Toronto Argonauts sign bruiser Qualan Jones, one other

Photo: Baylor Athletics

The Toronto Argonauts have signed American running back Qualan Jones and American linebacker James Neal.

Jones finished his collegiate career at Stephen F. Austin University in 2024 where he rushed for 798 yards, caught 13 passes for 80 yards, and scored eight touchdown over 10 games.

The five-foot-ten, 242-pound native of Grand Prairie, Texas previously played at Baylor University, where he rushed for 689 yards, caught 37 passes for 192 yards, and scored nine touchdowns. He was reportedly dismissed from the team in 2023.

Neal finished his collegiate career at Texas State where he made 52 total tackles, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection over 13 games.

The six-foot-one, 231-pound defender previously played at the University of Texas-El Paso, where he made 97 total tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception, and one forced fumble over 28 games. He also had stints at Abilene Christian and Tyler Junior College.

Neal had a professional stint with the UFL’s Michigan Panthers in 2025 but he didn’t record any regular-season statistics.

The Toronto Argonauts finished third in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 5-13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Franchise quarterback Chad Kelly was unable to play all season due to a fractured leg he suffered in the East Final the previous year, giving way to Nick Arbuckle, who threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions to be named the team’s candidate for Most Outstanding Player.

The Argonauts ranked seventh in net offence, sixth in net defence, and seventh with a turnover differential of minus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was Spencer Brown with 314 yards, leading receiver was Dejon Brissett with 907 yards, and leading tackler was Cameron Judge with 79 tackles. Toronto ranked ninth in attendance with average crowds of 15,109, which was a 0.1 percent decrease from the previous year.