Hall of Fame: The class of 2016
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame will add five new members next season, four players and builder Don McDonald.
The five inductees for the class of 2016 were announced Friday in Winnipeg, the site of the Grey Cup game.
Induction weekend details will be made available at a later date.
DERRELL (MOOKIE) MITCHELL, SB
Teams: Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos
Number of seasons: 11 (1997-2007) Awards: CFL’s most outstanding rookie (1997 with Toronto)
CFL all-star berths: Three (1997, 1998, 2000, all with Toronto)
Career totals: 821 catches for 12,014 yards, 90 touchdowns receiving (94 TDs overall); six seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving; 47 career receiving games with 100 yards or more; and one career game of 200 yards receiving.
Grey Cup rings: Two (1997 with Toronto; 2005 with Edmonton)
Career summary: The Miami native was a sixth-round draft pick of New Orleans in 1994 but released a year later.
As a rookie in 1997, he racked up 1,457 yards in receiving. The following season was even better when Mitchell caught a CFL record 160 catches, a mark that stands today.
RODNEY HARDING, DT
Teams: Toronto, Memphis, Calgary Seasons: 12 (1985 to 1996) Awards: Named Toronto’s most outstanding defensive player (1992)
CFL all-star berths: Two (1992, 1994, both with Toronto)
Career totals: 92 sacks, all-time Toronto leader; 105 overall.
Grey Cup rings: One (1991 with Toronto)
Career summary: The Oklahoma State University football product is in the top 10 all-time for quarterback sacks with 105 with three teams: the Toronto Argonauts, Memphis Mad Dogs and Calgary Stampeders.
JAMES WEST, LB
Teams: Calgary, Winnipeg, B.C. Seasons: 12 (1982 to 1993) Awards: East Division’s most outstanding defensive player (1987)
CFL all-star berths: Two (1987, 1989, with Winnipeg)
Career totals: Fifth all-time on the Blue Bomber tackle list with 400. He had 55 career sacks and 21 interceptions. Played in three Grey Cup games.
Grey Cup rings: Two (1988, 1990 with Bombers)
Career summary: The Texas Southern University product joined the Calgary Stampeders in 1982 and stayed three seasons. He had a tryout with the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals before going to the Blue Bombers for the 1985 season and the linebacker earned the nickname “Wild West” for his ferocious pass rush and relentless energy.
DOUG BROWN, DT
Team: Winnipeg Seasons: 11 (2001 to 2011) Awards: Most outstanding Canadian in CFL, 2001
CFL all-star berths: seven (2001-02;
2006-10)
Career totals: 429 tackles, good for second all-time on Bombers, and 52 sacks, good for third on the team’s all-time quarterback sack list.
Grey Cup appearances: Three (2001,
2007, 2011)
Career summary: The Simon Fraser University product was selected by the Calgary Stampeders in the 1997 CFL draft. However, he opted for a tryout with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. After a season on the practice squad, he caught on with the Washington Redskins for the 1998-99 season. At the end of the 2000 season, his rights were traded to Winnipeg from Calgary and he joined the Bombers in 2001.
DON MCDONALD (BUILDER)
Notable: Inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame as a builder in 2009.