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Alfredo Gachuz Lozada (born 1 January 1999) is a Mexican professional gridiron football placekicker for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for Borregos Salvajes CEM and later professionally in the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA) with the Raptors de Naucalpan. He is a Grey Cup champion after winning with the Argonauts in 2024.

Early life and education

Gachuz was born on 1 January 1999 in Mexico. He grew up in Aguascalientes. He attended the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education where he studied civil engineering. He was a standout placekicker in college football for Borregos Salvajes CEM of the Organización Nacional Estudiantil de Fútbol Americano (ONEFA). A five-time league scoring leader, he finished second in league history in field goals made and converted a record 61-yard game-winning field goal in 2021.

Professional career

Gachuz was selected in the second round (10th overall) of the 2022 Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA) Draft by the Raptors de Naucalpan. Playing two years for the team, he was twice an LFA all-star.

Gachuz, who trains with Nick Novak, was invited to a camp in Mexico City featuring the best 11 Mexican placekickers, hosted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He made a 58-yard field goal at the event and was given an award as the best participant. His performance there led to an invite to be at the Steelers' rookie minicamp, held in May 2023. He ultimately was not signed by the Steelers.

Although not signed by the Steelers, Gachuz was chosen by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2023 CFL global draft, being the only Mexican chosen. He signed with the Argonauts and was placed on the practice roster to begin the season. He was promoted to the active roster on October 20. He made his CFL debut the following day against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, making three of four field goal attempts with a long of 33 and two of three extra points attempted. He returned to the practice roster after the game. He was re-signed following the 2023 season. During the off-season, he returned to Mexico and opened a kicking camp in Mexico City.

Gachuz was placed on the practice roster to open the 2024 season. He remained on the practice roster for the entire regular season and post-season, including when the Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 111th Grey Cup. He became a free agent the day after the Grey Cup game when his contract expired, but signed again with the Argonauts on November 27, 2024.

References

1. "Alfredo Gachuz Lozada". Canadian Football League.
2. ^ "Alfredo Gachúz, el mexicano que se probó con los Pittsburgh Steelers y sueña con jugar en la NFL" [Alfredo Gachúz, the Mexican who tried out with the Pittsburgh Steelers and dreams of playing in the NFL]. Esto en Línea (in Spanish). 20 May 2023.
3. ^ Uzeta, Alexis; García, Gustavo (15 April 2023). "Alfredo Gachuz fue el mejor kicker de la clínica de pateadores de los Steelers" [Alfredo Gachuz was the best kicker at the Steelers' kicking clinic]. Diario AS (in Spanish).
4. Domínguez, Alex (12 May 2023). "El pateador mexicano Alfredo Gachuz fue invitado al campamento de novatos de los Steelers" [Mexican kicker Alfredo Gachuz was invited to the Steelers rookie camp]. Infobae (in Spanish).
5. ^ Clark, Joe (12 May 2023). "'You Won't Believe The Foot This Kicker Has:' Omar Khan Recalls Learning About Minicamp Kicker Alfredo Gachuz Lozada". SteelersDepot.com.
6. "Gachuz se viste de héroe para Borregos CEM con gol de campo de 61 yardas" [Gachuz dresses as a hero for Borregos CEM with a 61-yard field goal]. Máximo Avance (in Spanish). 7 November 2021.
7. "Los picks del Draft 2022" [The 2022 Draft picks] (in Spanish). Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional.
8. Mondragon, Emmanuel (12 May 2023). "NFL: ¿Quién es Alfredo Gachúz, el mexicano que podría cumplir el sueño de jugar para los Steelers?" [NFL: Who is Alfredo Gachúz, the Mexican who could fulfill the dream of playing for the Steelers?]. Tribuna del Yaqui (in Spanish).
9. "Pittsburgh Steelers pick Mexican record-breaking kicker Alfredo Gachuz to report for training". Marca. 12 May 2023 – via archive.ph.
10. ^ Blanco González, Diego Andrés (14 December 2023). "Vive Alfredo Gachuz año de ensueño" [Alfredo Gachuz lives a dream year]. El Heraldo de Aguascalientes (in Spanish).
11. Alonso, Luis (2 May 2023). "Alfredo Gachuz quiere llegar a la NFL" [Alfredo Gachuz wants to reach the NFL]. Máximo Avance (in Spanish).
12. "Toronto Argonauts Transactions – Friday, June 2, 2023". Toronto Argonauts. 2 June 2023.
13. ^ "2023 Toronto Argonauts Transactions". footballdb.com.
14. "Alfredo Gachuz Lozada". footballdb.com.
15. Miller, Anthony (9 December 2023). "Toronto Argonauts Re-Sign Six Players to Roster". Sports Illustrated.
16. "2024 Toronto Argonauts Transactions". footballdb.com.
17. "Transactions – Football Player Trades and Signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
18. "Toronto Argonauts re-sign kicker Alfredo Gachuz Lozada". bgmsportstrax.com. Retrieved November 27, 2024.

External links

• Toronto Argonauts bio

• 1999 births
• Living people
• Mexican players of Canadian football
• American football placekickers
• Mexican players of American football
• Canadian football placekickers
• Sportspeople from Aguascalientes
• Borregos Salvajes CEM players
• Toronto Argonauts players