Daryl Stephenson
Encyclopedia
Daryl Stephenson is a professional Canadian football
running back
for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
of the Canadian Football League
. He was originally drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
in 2008
and played with that franchise for three seasons. He played collegiately for the University of Windsor
Lancers
.
Football Rookie of the Year.
In 2005, Stephenson rushed for 1,306 yards and 12 touchdowns en route to capturing his first CIS Rushing Title. In the process, he was named an CIS First Team All-Canadian and an OUA First Team All-Star.
In 2006, he was awarded the Hec Crighton Trophy as the Canadian University Football Player of the Year. Stephenson also captured his second straight CIS rushing title with 1,140 yards, helping the Lancer Football squad to a 6–2 record and a top ten ranking in Canada. He was also named the OUA Most Outstanding Player, a CIS First Team All-Canadian and an OUA First Team All-Star. He also made history as he became the first player in CIS history to rush for 1,000 yards in 3 straight seasons (2004 to 2006).
After his first four seasons, his 4,402 career rushing yards was an OUA record and placed him third all-time in Canadian University Football history.
In 2007, Stephenson played in parts of only four games due to injuries and still ranked fifth in the province and eighth in the nation with a rushing total of 764 yards. Stephenson scored a total of four touchdowns that season with the Windsor Lancers
.
Stephenson topped all the running backs at the 2008 CFL Evaluation Camp with a 37 inch vertical jump.
On September 13, 2008, Stephenson became the all-time leading rusher in CIS history by surpassing Dominic Zagari of the University of Manitoba
's record of 4738 yards set from 1991–95. He also became the first running back in Canadian University History to rush for over 5,000 yards in a career. His final collegiate total sits at 5,163 rushing yards. He also broke the record for the most carries in OUA history. His average yards per carry did not break any record.
On April 1, 2009, Stephenson had his #24 jersey retired by the University of Windsor in recognition of his outstanding collegiate career.
by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
. He was released at the end of Winnipeg's training camp to play his final year of eligibility with the University of Windsor but on October 21, 2008, quickly re-signed by the Blue Bombers following Windsor's elimination from the 2008 CIS football season
playoffs. He rejoined the Blue Bombers immediately and made his debut on October 26 against the Montreal Alouettes
.
Stephenson was signed as a free agent
by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
on February 17, 2011.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was originally drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
in 2008
2008 CFL Draft
The 2008 CFL Draft took place on April 30, 2008. 48 players were chosen from among 752 eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA....
and played with that franchise for three seasons. He played collegiately for the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
Lancers
Windsor Lancers
The Windsor Lancers are the varsity athletic teams that represent the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.The Lancers compete in Ontario University Athletics as part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport ....
.
College
A tailback at 230 pounds with 4.7 speed in the 40-yard dash, Stephenson established himself as a leading rusher in Canadian University Football. In his very first game in the CIS and on his very first carry, Stephenson took a hand off 49 yards up the middle and scored a touchdown in the Lancers season opening 30–28 victory over Queen's. That year (2004), Stephenson rushed for 1,192 yards to establish a new CIS rookie rushing record and was named the Norm Marshall Trophy winner as the OUAOntario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
Football Rookie of the Year.
In 2005, Stephenson rushed for 1,306 yards and 12 touchdowns en route to capturing his first CIS Rushing Title. In the process, he was named an CIS First Team All-Canadian and an OUA First Team All-Star.
In 2006, he was awarded the Hec Crighton Trophy as the Canadian University Football Player of the Year. Stephenson also captured his second straight CIS rushing title with 1,140 yards, helping the Lancer Football squad to a 6–2 record and a top ten ranking in Canada. He was also named the OUA Most Outstanding Player, a CIS First Team All-Canadian and an OUA First Team All-Star. He also made history as he became the first player in CIS history to rush for 1,000 yards in 3 straight seasons (2004 to 2006).
After his first four seasons, his 4,402 career rushing yards was an OUA record and placed him third all-time in Canadian University Football history.
In 2007, Stephenson played in parts of only four games due to injuries and still ranked fifth in the province and eighth in the nation with a rushing total of 764 yards. Stephenson scored a total of four touchdowns that season with the Windsor Lancers
Windsor Lancers
The Windsor Lancers are the varsity athletic teams that represent the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.The Lancers compete in Ontario University Athletics as part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport ....
.
Stephenson topped all the running backs at the 2008 CFL Evaluation Camp with a 37 inch vertical jump.
On September 13, 2008, Stephenson became the all-time leading rusher in CIS history by surpassing Dominic Zagari of the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
's record of 4738 yards set from 1991–95. He also became the first running back in Canadian University History to rush for over 5,000 yards in a career. His final collegiate total sits at 5,163 rushing yards. He also broke the record for the most carries in OUA history. His average yards per carry did not break any record.
On April 1, 2009, Stephenson had his #24 jersey retired by the University of Windsor in recognition of his outstanding collegiate career.
Professional career
Stephenson was drafted in the third round (24th overall) in the 2008 CFL Draft2008 CFL Draft
The 2008 CFL Draft took place on April 30, 2008. 48 players were chosen from among 752 eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA....
by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
. He was released at the end of Winnipeg's training camp to play his final year of eligibility with the University of Windsor but on October 21, 2008, quickly re-signed by the Blue Bombers following Windsor's elimination from the 2008 CIS football season
2008 CIS football season
The 2008 CIS football season began on August 23, 2008, and concluded with the 44th Vanier Cup national championship on November 22 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, with the Laval Rouge et Or winning their fifth championship...
playoffs. He rejoined the Blue Bombers immediately and made his debut on October 26 against the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
.
Stephenson was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
on February 17, 2011.