Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Wednesday that the football club has signed international All-Star linebacker Simoni Lawrence to a contract extension through the 2018 CFL season.
Lawrence, 27, was named a CFL Divisional All-Star for the third consecutive season in 2016. He started 17 games for the Tiger-Cats, recording a team-high 89 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, five tackles for loss, one interception returned for a touchdown, four pass knock downs, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The 6-1, 228-pound native of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, finished the season ranked fourth in CFL defensive tackles and was named the Shaw CFL Top Performer for Week One.
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In 2015, Lawrence was named the East Division’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player and a CFL All-Star and for the first time in his career. The University of Minnesota product has appeared in 78-career CFL games (63 starts) with the Edmonton Eskimos (2012) and Tiger-Cats (2013-16), registering 314 defensive tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback sacks, eight interceptions, eight forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, 11 pass knock downs and 16 special teams tackles. He has also seen action in nine playoff games, including two Grey Cup appearances in 2013 and 2014 with Hamilton.
Lawrence was originally acquired by the Tiger-Cats on February 5, 2013 from the Eskimos along with quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and offensive lineman Greg Wojt in exchange for linebacker Nathan Kanya and offensive lineman Carson Rockhill. Throughout his pro career, he has also spent time with five NFL teams, including the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings.
