Taro Raimon

Taro Raimon

No. 80 – Dallas Birddogs
Position:	Wide Receiver
Personal information
Born:	(2016-08-31)August 31, 2016 (aged 44) Tokyo, Japan
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Deimon Senior High
College:	University of Notre Dame
ISFL Undrafted:	2039
Career history
Roster status:	Active
Player stats at ISFL.net

Taro Monta Raimon (born August 31, 2016) is an American football wide receiver for the Dallas Birddogs of the Developmental Simulation Football League (DSFL).

Early years

Born in Tokyo Japan, Taro Raimon was brought up as a fan of baseball and played the game throughout his childhood. One of his idols is Masaru Honjo, a NPB All-Star outfielder known for his catching prowess. Despite being one of the best fielders in Japan highschool baseball, Taro struggled to make the first team at Deimon due to his weak batting skills as well as his numerous throwing errors. Realizing his catching abilities and large hands might translate well into American Football, Taro joined the Deimon Devil Bats, and instantly became one of the top wide receivers in Japan. Despite his short stature at 5'5, he has no trouble battling taller opponents with his high vertical and natural talent in catching the ball.

In his first game, despite struggling in the first half, Taro helped surged the team to a comeback win with two touchdowns against the Zokugaku Chameleons. Taro was a major contributor to the Devil Bats helping the previously unranked team win the Christmas Bowl, the most prestigous tournament in Japan football. His abilities earned him a spot at the Japanese U18 Team as one of the top wide receivers in the country in only his first year of semi-professional American Football.

College career

As Taro continue to impress in his next three years of high school football in Japan and suddenly gained a growth spurt helping his receiving, he gained a lot of interest from American Colleges. Ultimately, he was recruited to the University of Notre Dame. In his true freshman year, expectations were not as high as he has not had much experience playing out of Japan. He didn't play in a game until halfway through the season and produces decent numbers, getting 15 receptions, 3 touchdowns and 322 yards. In his Sophomore year, Taro missed the opening day game due to a hamstring sprain. After his injury, he quickly cameback and displayed his receiving prowess. In 15 games, he received 73 receptions, 17 touchdowns and 1363 yards. He gained several honours as well as proving himself to be a top WR prospect. In his Junior year, he repeated his performance with similar numbers and lead his conference in receiving touchdowns with 19. For his senior year, Taro forgoes it to enter the DSFL draft as one of the top wide receiver prospects.

Season 23

Taro Raimon was drafted 20th overall in the Season 23 DSFL Draft to the Dallas Birddogs. Raimon was instantly slotted on the main offensive squad as the second wide receiver behind All-Star Luca Scabbia. In the off-season, he was injured after a skateboarding accident. Although, he was recovered in time for the season to start, Taro was visually not the same as he was before. In his Pro Debut game on Week 1, he did not contribute much in the Birddogs win with over only 1 reception for 7 yards. In his second start, Taro continued his struggles with only 2 receptions for 12 yards in the 3-33 loss against the Buccaneers. In the Week 3 game, Taro has finally found his steps and got out of his slump. He received 4 receptions for 38 yards for an average of a solid 9.5 yards per catch. He continues to ramp up his numbers with a solid 4 catches for 56 yards in week 4 for a solid 14 average per catch. Throughout the rest of the season, Taro Raimon continues his dominance as the second wide receiver, capitalizing on his limited opportunity. Notable performances in the later half of the season includes a 6 catches for 78 yards in the Week 7 win and 4 receptions for 68 yards in Week 9 which included a 31 yard catch. Taro ended his rookie season with 42 receptions for 562 yards for an average of 13.4 yards per catch. He has cemented himself as one of the top offensive prospects coming into the Season 24 ISFL Draft.

Season 24

In the Season 24 ISFL draft, Taro Raimon was drafted 20th overall by the Arizona Outlaws. He was the third wide receiver picked in the draft at 20th overall. The Outlaws had a stacked roster in terms of wide receives so Raimon stayed in the DSFL for the entire S24 season with the Dallas Bird dogs and was named the starting wide receiver for the team. In their first game, Raimon started off his season hot with a 97 reception yards in 6 receptions despite going down to the Tijuana Luchadores 22-13. In the next few games, he did not repeat his Week 1 performance as well as the Bird dogs slumping into a 1-6 record. Some notable performances that Raimon gave was a Week 3 performance of 42 reception yards and 1 touchdown in 2 catches. And in Week 6 where he caught 4 balls for 66 yards and 1 touchdown. In the second half of the season, the Bird dogs as well as Raimon picked up steam. Raimon got his first 100 yard game in Week 12 where he caught 6 passes for 101 reception yards in a 13-0 win against the Grey Ducks. Another role that Raimon was given in this season was on the special team as a returner. He amassed over 600 KR yards and over 300 PR yards as well as 1 PR TD. He ranks second in most PR Yards behind Friedrich Vequain. Raimon ended the season with more reception yards and with better ability and he aims to join the ISFL league in the next season with the Arizona Outlaws.

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	40‑yd dash	20‑ss	3‑cone	Vert jump	Broad	BP	Wonderlic
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	4.34 s	4.00 s	6.83 s	28.1 in (0.71 m)	11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)	4 reps	20

Professional career statistics

Career statistics			Receiving					Returning
Season	Team	Games	Rec	Yards	Avg	Lg	TD	KR	Yards	Avg	Lg	TD	PR	Yards	Avg	Lg	TD
2038 (S23)	Birddogs	14	42	562	13.4	33	1
2039 (S24)	Birddogs	14	54	732	13.6	46	4	30	612	20.4	39	0	30	338	11.3	63	1
2040 (S25)	Outlaws	16	24	308	12.8	40	0
2041 (S26)	Outlaws	16	76	1354	17.8	66	11	1	41	41	41	0	0	0	0	0	0
2042 (S27)	Outlaws	16	89	1498	16.8	90	10
2043 (S28)	Outlaws	16	101	1261	12.5	71	11
2044 (S29)	Outlaws	16	98	1425	14.5	80	9

Achievements and records

Awards

Individual

• DSFL Pro Bowl Selection (1): 2039
• Offensive Breakout Player Selection (1): 2041 (S26)
• ISFL Pro Bowl Selection (4): 2041 ,2042 .2043 ,2044

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