(Calgary) – Today, the Calgary Stampeder Football Club is pleased to announce the signing of Defensive Lineman Chris White, Anthony Gargiulo and Linebacker Justin Phillips.
After a very successful 2007 CFL Canadian Draft, the Stampeders have signed Linebacker Justin Phillips. Phillips was drafted by the Stampeders in the 1st round (5th overall) at the beginning of May. In 2006, Phillips was named an OUA first-team All-Star and given a spot on the CIS Second Team All-Canadian roster. In his first two seasons with the Golden Hawks Phillips showed a tremendous amount of success and was selected to the OUA 2nd Team All-Star in 2004.
“We are excited to get our first round draft pick under contract,” said General Manager Jim Barker. “We expect him to compete for a roster spot.”
Also in 2006, Phillips recorded 21 tackles (15 solo) and 7.5 sacks in 7 games. Before joining the college level he was named Rookie of the Year for his High School football team and also received best linebacker, best defensive player and two MVP awards.
White played his college football at Cal Poly. In his last season he earned first-team All-Great West Football Conference honors for the second straight year, was named to Football Gazette All-American second team, Associated Press All-American third team and College Sporting News Fabulous Fifty All-American. He was the fourth Mustang in as many years to earn American Football Coaches Association All-American honors. In 2006 he played in 11 games recording 30 tackles (16 solo), 10.5 tackles for a loss (50 yards), 5 quarterback sacks (35 yards), one pass defended and nine quarterback hurries.
“Chris was a highly productive college player at Cal Poly,” said General Manager Jim Barker. “He is another defensive lineman tailor made for the CFL game with great speed and quickness.”
In 2005 White started 13 games, finishing second in the Great West Football Conference and 15th in the nation in sacks. He averaged 0.81 per game and was named a first-team All-Great West Football Conference selection. He recorded 42 total tackles (23 solo), 15 tackles for a loss, 10.5 quarterback sacks (77 yards), five quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He also competed in track and field placing second in the Big West finals in shot put (56-1.75) and 20th in NCAA West Regional.
In 2005 Gargiulo played in 10 games recording 58 tackles (30 solo), 21 tackles for a loss (75 yards), eight quarterback sacks (46 yards), one pass breakup, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
“He was an outstanding player at Dartmouth and impressed our coaches with his athleticism,” said General Manager Jim Baker. “He will compete for one of our defensive end positions.”
In 2004 he was voted to the All-Ivy League and All-New England first teams in 2004 playing in nine games. He would lead the league with 12 sacks (65 yards) and recorded a team-high 14 tackles for loss, despite missing one game due to a medical condition. He received the Dartmouth’s Kenneth T. Young Award as the defensive underclassman who contributed the most to the team and the Gordon P. Bennett Award as the outstanding lineman.