Aston Whiteside

Aston Rashaud Whiteside (born May 19, 1989) is an American former professional football defensive end. He played college football for the Abilene Christian Wildcats, where he was a four-time first-team Lone Star Conference (LSC) South selection and a three-time LSC South Defensive Lineman of the Year. After going undrafted in the 2012 NFL draft, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) but was waived before the start of the season. He then spent time on the practice squad of the Chicago Bears in 2012 and 2013, and the practice squad of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013. Whiteside later played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 2014 to 2017 for the Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Redblacks, and Calgary Stampeders. He won the 104th Grey Cup with the Redblacks in 2015. He was also an offseason member of the Edmonton Eskimos in 2017.

Early life Aston Rashaud Whiteside was born on May 19, 1989, in Wichita County, Texas. He ran for 1,934 yards and 24 touchdown his senior year in 2006, garnering first team all-district recognition while leading the team to a Class 3A Division II semifinals loss to Celina High School. He graduated from Vernon High in 2007.

Whiteside recorded 30 tackles, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, three pass breakups, and one blocked kick in 2008. His sack total that year was second in the LSC and first on the team. He totaled 40 tackles and six sacks his senior year in 2011, earning first-team All-LSC South for the fourth consecutive year, LSC South Defensive Lineman of the Year for the third time, LSC South Defensive Player of the Year, and first-team AFCA All-American honors. Whiteside finished his college career with the second most sacks in school history. He recorded a 4.74 second 40-yard dash, a 33.5 inch vertical leap, and 19 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press. He was moved to inside linebacker while with the Cowboys, and was later waived on August 5, 2012.

Whiteside signed with the Chicago Bears of the NFL as a defensive end on August 11, 2012. He was waived on August 31 and signed to the team's practice squad on September 2. Whiteside was waived again on October 16, and re-signed to the practice squad on November 28. He was waived by the Bears on August 30, 2013, and signed to the practice squad on September 2. He dressed in 15 games, starting 14, for the Argonauts during the 2014 season. On October 8, 2014, he was fined by the CFL for "an illegal and dangerous hit on a quarterback in which he led with his helmet". Overall, he recorded 17 defensive tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in 2014. He was promoted to the active roster on July 23. Whiteside suffered a season-ending knee injury on August 30 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was leading the team with seven sacks at the time of his injury. He became a free agent after the 2016 season.

Whiteside signed with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos on February 16, 2017. On May 28, he was transferred to the suspended list after having passport issues.

Whiteside was signed to the practice roster of the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL on July 3, 2017. He was promoted to the active roster on July 6 after Charleston Hughes suffered an injury. He played in one game for the Stampeders in 2017, recording one defensive tackle, before being transferred to the injured list on July 13. Whiteside was released by the Stampeders on August 30, 2017.