Stamps re-sign defensive stalwarts
There’s going to be competition at weakside linebacker this year for the Calgary Stampeders.
On Monday, the Stamps announced that they signed Maleki Harris to a new contract, ensuring they’ll have quality depth at a position where Harris and Jameer Thurman both made an impact last year.
The 26-year-old Harris started the Stamps’ first six games of the 2017 season at the position alongside CFL most outstanding defensive player Alex Singleton.
Harris proved to be a reliable starter during those half-dozen games, recording 21 defensive tackles, two tackles for a loss and a sack, while also recovering a fumble and returning it 46 yards for a touchdown and running an interception back 27 yards for a score.
When a wrist injury took him out of the lineup, Thurman took over and proved to be an equally dominant presence, earning rookieof-the-year consideration along the away.
The Stamps also re-signed Deron Mayo earlier this offseason and if Mayo can return to form after missing last season due to a knee injury, the Stampeders will have at least three players capable of playing big minutes next to Singleton.
“Maleki was progressing very well for us before getting hurt and was making important contributions to our defence,” Stamps president/GM John Hufnagel said in a press release. “He’s worked hard to get healthy again and I look forward to seeing him pick up where he left off.”
Harris wasn’t the only player to put pen to paper and commit to 2018 with the Stamps on Monday, as the team also announced that it had signed international defensive back and kick-returner Troy Stoudermire.
The versatile Dallas native has spent time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos and has seen action as a DB, returner and at receiver.
It’s not entirely clear how the Stamps intend to use Stoudermire, but with the departure of running back Jerome Messam, it seems likely that last year’s primary returner Roy Finch will be spending more time on offence. That could mean Stoudermire will provide another option at returner when Finch is taking on a heavy load offensively.