Qwan'tez Stiggers
refer to caption
Stiggers with the Argonauts in 2023
No. 42 – Toronto Argonauts
Position:Defensive back
Personal information
Born: (2002-01-08) January 8, 2002
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:Atlanta (GA) B.E.S.T.
College:None
Undrafted:2023
Career history
Roster status:Active
CFL status:American
Career highlights and awards
Career CFL statistics
Games played:16
Tackles:56
Interceptions:5
Player stats at CFL.ca

Qwan'tez London Stiggers (born January 8, 2002) is a gridiron football defensive back for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Unlike most professional gridiron football players from the United States, Stiggers did not play college football.

Early life

Stiggers grew up in a family of 13 children and attended The B.E.S.T. Academy high school in Atlanta where he played American football, basketball, and baseball.[1] One of his brothers was left as a quadriplegic after a spinal cord accident playing football.[2] Stiggers' father was involved in a serious car accident on February 14, 2020, and later died on September 19, 2020, while Stiggers was brand-new freshman at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee; his father's death caused him to enter into a significant depression that resulted in him dropping out despite being on a scholarship.[3]

Professional career

Fan Controlled Football

At the urging of his mother, Stiggers tried out for and signed with Fan Controlled Football (FCF), a livestreaming indoor American football league.[3] He played during the 2022 FCF season and caught the attention of former Toronto Argonauts offensive coordinator Josh Jenkins, who suggested he should try out for the Canadian Football League.[4][2]

Toronto Argonauts

Stiggers signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in January 2023 and attended the team's rookie camp at the University of Guelph later that May.[1][3] While many expected him to be cut during the preseason due to his lack of college or professional experience, Stiggers made the team's initial regular season roster and also became a regular starter for Argonauts during his rookie 2023 CFL season.[3][5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Argonauts sign three, including 20-year-old FCF standout Qwan'tez Stiggers". 3DownNation. January 4, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Zwolinski, Mark (May 24, 2023). "Argos hopeful trying to make one team to help support another — his family". Toronto Star.
  3. 1 2 3 4 O'Leary, Chris (July 28, 2023). "O'Leary: Enjoy Argos Qwan'tez Stiggers While You Can". CFL.ca.
  4. ↑ "Fan Controlled Football: Youngest player talks about family support". 11Alive. May 8, 2022.
  5. ↑ Zwolinski, Mark (October 14, 2023). "The Argos took a flyer on Qwan'tez Stiggers. Now he might be rookie of the year. Here's why". Toronto Star.
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