Eskimos sign Canadian LB DJ Lalama

Edmonton has signed Canadian linebacker DJ Lalama to a two-year deal, per sources.

After being drafted with the final selection in the 2016 CFL Draft and playing in one pre-season game, he went back to the University of Manitoba to work on his MBA and play his final season for the Bisons. Lalama was added to the Eskimos negotiation list on January 25, 2017 to ensure the team retained exclusive rights.

The 24-year-old is coming off a 2016 USports season where he earned the President’s Trophy as the country’s best stand-up defensive player and first-team All-Canadian accolades. Lalama led all Canadian university defenders with a Bisons record 72.5 tackles while adding seven pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack.