Canadian DL Derek Wiggan signs contract extension with Stamps

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

The Calgary Stampeders have signed national defensive lineman Derek Wiggan to a two-year contract that runs through the 2021 season.

Wiggan was a pending free agent.

The 27-year-old Toronto native is coming off a season in which he established career highs with 18 games started, 35 tackles and four sacks. The five-year veteran added two special teams tackles and one knockdown. Wiggan also started the Western Semi-Final and recorded one tackle.

“Derek really raised his game last season and he was a strength for us in the middle of the defensive line. I’m very pleased to have him back and I’m happy that he has chosen to make this commitment to the organization,” Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel said in a statement.

For his career, the Queen’s University product has played 78 regular season games and amassed 90 defensive tackles including five tackles for loss, six special teams tackles, 12 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and two knockdowns. Wiggan was a fourth round selection, 34th overall by the Stamps in the 2014 CFL draft and joined the team in 2015.

“I see Calgary as my second home. Calgary is the team that drafted me in the fourth round and they stuck by me even though I wasn’t very highly regarded coming out of university. I’m a big loyalty guy and I want to return the loyalty the team has shown me. I didn’t want to go anywhere else,” Wiggan said.

“We have a good thing going here and we’ve been in the playoffs every year that I’ve been here. This is a great situation for me and I just want to keep it going.”