Obby Khan

Obby Khan
No. 60     Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Date of birth: October 8, 1980 (1980-10-08) (age 31)
Place of birth: Ottawa, Ontario
Career information
Status: Active
CFL status: Non-import
Position(s): C/G/OT
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 270 lb (120 kg)
University: Simon Fraser
CFL Draft: 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2
Drafted by: Ottawa Renegades
Organizations
 As player:
20042005
2006–present
Ottawa Renegades
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Playing stats at CFL.ca

Ibrahim "Obby" Khan (born October 8, 1980, in Ottawa, Ontario) is a centre for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He is a Canadian starter and a team captain. He was acquired in the dispersal draft when the Ottawa Renegades franchise folded before the start of the 2006 CFL season. He was the Bombers first selection (2nd overall) in that draft.

Early years

Khan is a Muslim of Pakistani descent and was born in Ottawa where he attended Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School and played football and rugby. He played minor football for the Gloucester Dukes.

Khan played CIS football with the Simon Fraser Clan. Khan won the J. P. Metras Trophy as the top lineman in Canadian university football in 2003. Khan was one of three Canadians to participate in the 2004 East-West Shrine Game, an all-star game for graduating college players, mainly from the United States.

Professional career

Khan was selected in the first round (second overall) of the 2004 CFL Draft. He dressed for the Ottawa Renegades during the first two games of the 2004 CFL season but did not see action. In Game 3 versus Edmonton, he saw the first live action of his CFL career. In Game 7 versus Calgary, he got the first start of his pro career at right guard. In Game 8 at BC, he started for the second time in as many weeks against the Lions. In Game 9 versus Hamilton he backed-up Mike Sutherland at right guard. He also had a special teams' tackle. In Game 10 versus Edmonton, he backed-up Alexandre Gauthier at left tackle and had a special teams' tackle. In Game 11 versus Montreal, Khan began the game as a back-up and filled in well for centre George Hudson when he went down with a back injury. He started Game 12 versus B.C. he started as centre against the Lions.

Khan started five of 15 games for the Ottawa Renegades in the 2005 CFL season, sitting out three games due to injury. He was one of the 'Gades most versatile offensive linemen, seeing playing time at guard, centre and tackle.

In the 2006 CFL season, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers acquired Khan as their first selection in the Ottawa Dispersal Draft. He was the only member of the Blue Bombers’ offensive line to start all 18 regular season games as well as the football club’s East Semifinal contest with the Toronto Argonauts. Khan had never played centre at the pro level until being shifted there during training camp. Khan’s solid play helped running back Charles Roberts rush for a league-leading 1,609 yards on 303 carries. His contributions did not go unnoticed. Khan was named the co-winner of the CJOB Offensive Player of the Game Award in Week 8 versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He and the rest of the Bombers' offensive line turned in another performance in the East Semifinal. The Big Blue rushed for 200 yards, including 179 by Roberts, in a losing cause. Khan was recognized in the CFL’s post-season awards as the Bombers' nominee as Outstanding Offensive Lineman.

External links