Argos sign veteran running back John White

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

The Toronto Argonauts have signed veteran American running back John White, per league sources.

It’s a one-year contract for the 2021 season.

White set career-highs in rushing yards (1,004) and carries (192) with seven touchdowns along the ground in 2019. The talented back added another 341 yards on 46 receptions and a major.

White was released by the Edmonton Eskimos the day before training camps opened in 2018. The 28-year-old joined the Ticats in June that year and rushed for 400 yards and two touchdowns on 78 carries — 5.1 yards per attempt.

He suffered a torn ACL in the second game of the 2017 season after rushing for over 100 yards and one touchdown in Week 1. That made two season-ending injuries for White in three years. He tore his Achilles during training camp and missed the entire 2015 campaign.

White had 1,350 yards from scrimmage with 886 on the ground in 2016 – the University of Utah product produces when healthy. In four seasons with the Eskimos, White played in 41 games with 376 carries for 2,110 yards (5.6-yard average) and 12 touchdowns adding 84 catches for 736 yards and four majors.