CFL News

The Calgary Stampeders announce the hiring of J.C. Sherritt as the club’s linebackers coach.

The 30-year-old Truckee, Calif., native joins the Red and White after a distinguished eight-year playing career in the CFL. He signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2011 and appeared in 109 regular-season games and seven post-season contests over eight seasons. He was a Grey Cup champion in 2015.

“J.C. was a player I always respected and I’m happy to welcome him to the Stampeders organization,” said head coach Dave Dickenson. “I’m confident he’ll be an excellent coach and I’m excited for the fresh perspective he will bring to the defence and the organization.”

Sherritt was the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2012 as he established what was then a league single-season record with 130 defensive tackles. In 109 career games, he had 528 defensive tackles, 45 special-teams tackles, 15 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and 14 interceptions.

Prior to his professional career, Sherritt played at Eastern Washington University and he was a member of the Eagles’ FCS national championship team in 2010, the same year he was the Big Sky Conference’s defensive player of the year and won the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the FCS.

“I’m excited for the next part of my career,” said Sherritt. “An opportunity arose to coach in Calgary and it was a chance to be part of an organization that has enjoyed a lot of success. It seemed like a dream opportunity.”

The rest of the coaching returns with two members holding new titles – Brent Monson (10th season) is the club’s new defensive coordinator while special-teams coordinator Mark Kilam (15th season) adds the title of assistant head coach.

Receivers coach Pete Costanza (12th season), running backs coach Marc Mueller (sixth season), quarterbacks coach Ryan Dinwiddie (fourth season), offensive line coach Pat DelMonaco (sixth season), defensive line coach Corey Mace (fourth season) and defensive backs coach Joshua Bell (second season) all return in their same roles.

(Stampeders PR)

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The Toronto Argonauts announced today that the team has signed International linebacker Bear Woods to a one-year contract through the 2019 season.

“Bear is a veteran leader on and off the field and a player that has been one of the best at his position,” said Argos GM Jim Popp. “He was integral in helping us win a Grey Cup championship in 2017, the ultimate player, and we couldn’t be happier to have him healthy and ready to go in 2019.”

Woods, 32, played in only 4 games for the Argos in 2018 due to injury tallying 29 tackles, including three straight games with nine tackles each. The 6-0, 245-pound native of Macclenny, Florida, was originally signed by Toronto on May 31, 2017. Woods’ first season with the Argos saw the Troy University product play in 17 games, recording 90 defensive tackles and two sacks during the regular-season and six tackles in the postseason to help bring the Grey Cup back to Toronto.

The veteran linebacker spent six seasons with Montreal before coming to Toronto and was twice selected as a CFL All-Star and was named the East Division’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2014 and 2016. Woods’ 126 defensive tackles in 2016 is the sixth highest total all-time.

Prior to joining the Alouettes, Woods spent the 2010 season as a member of the Atlanta Falcons practice squad. He joined Montreal as a free agent late in the 2011 season and made his CFL debut in the 2011 Eastern Final against the Tiger-Cats.

(Argos PR)

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The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Monday the football club has re-signed international wide receiver Brandon Banks to a two-year contract.

“Brandon has been one of the premier playmakers in the Canadian Football League throughout his career; initially on special teams as a returner and now on offence as an explosive every-down receiver,” said Orlondo Steinauer, Head Coach of the Tiger-Cats. “We’re extremely excited to have him under contract for the next two seasons.”

Banks, 31, finished the 2018 season tied for first in the CFL in receiving touchdowns (11), second in receiving yards (1,423) and receptions (94), and fifth in pass targets (129), despite playing in only 14 games with the Tiger-Cats. He set a new club record for the most 100-plus yard receiving games in a single season with 10, eclipsing Tony Champion’s eight, which held up as the franchise’s all-time high since 1989. The 5-7, 150-pound native of Garner, North Carolina was also named a CFL All-Star for the third time in his career (2014, 2015, 2018) – first as a wide receiver – and an East Division All-Star for the fifth consecutive season (2014-18).

In 85-career CFL games over six seasons (2013-18) with the Tiger-Cats, Banks has 44 career touchdowns scoring five different ways: 29 receiving, four rushing, seven punt returns, one kickoff return, and three missed field goal returns. He has accumulated 266 receptions for 3,654 receiving yards, 50 carries for 287 rushing yards, 270 punt returns for 2,814 yards, 179 kickoff returns for 3,689 yards, and 11 missed field goal returns for 486 yards.

The Kansas State product ranks at or near the top among all-time Ticats franchise leaders in numerous categories, including first in kickoff return yards (3,689), missed field goal return yards (486) and missed field goal return touchdowns (3), second in combined yards (10,930) and punt return touchdowns (7), and third in punt return yards (2,814).

(Ticats.ca)