The Hamilton Spectator

CFL’s defending most outstandin­g player re-signs with Ticats

Seven members of coaching staff returning for another season

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The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have re-signed 2019 CFL most outstandin­g player Brandon Banks. The American wide receiver will return for his eighth season with the club in 2021.

Banks earned his fourth CFL all-star selection in 2019 after leading the CFL in receptions (112), yards (1,550), touchdowns (13) and targets (158) in 16 games. The five-foot-seven, 150-pound Banks set a Ticats record in receptions, while helping the club finish with a franchise-best 15-3 record.

In 101 career CFL games over seven seasons with the TigerCats, Banks has 60 touchdowns, scoring five different ways: 42 receiving, five rushing, seven punt returns, one kickoff return, and five missed field goal returns. He has accumulate­d 378 receptions for 5,204 receiving yards, 63 carries for 343 rushing yards, 283 punt returns for 2,954 yards, 179 kickoff returns for 3,689 yards, and 16 missed field goal returns for 769 yards.

“Brandon’s body of work speaks for itself. He brings consistent production and excitement to the CFL, and has proven over the past three seasons that he is much more than the most dynamic returner,” Ticats coach Orlondo Steinauer said in a statement. “He has grown tremendous­ly as a person and honed his craft immensely as a wide receiver. Because of his competitiv­e nature and desire to work daily in practice, we believe he will continue to be a premier weapon that demands great respect week in and week out.”

The Ticats also announced their 2021 coaching staff Friday, and seven of Steinauer’s assistants from the 2019 season are set to return.

Linebacker­s coach Robin Ross, defensive line coach Randy Melvin, defensive backs coach and special teams assistant Craig Butler and wide receivers coach Jarryd Baines are among those returning from the 2019 staff. They will join Steinauer, offensive co-ordinator and quarterbac­ks coach Tommy Condell, defensive coordinato­r Mark Washington and special teams co-ordinator Jeff Reinebold, who signed contract extensions last month.

Mike Gibson, who joined the Ticats in 2020, was named offensive line coach.

 ?? PETER POWER CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO ?? Tiger-Cats wide receiver Brandon Banks, middle, celebrates his touchdown during 2019 playoff action against Edmonton. Banks will return for his eighth season with the club in 2021.
PETER POWER CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO Tiger-Cats wide receiver Brandon Banks, middle, celebrates his touchdown during 2019 playoff action against Edmonton. Banks will return for his eighth season with the club in 2021.

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