Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
HAMILTON — The Ticats have locked up the reigning East Division Most Outstanding Defensive Player, announcing Tuesday a contract extension with linebacker Simoni Lawrence.
The always outspoken Lawrence has become the face of the Ticats’ defence and one of the premier players in the CFL during his time in Hamilton, earning his first CFL All-Star nod in 2015 while coming off back to back East Division All-Star campaigns.
“Simoni is an outstanding player with a great work ethic and love for the game that is infectious to everyone around him,” said Tiger-Cats vice president of football operations and head coach Kent Austin. “He embodies the qualities we look for in a football player and we’re very pleased he will be a Tiger-Cat through 2017.”
Now 27, the 6-foot-1, 228-pound defender is playing the best football of his career, last season setting career highs in defensive tackles (78), sacks (five) and games played (18). Lawrence has missed only 11 games over his first four seasons in the league and over the last three years has averaged 4.3 tackles per game.
RELATED: Recapping a busy day one of camp
A Minnesota graduate, Lawrence was originally acquired by the Ticats in a trade with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2013 along with quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and offensive lineman Greg Wojt in exchange for linebacker Nathan Kanya. He started 11 of the 12 games he played in during his first season with the Ticats, finishing third on the team in tackles (52) while leading the defence in pass knockdowns (six), interceptions (three) and forced fumbles (three).
That year Lawrence had a total of 17 tackles over the span of three playoff games, including a Grey Cup loss to Saskatchewan — the first of two Grey Cup Championships Lawrence would end up playing in.
Lawrence was born on Feb. 1, 1989 in Upper Darby, Penn. and played running back at Upper Darby High School. In two seasons with Minnesota he served as a defensive co-captain and recorded 151 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss, two interceptions and six quarterback sack.
After first arriving in the CFL in 2012 with the Eskimos and becoming a Ticat in 2013, Lawrence pursued NFL interests in 2014 before landing back with the Ticats in time for his third season in the league, in which he tied for fifth in the CFL in defensive tackles and was nominated as the Ticats’ Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
He is on the field as the Ticats continue their 2016 training camp, which kicked off Sunday.
