Mark Restelli Mark Restelli ( born March 4 , 1986 in Houston , Texas ) is a professional Canadian football linebacker who is currently a free agent . He most recently attended training camp with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League . He was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos as a street free agent in 2009 and played until he was signed by the Miami Dolphins in 2011 . Despite a strong preseason ( which included 4 tackles in the second half of the final preseason game versus the Dallas Cowboys ) , on September 4 , 2011 he was released by the Dolphins during their final roster cuts . On September 9 , 2011 he announced that he would be resuming his football career in the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos . He played college football for the Cal Poly Mustangs . College career . Restelli was a four year starter at Cal Poly and never missed a game . He had 267 tackles , three sacks , three interceptions , two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble . Restelli ranks in the top ten lifetime in tackles at Cal Poly . In 2007 , he was named Honorable Mention All - Great West . As a senior he was named Defensive Team Captain . Restelli majored in agricultural business . Professional career . Edmonton Eskimos . Restelli signed with the Edmonton Eskimos on April 29 , 2009 , after attending an Eskimos free - agent tryout camp in Long Beach , California . After the release of Derrick Doggett on June 10 , Restelli ' s main competition for the starting weakside linebacker spot was fellow import rookie Tumbo Abanikanda . Restelli debuted for Edmonton on June 17 in a preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders and recorded one tackle and an interception while Abanikanda recorded three tackles . Eskimos head coach Richie Hall has called Restelli and Abanikanda ' s battle the closest one in camp so far . Hall also stated that he hoped , " one player outperforms the other player " in Edmonton ' s next preseason game against the BC Lions on June 21 . " Eskimos general manager Danny Maciocia said that Restelli " plays as if his hair is on fire . " In his three seasons with the Eskimos Restelli recorded 74 defensive tackles , 21 special teams tackles , and 4 sacks . Miami Dolphins . In January 2011 , Restelli signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League . He spent the training camp and preseason of the 2011 season playing on special teams . Despite a strong preseason performance ( in the final preseason game vs the Dallas Cowboys , Restelli recorded four tackles and a defended pass ) , Restelli was released in the final round of cuts on September 3 . Return to the Edmonton Eskimos . Following his release by the Dolphins , Restelli returned to the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League . He spent the 2011 CFL season as a backup linebacker . Montreal Alouettes . On February 15 , 2012 , Mark Restelli became a free agent after playing out his option year for the Edmonton Eskimos . On February 21 , 2012 , the Montreal Alouettes announced that they had signed Restelli . On June 16 , 2012 , he was released by the Alouettes along with eight other players . Restelli was injured for most of Montreal ' s training camp . Personal . Even though Restelli is from California , he claims that he does not surf . During the Edmonton Eskimos 2009 training camp , after being asked about it , Restelli responded , " You ' ve got to be like the 10th person to ask it . " Restelli ' s first football job came on the Santa Margarita football sidelines as a 10 - year - old waterboy alongside future New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez . Restelli and Sanchez played on the same Pop Warner team for three years . They shagged footballs on the Santa Margarita practice field for quarterback Carson Palmer , who went on to win the 2002 Heisman Trophy and become the top overall selection in the 2003 NFL draft . The two were Eagles junior varsity basketball teammates ( incorrect . Restelli only played freshman year while Sanchez was an 8th grader . ) before Sanchez left to play his junior and senior seasons at Mission Viejo High . Santa Margarita ' s Restelli gets his shot at NFL