Chris Murray

cmurray@rgj.com

Former Wolf Pack quarterback Cody Fajardo is headed north of the border to continue his professional career.

The 24-year-old tweeted Monday he has signed a deal with the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts.

Fajardo, who starred for Nevada from 2011-14, spent last season in training camp with the Oakland Raiders before finishing the season with the Argonauts when the CFL's rosters expanded in September. Fajardo didn't get any playing time last year with Toronto but could push for field time this season after the team's starting quarterback, Trevor Harris, departed for Ottawa in free agency, leaving the starting position open.

At Nevada, Fajardo became only the second quarterback in FBS history to throw for 9,000 yards and run for 3,000 yards in a career, joining his predecessor, Colin Kaepernick, in that exclusive club. Fajardo's game could be well suited for the CFL, which differs from college and NFL ball in a number of ways (namely there are 12 players on defense, only three downs to achieve a first down and the CFL is larger than that used in the NFL).

“I thought he was tailor-made for the CFL,’’ Argonauts general manager Jim Barker told the Toronto Sun last month.

Toronto has three other quarterbacks on its roster in Logan Kilgore, formerly of Middle Tennessee Sate; Adrian McPherson, formerly of Florida State, and the 36-year-old Ricky Ray, who took over starting duties from Harris late last season after recovering from a tear in his right rotator cuff.

Kilgore is the only quarterback on the roster younger than 33 years old. Ray, a three-time Grey Cup champion, and Kilgore are expected to battle for the starting job.

Toronto's first preseason game is June 11 and its season opener is June 23.

CFL's Argonauts looking to ink ex-Pack QB Fajardo to deal