redblacks following an almost dynastic effort over the last four years.

The Ottawa Redblacks made it to the Grey Cup in 2015, won it all in 2016, and then came up against a determined Calgary Stampeders last year to come up second best. The Redblacks have been in the upper-echelon of the CFL for many years, but this season, they look to miss out on the playoffs for the first time since their inaugural season in 2014.

Among the team’s struggles have been the injuries to new quarterback Jonathon Jennings and initial starter Dominique Davis. Now, with the Redblacks at 3-11 and on a seven-game losing streak, Ottawa turns to 26-year-old Will Arndt.

Step up Will Arndt

At 26-years-old, the 6’5’’ Sandy Hook, Connecticut native has the chance to grab the starting Redblacks job with both hands following the lacklustre performances from Davis and Jennings thus far. Before signing for the Redblacks in 2017, Arndt won the Alberta Football League championship with the Fort McMurray Monarchs and held multiple records at Western Connecticut State University by the conclusion of his college career.

So far this season, as the third or second-string QB, Arndt has accumulated 185 yards of passing and two interceptions from 36 attempts. He aspires to be a starter in the CFL, having been on the practice squad of Ottawa for the last couple of seasons and fully believes in his ability to make the step up.

First up: Toronto

Arndt’s first game comes against the Toronto Argonauts, who, after winning the 105th Grey Cup, have fallen on hard times themselves. Prior to the Week 18 slate of games, the Argos were the only club with fewer wins that the Redblacks, sitting at 2-12.

The new quarterback will see this as a prime opportunity to showcase his ability, especially as Toronto has shipped an average of 34.5 points per game. That said, Toronto obliterated Ottawa when they came to town in Week 13 to the tune of a 46-17 scoreline. The issue for the Redblacks, however, is getting the offence moving, with the Ottawa club putting up the fewest points per game in the CFL at 17, meaning that they are not a team to be backing in the points spread market with firms like Betway.

After the Argonauts game, and if he earns the approval of the coaching staff to keep the starting job, Arndt will have his trial by fire against the favourites to claim the Grey Cup, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who have only dropped three games through 15 this season. Then it’s back to Toronto and a final week hosting of the Montreal Alouettes.

The Ottawa Redblacks are all-but out of the playoff conversation, with the only hope being that both the BC Lions and Edmonton Eskimos lose their three remaining games, and Will Arndt can somehow turnaround the offence to claim four wins through four – three of which are on the road.

The season may be lost for the Redblacks, but at least Arndt is being given the opportunity to deliver a glimmer of hope for things to come from this recently dominant football team.