View source for Khalil Bass

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1990)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name                = Khalil Bass
| number              =47
| image               = August 14th - Winnipeg vs Toronto (20446156220) (cropped).jpg
| position            = [[Linebacker]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1990|06|02}}
| birth_place         = [[Encino, Los Angeles|Encino]], [[California]]
| death_date          =
| death_place         =
| height_ft           = 6
| height_in           = 0
| weight_lbs          = 228
| college             = [[Portland State Vikings football|Portland State]]
| undraftedyear       = 2013
| pastteams           =
* [[Green Bay Blizzard]] ({{IFL Year|2015}})*
* [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] ({{CFL Year|2015}}–{{CFL Year|2016}})
* [[Ottawa Redblacks]] ({{CFL Year|2017}})
* [[Toronto Argonauts]] ({{CFL Year|2017}}–{{CFL Year|2018}})
* [[Atlanta Legends]] ({{AAF Year|2019}})
| highlights =
* [[Grey Cup]] champion ([[105th Grey Cup|2017]])
* [[CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award|CFL MOR]] nominee ({{CFL Year|2015}})
}}
'''Khalil Bass''' (born June 2, 1990) is a former [[gridiron football]] [[linebacker]]. He was previously a player in the [[Canadian Football League]], where he made his debut with the [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] in 2015, and also played for the [[Ottawa Redblacks]] and [[Toronto Argonauts]] where he won the [[105th Grey Cup]]. He also played for the [[Atlanta Legends]] of the [[Alliance of American Football]] (AAF).
==Professional career==
=== Winnipeg Blue Bombers ===
Coming out of [[Portland State University]], Bass went unsigned following his graduation in 2013. While training, Bass made ends meet by caring for dogs at a pet daycare.<ref>[https://aaf.com/by-jaylon-thompson--the-alliance-1 The Alliance] aaf.com {{dead link|date=October 2023}}</ref> It took a combined 7 workouts with 4 CFL teams before Bass made a roster; the [[BC Lions]] felt Bass lacked coverage skills and the [[Ottawa Redblacks]] had concerns about his speed and movement in space. After signing with the arena football [[Green Bay Blizzard]] in anticipation for the [[2015 Indoor Football League season]], Bass ended up being on the IFL exempt list for the year as he received a CFL opportunity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://goifl.com/sports/2020/11/22/ifl-alumni.aspx|title=IFL Alumni|website=goifl.com|accessdate=6 October 2023}}</ref> The day after a workout with the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]], Bass had his 4th workout in two and a half years with the [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]], who signed him on February 23, 2015 as an undrafted free agent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bluebombers.com/2016/03/21/breakout-star-khalil-bass-never-took-no-for-an-answer/|title=Khalil Bass and never taking no for an answer - Winnipeg Blue Bombers|date=21 March 2016}}</ref> He made the team, and played in all 18 games his rookie year, finishing 4th in the league with 99 tackles.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/khalil-bass/161276/|title=Khalil Bass|accessdate=6 October 2023}}</ref> Bass also recorded 5 sacks, forced a fumble, and intercepted a pass which he returned for a touchdown. His performance earned him the honors of Most Outstanding Rookie for the Blue Bombers team. The following year, Bass helped the Bombers earn a playoff berth by putting up 82 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions of which one was returned for a score. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
=== Ottawa Redblacks ===
Bass signed with the [[Ottawa Redblacks]] on February 15, 2017. In 11 games, he made 39 tackles and 2 sacks, but asked for and was granted his release on September 15, due to a lack of playing time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/local-sports/redblacks-release-disgruntled-linebacker-khalil-bass|title=Linebacker Khalil Bass asks out and is released by Redblacks|date=15 September 2017}}</ref> Despite his desire to return to the Blue Bombers, where he had led the team in tackles the previous two seasons, Winnipeg did not seek a reunion with Bass.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://winnipegsun.com/2017/09/19/bombers-not-pursuing-khalil-bass/wcm/932719dc-0a1d-4df7-aa2b-ab2b965b486c |title=Bombers not pursuing Khalil Bass |author=Ted Wyman |date=September 19, 2017 |publisher=[[Winnipeg Sun]] |access-date=December 4, 2018}}</ref>
=== Toronto Argonauts ===
On October 3, 2017, Bass signed with the [[Toronto Argonauts]]. He was promoted to the active roster for the final game of the regular season, but an injury kept Bass out of the playoffs. Nevertheless, the Argos advanced to the [[105th Grey Cup]] and won 27–24 over the Calgary Stampeders. Bass received a contract extension during the offseason,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/argos-sign-linebacker-khalil-bass-receiver-jeff-fuller-2018/|title=Argos sign linebacker Khalil Bass, receiver Jeff Fuller through 2018|website=www.sportsnet.ca|accessdate=6 October 2023}}</ref> but was released following week 2. Ironically, all of Bass's roommates in Toronto ended up released or traded before the season was ended.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://windsorstar.com/sports/football/sometimes-the-business-side-of-sports-can-be-a-real-killjoy/wcm/fae413db-22b3-40ff-9f70-d9833d480726/|title=Sometimes the business side of sports can be a real killjoy &#124; Windsor Star|accessdate=6 October 2023}}</ref> In his CFL career, Bass played in 48 games and recorded 223 tackles, 5 special teams tackles, 11 sacks, 3 interceptions of which 2 were returned for touchdowns, and 5 forced fumbles.<ref name="auto"/>
=== Atlanta Legends ===
In 2018, Bass was announced as an inaugural player for the [[Atlanta Legends]] of the newly-formed [[Alliance of American Football]], which began playing games in February 2019. Bass was named to the main roster at the end of training camp on January 30, 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/atlanta-legends-set-final-roster-for-2019-inaugural-season-under-head-coach-kevin-coyle/n-5443053|title=Atlanta Legends Set Final Roster for 2019 Inaugural Season Under Head Coach Kevin Coyle|work=Our Sports Central|date=January 30, 2019|access-date=February 6, 2019}}</ref> In the eight games he played prior to the league suspending operations in April 2019,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rothstein |first=Michael |last2=Wickersham |first2=Seth |date=June 13, 2019 |title=Inside the short, unhappy life of the Alliance of American Football |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26957796/inside-short-unhappy-life-alliance-american-football |access-date=January 9, 2024 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> he recorded 26 tackles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://noextrapoints.com/players/khalil-bass/|title = Khalil Bass}}</ref>
=== Retirement ===
Bass was eligible to be drafted in the [[XFL (2020)|XFL]] positional draft taking place in October 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/nfl/2019/10/former-oregon-duck-darron-thomas-former-oregon-state-beaver-tim-cook-among-players-with-oregon-connections-included-in-the-2020-xfl-draft-pool.html|title=Players with Oregon ties in 2020 XFL draft pool|date=11 October 2019}}</ref> Despite speculation that Bass would be reunited with former Argo head coach [[Marc Trestman]] and linebacker coach [[Mike Archer (American football)|Mike Archer]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://xflboard.com/news/connecting-the-dots-finding-the-commonalities-among-tampa-bays-coaching-staff-and-with-summer-showcase-players/|title=Connecting the dots: Finding the commonalities among Tampa Bay's coaching staff, and with Summer Showcase players|first=Greg|last=Parks|date=5 August 2019|accessdate=6 October 2023}}</ref> Bass went unselected, focusing instead on starting a personal trainer business and raising a family.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://goviks.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=812 Portland State bio]
{{105th Grey Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bass, Khalil}}
[[Category:1990 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Atlanta Legends players]]
[[Category:College of the Canyons Cougars football players]]
[[Category:Ottawa Redblacks players]]
[[Category:People from Encino, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Portland State Vikings football players]]
[[Category:Toronto Argonauts players]]
[[Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players]]