Calgary Stampeders middle linebacker Jameer Thurman has been named one of the Canadian Football League’s top performers for the month of September.

For the purposes of award voting, the Stamps’ Oct. 1 game against Toronto was considered part of the September period.

Over the past five games, Thurman was a central figure in a defence that allowed an average of just 18.0 points and helped Calgary post a 4-1 record. The fourth-year player from Indiana State led the team with 31 defensive tackles during the period and he also had three tackles for loss and one interception. The pick came in Week 17 against Toronto as Thurman and the Stamps held the East Division-leading Argonauts to a pair of rouges in a 29-2 win.

Thurman, Calgary’s defensive captain, started the month off in style, recording 10 tackles and earning CFL top-performer-of-the-week honours in a Labour Day Classic victory over the Edmonton Elks.

Despite missing three August games with a knee injury, Thurman leads all CFL linebackers this season with three interceptions and he’s in the league’s top 10 with 61 defensive tackles. He also has four tackles for loss, one special-teams tackle, one forced fumble and one knockdown.