Nate Behar

Nate Behar
No. 82     Montreal Alouettes
Behar with the Redblacks in 2022
Born: (1994-09-29) September 29, 1994 (age 30)
London, Ontario, Canada
Career information
StatusActive
CFL statusNational
Position(s)Wide receiver
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight204 lb (93 kg)
UniversityCarleton
CFL draft2017, round: 1, pick: 5
Drafted byEdmonton Eskimos
Career history
As player
2017–2018Edmonton Eskimos
2019Ottawa Redblacks
2021–2023Ottawa Redblacks
2024–presentMontreal Alouettes
Career stats

Nathaniel Behar (born September 29, 1994) is a Canadian professional football wide receiver for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played for two years with the Edmonton Eskimos prior to signing with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2019. He played U Sports football for the Carleton Ravens from 2013 to 2016.

University career

Carleton Ravens

On November 16, 2012, it was announced that Behar had signed a letter of intent to play for the Carleton Ravens' re-established program which began in 2013.[1] He had been ranked as the number one high school wide receiver prospect in the country. He enjoyed a productive four-year career with the Ravens; totaling 178 receptions for 2,577 yards, and 21 touchdowns.[2] His most famous touchdown, arguably, was on a last-play Hail Mary pass to win the 2014 Panda Game.[2][3] At the end of his four-years, he was ranked as the ninth best player available in the 2017 CFL Draft.[4]

Professional career

Edmonton Eskimos

Behar was drafted fifth overall by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2017 CFL Draft, but held off signing with the team as he and his agent entered a contract dispute with the club.[5][6] He missed the team's rookie camp and training camp and was reportedly dissatisfied with the negotiation process as his contract offer became worse the longer he held out.[7] Behar signed with the Eskimos on June 21, 2017, three days before the team's season opening game, to a two-year contract.[5] He played in 12 regular season games that year, primarily on special teams as he recorded four special teams tackles. In 2018, he played in all 18 regular season games and started eight, recording 27 catches for 257 receiving yards. He scored his first touchdown on August 9, 2018 against the BC Lions. He played in 30 regular season games with the Eskimos and became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 12, 2019.[8]

Ottawa Redblacks

On February 15, 2019, Behar signed with the Ottawa Redblacks to, reportedly, a one-year contract.[9][10] In his first season in Ottawa, he caught 16 passes for 169 yards. He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 11, 2020, and did not sign with any team in 2020, where the league cancelled the 2020 CFL season.[11]

After not playing football in 2020, Behar re-signed with the Redblacks on June 28, 2021.[12] During the 2021 season, he played in all 14 regular season games, catching 34 passes for 439 yards, both career highs. He was also the team's emergency quarterback and was pressed into duty on September 22, 2021, when both Dominique Davis and Matt Nichols succumbed to injuries. In that game, he played in two series where he had two carries for three yards and one completed pass for three yards.[13] On January 20, 2022, Behar signed a one-year extension to remain with the Redblacks.[14] Behar continued his strong play into the 2022 season posting new career highs in receptions (59), receiving yards (727), and touchdowns (2), despite missing five games due to injury.[15]

On December 16, 2022, Behar and the Redblacks agreed to a two-year contract extension.[16] He played in 12 regular season games in 2023 where he had 39 receptions for 334 yards and one touchdown. In the following off-season, he was released on February 5, 2024, while still being owed $30,000 on his partially guaranteed contract for 2024.[17][18]

Montreal Alouettes

On July 20, 2024, it was announced that Behar had signed with the Montreal Alouettes.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Ravens Football lock in Nate Behar". goravens.ca. November 16, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Former Raven Nate Behar hoping to improve in the CFL". charlatan.ca. April 6, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  3. ^ "More than a game: Welcome to Panda". cfl.ca. September 29, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  4. ^ Senior tops final CFL Scouting Bureau Ranking, Canadian Football League, April 13, 2017, retrieved February 19, 2019
  5. ^ a b "First round pick Nate Behar will have to play catchup with Eskimos". edmontonsun.com. June 21, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  6. ^ "Edmonton Eskimos sign 2017 first round pick Nate Behar ending contract dispute". globalnews.ca. June 21, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  7. ^ "'I am a slave': Nate Behar doesn't sound happy with Esks offer". 3downnation.com. June 19, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  8. ^ "CFL Free Agent Tracker 2019". cfl.ca. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "Redblacks sign hometown receiver Behar". cfl.ca. February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  10. ^ "Canadian receiver Nate Behar joins Redblacks". 3downnation.com. February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  11. ^ "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Redblacks re-signed Canadian receiver Nate Behar". OttawaRedblacks.com. June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  13. ^ "Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs Ottawa Redblacks". Canadian Football League. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "REDBLACKS extend WR Nate Behar". CFL.ca. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
  15. ^ "Nate Behar". Canadian Football League. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  16. ^ 3Down Staff (2022-12-16). "Capital gains: Redblacks re-sign Canadian receiver Nate Behar". 3DownNation. Retrieved 2022-12-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Ottawa Redblacks release Canadian REC Nate Behar despite partially guaranteed salary". 3DownNation. February 4, 2024.
  18. ^ "Redblacks release National receiver Nate Behar". Ottawa Redblacks. February 5, 2024.
  19. ^ "Als sign WR Nate Behar, LB Bryce Notree". Canadian Football League. July 20, 2024.
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