Stampders.com Staff
CALGARY — Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce that non-import offensive linemen John Bender and J’Michael Deane have signed contracts with the club. As per team policy, terms of the agreements were not disclosed.
The Stampeders chose both players in the third round of the 2010 CFL Canadian Draft, taking Bender with the 17th pick and Deane with the 21st selection.
“I’m pleased that both players came to the conclusion to join the Stampeders,” said Hufnagel. “They will be here at the start of training camp, which will give them the best opportunity to win a spot on the team.”
The signings mean all six players from Calgary’s 2010 draft class are under contract with the Stampeders Deane and Bender join kicker Rob Maver, defensive back Taurean Allen, linebacker Karl McCartney and offensive lineman Oamo Culbreath on the roster.
Bender, six-foot-eight and 325 lbs, is a product of Cochrane High School. He has spent the last four seasons playing at the University of Nevada with the Wolf Pack. In 2010, Bender was named to the all-Western Athletic Conference first team.
Deane, six-foot-five and 312 lbs, is a product of Newtonbrook Secondary School in North York, Ont. In his senior season at Michigan State, Deane started all 13 games at righttackle and was twice named the team’s offensive lineman of the week.
In other roster moves, non-import linebacker Mike Cornell and import quarterback Daryll Clark have been released.
