The Calgary Stampeders have shored up their defensive line.
On Saturday, the CFL club announced the signing of former West Division all-star Mike Moore, the son of a former Stampeders quarterback.
“I’m grateful to the Stampeders for giving me this chance to continue my football career,” said Moore, a native of Aurora, Colo. “I’m really looking forward to being a part of the team and getting the season started.”
Moore, 29, had 31 tackles, six sacks and a forced fumble for the Montreal Alouettes last season.
The 6-foot-4, 269-lb. American previously spent four years in Edmonton from (2017-2021) and played for the Ottawa Redblacks in 2016.
The former NCAA Virginia Cavaliers standout was a West Division all-star in 2019 with the Edmonton Elks after recording a career-best nine sacks.
In 66 career CFL regular-season games, Moore has posted 101 tackles — including eight for losses — 23 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one blocked kick. He has also dressed for four playoff contests and recorded nine tackles and a pair of sacks.
Moore’s father Shawn is a former professional QB, whose career included a stint with the Stampeders in 1995. The elder Moore also played for the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, as well as with the NFL’s Denver Broncos.
Both father and son played at the University of Virginia. Mike Moore played 47 games over four seasons with the Cavaliers, seeing action both on the defensive line and at linebacker. He accumulated 108 tackles — including 24 for losses, 11 sacks, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and five passes defended.
The inking of Moore follows another d-line addition earlier in the week, when the Stamps signed another American in Ronnie Thomas.
Thomas saw action both at defensive end and linebacker during his collegiate career with the NCAA Division 1’s Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils. He set the school’s single-season record for sacks by a linebacker with 10.5 in 2022, while earning first-team all-Southwestern Athletic Conference honours. In 2021, he was second-team all-SWAC at defensive line.
In 24 games over three seasons for the Delta Devils, the 6-foot, 250-lb. native of Jackson, Miss., accumulated 81 tackles — including 27 tackles for losses — 18 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three passes defended. Prior to enrolling at Mississippi Valley State, he played 14 games over two seasons (2018-19) at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss., and recorded 47 tackles — including 14 losses — 6.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
Moore is just 22 years old.
Also this week, the Stampeders signed American offensive lineman Brandon Murphy.
The 27-year-old Memphis native spent the final month of the 2022 season on the Stampeders’ practice roster. He then signed with the XFL’s Orlando Guardians in February. Murphy previously spent time with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and with the Spring League’s Sea Lions.
In college, Murphy transferred to the NCAA’s Memphis Tigers in 2018 and joined the football team as a defensive lineman after playing basketball for four seasons with the NCAA’s Indiana State Sycamores.
Murphy stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 328 lb.
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