 Stiggers with the Argonauts in 2023 | |||||||
| No. 42 – Toronto Argonauts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive back | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | January 8, 2002 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 197 lb (89 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Atlanta (GA) B.E.S.T. | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||
| CFL status: | American | ||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career CFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at CFL.ca | |||||||
Qwan'tez London Stiggers (born January 8, 2002) is an American football defensive back for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Unlike most professional football players from the United States, Stiggers did not play college football.
Early life
Stiggers grew up in a family of 13 children and attended The B.E.S.T. Academy high school in Atlanta where he played American football, basketball, and baseball.[1] One of his brothers was almost left as a quadriplegic after a spinal cord accident playing football.[2] Stiggers' father was involved in a serious car accident on February 14, 2020, and later died on September 19, 2020, while Stiggers was a brand-new freshman at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee; his father's death caused him to enter into a significant depression that resulted in him dropping out despite being on a scholarship.[3]
Professional career
Fan Controlled Football
At the urging of his mother, Stiggers tried out for and signed with Fan Controlled Football (FCF), a livestreaming indoor American football league.[3] He played during the 2022 FCF season and caught the attention of former Toronto Argonauts offensive coordinator Josh Jenkins, who suggested he should try out for the Canadian Football League.[4][2]
Toronto Argonauts
Stiggers signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on January 4, 2023, and attended the team's rookie camp at the University of Guelph later that May.[1][3] While many expected him to be cut during the preseason due to his lack of college or professional experience, Stiggers made the team's initial regular season roster and also became a regular starter for Argonauts during his rookie 2023 CFL season.[3][5] He played in 16 regular season games where he had 53 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, and five interceptions.[6] By the end of the year, he was chosen as the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie and as a CFL East All-Star, as well as selected to attend the 2024 East–West Shrine Bowl prior to the 2024 NFL draft.[6][7][8]
References
- ^ a b "Argonauts sign three, including 20-year-old FCF standout Qwan'tez Stiggers". 3DownNation. January 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Zwolinski, Mark (May 24, 2023). "Argos hopeful trying to make one team to help support another — his family". Toronto Star.
- ^ a b c d O'Leary, Chris (July 28, 2023). "O'Leary: Enjoy Argos Qwan'tez Stiggers While You Can". CFL.ca.
- ^ "Fan Controlled Football: Youngest player talks about family support". 11Alive. May 8, 2022.
- ^ Zwolinski, Mark (October 14, 2023). "The Argos took a flyer on Qwan'tez Stiggers. Now he might be rookie of the year. Here's why". Toronto Star.
- ^ a b "Qwan'tez Stiggers takes home Most Outstanding Rookie honours". Canadian Football League. November 16, 2023.
- ^ Ambrose, Dominic (January 27, 2024). "Player spotlight: Qwan'tez Stiggers unorthodox journey to the Shrine Bowl". WithTheFirstPick.com. Fansided.
- ^ Murray, Jack (January 27, 2024). "Qwan'tez Stiggers: Being NFL Draftee Without CFB Reps Wouldn't be a 'Fairy Tale'". bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report.
External links
This page was last edited on 19 March 2024, at 20:09