Toronto Argonauts quarterback Ricky Ray (right) is sacked by Edmonton Eskimos defensive end Kwaku Boateng during the first half of CFL football action in Toronto on Saturday, September 16, 2017. Canadian defensive lineman Kwaku Boateng signed a contract extension through the 2020 season with the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Republished February 01, 2019 - 12:51 PM
Original Publication Date February 01, 2019 - 9:31 AM
Canadian defensive lineman Kwaku Boateng signed a contract extension through the 2020 season with the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday.
Boateng was scheduled to become a free agent Feb. 12.
The six-foot-two, 257-pound Boateng made 16 starts last season, registering 26 tackles and nine sacks. Boateng, 23, a native of Ghana who grew up in Milton, Ont., is entering his third season with the Eskimos and has accumulated 48 tackles, 13 sacks and a forced fumble in 34 career CFL games.
The Eskimos also signed Canadian linebacker Blair Smith through the 2020 season. The Mississauga, Ont., native appeared in 12 games last season, registering seven tackles, 13 special-teams tackles and an interception.
TICATS EXTEND DUO
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have re-signed American defensive tackle Nikita Whitlock and Canadian defensive tackle Justin Vaughn. Whitlock's deal is for two years, while Vaughn's is for one.
Whitlock has appeared in 28 games for the Ticats over the past two seasons, registering 33 defensive tackles, 18 special teams tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble
Vaughn, a Hamilton native, has played in 24 games for the Ticats over the past two years, recording 15 defensive tackles and two sacks.
BOMBERS ADD TWO
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed running back Jalen Simmons and defensive back Mykkele Thompson, both Americans.
Simmons ran for 2,618 yards and 17 TDs in 44 career games at South Carolina State. In 2016, he signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent and has also spent time with the San Diego Chargers, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals.
Thompson was a 2015 fifth-round pick of the Giants following his collegiate career at Texas. He also spent time with the New Orleans Saints.
WILLIAMS BACK WITH STAMPS
The Calgary Stampeders have re-signed starting centre Ucambre Williams.
Since signing with the Stamps in 2016, Williams has appeared in 36 regular-season games and five playoff contests.
The American was part of an offensive line that tied for fewest sacks allowed in the CFL last season.
"Ucambre has been one of the cornerstones of our offensive line over the past two seasons and I'm pleased he has chosen to remain in Calgary," Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel said in a statement.
"His reliability has been an important part of our success on offence and his versatility allows him to be a candidate to start at centre or tackle."
REDBLACKS RE-SIGN PAIR
The Ottawa Redblacks signed Canadian offensive lineman Jason Lauzon-Seguin and American defensive lineman Avery Ellis to contract extensions. Lauzon-Seguin's deal covers two years while Ellis's contract is for one season.
The six-foot-four, 300-pound Lauzon-Seguin is entering his fourth season with Ottawa. The former Laval star has appeared in two Grey Cup games with the Redblacks, winning in 2016 as a rookie.
Ellis appeared in nine games last season, registering 15 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. He had 28 tackles and six sacks as a rookie in 2017.
ARGOS MAKE DEALS WITH TWO
The Toronto Argonauts have re-signed international defensive back Abdul Kanneh and Canadian offensive lineman DJ Sackey.
Toronto acquired Kanneh last off-season in a deal with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was limited to eight games because of injury. Kanneh was a CFL all-star with Ottawa in 2015 and 2016.
Sackey was the Argos' second-round pick in the 2016 draft out of the University of Toronto. The Mississauga, Ont., native played in six games in 2016 and two last year.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2019