Former Roughrider leading Receiver Elijah Thurmon and CFL leader on Special Teams Walter Spencer join Red and White! (Calgary) – Today, the Calgary Stampeder Football Club is pleased to announce the free agent signing of Receiver Elijah Thurmon and Linebacker Walter Spencer.
“Thurmon gives us an experienced proven receiver who has a history with our starting quarterback,” said General Manager Jim Barker. “We feel his addition will augment our current receiving core very well.”
Thurmon led the Saskatchewan Roughriders in receiving yards this past season with 88 receptions for 1,048 yards. He dominated the field for the Green and White with 385 more yards then the Riders next receiver. His seven touchdowns led the entire Roughriders team in 2005.
“Looking from the outside this past season the Stampeders became a more dominant team as the season progressed,” commented Elijah Thurmon. “I'm very happy to be joining the Stampeder organization and looking to help out in any way that I can.”
“We identified Spencer as one of the top special team's players in the CFL,” said General Manager Jim Barker.” In addition we believe he can compete for playing time as an outside linebacker.”
Spencer finished the season tied for first in the CFL with 29 special team tackles. During the season Spencer created havoc all over the field recording back to back games each with four special teams tackles.
“I'm eager to be joining a first class organization in the Calgary Stampeders with great leaders on both sides of the football,” commented Walter Spencer. “I look forward to contributing to the team in various phases and believe this defensive system fits my style of play.
Here is a closer look at the newest Stampeders:
Elijah Thurmon Receiver College: Howard HT: 6'3” WT: 205 lbs Birthdate: August 2, 1978 Birthplace: Heidelberg, Germany CFL Experience: Entering 3rd Season Stampeder Experience: Entering 1st Season Import
Career Has played in 31 regular season CFL games Career-High Single season receptions – 88, Single Season receiving yards – 1,048, Longest reception – 60, Touchdowns in a season – 7 Acquired Signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2000–attended Oakland Raiders training camp in 2002–signed as a free agent later that same year with the Chicago Bears–in 2003 Thurman was allocated to NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder in 2003–signed as a free agent in February 2004 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders–signed with the Calgary Stampeders on March 27, 2006 as a free agent.
2005 Thurmon had a career year with the Saskatchewan Roughriders playing and starting all 18 regular season games including the Eastern Semi-Final vs the Montreal Alouettes. He led the team in receptions (88), yards (1,048), longest reception (60), touchdowns (7) and scoring (44). In 2005 Elijah was by far the Roughriders most consistent receiver averaging 58 yards a game. The green and white's second leading receiver was 385 yards behind Thurman. His biggest game of the season came against the Argonauts on September 23rd. He would record seven receptions in the game for 108 yards. He also had a multiple touchdown game the following week against B.C., recording 6 receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns. The week following the B.C. match-up Thurman continued his hot streak recording a single season high in receptions with nine. Those receptions resulted in 93 yards and one touchdown. In the Eastern Final vs Montreal Thurmon recorded four receptions for 26 yards. 2004 Started 13 regular season games at wide receiver–also started in Western Division Final–made CFL and Rider debut in week 1–had first career CFL catch in week 1 against Toronto–led team with six catches for 91 yards and a touchdown in week 3–had first CFL touchdown reception in week 3..had team high six catches for 135 yards in week 7–had team high five catches for 102 yards and a touchdown in week 8–led team with seven catches for 53 yards in week 11–had three catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns in West Division Final. 2003 Started 10 games at wide receiver for NFL's Europe's Berlin Thunder–led team with 37 receptions for 412 yards and five touchdowns. 2002 Spent the season on the Oakland Raiders practice roster 2001 Spent the season on the Philadelphia Eagles practice roster COLLEGE Spent four seasons at Howard University–set single-season school records as a senior with 84 receptions and 1,376 receiving yards–also set a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record for his receiving yardage total and ranked second in Division I-AA with his reception total to earn first-team Associated Press I-AA all-America honors and first team all-MEAC accolades–led team in receiving as a junior with 55 catches for 886 yards and five touchdowns. NOTEWORTHY Spends his off-season in Maryland–has a keen interest in broadcasting and communications–played high school basketball.

Walter Spencer Linebacker College: Indianapolis HT: 5'10” WT: 204 lbs Birthdate: November 11, 1978 Birthplace: Detroit, MI CFL Experience: Entering 3rd Season Stampeder Experience: Entering 1st Season Canadian
Career Has played in 34 regular season CFL games Career-High Single season special team tackles – 29 Acquired Originally drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in third round (23rd overall) of the 2004 Canadian College Draft–played for the Roughriders in 2004 and 2005–signed by the Stampeders as a free agent on March 15, 2006.
2005 Dressed in 17 regular season games including the Eastern Division Semi-Final –finished the season tied for first in the CFL with 29 special team tackles–during mid-season Spencer created havoc all over the field recording back to back games with four special teams tackles–both games against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers–He also recorded one defensive tackle during regular season action and one special team tackle in the Eastern Semi-Final. 2004 Dressed in 17 regular season games as backup defensive back–also dressed in western Semi-Final and Western Final–made CFL and Rider debut in week 2–had four special teams tackles in week 6–had two special teams tackles in weeks 7 and 8–had one defensive tackle and two special teams tackles in week 9–had three special teams tackles in week 13–had three special teams tackles in weeks 15 and 17–led team and was second in CFL with 27 special teams tackles–had two special teams tackles in West Division Semi-Final. COLLEGE Played three seasons at Indianapolis University–started all 11 games at strong safety in senior season…picked up 106 defensive tackles, two quarterback sacks, and one interception in final year. NOTEWORTHY Walter spends his off-season in Detroit–received his B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Indianapolis–was on the school's honor roll for four straight years.