Qwan'Tez Stiggers: CFL Pro Heads To East-West Shrine Bowl

By Chris Lawton

Defensive Back Qwan’Tez Stiggers of the Toronto Argonauts is making an unusual journey, from pro athlete to being invited to the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl game. A journey made even more remarkable by the fact that he has never played a down of college football.

Stiggers did have a scholarship to Lane College, but the effects of the pandemic cancelling a season and family tragedy led to him dropping out. However, he later went on to play in the Fan Controlled Football League, and it was there that he caught they eye of scouts for the Argonauts.

Prior to the season many would have expected Stiggers to miss out. His lack of college and professional experience meant that he was far from assured a place. But he had an excellent camp and made the cut.

From there Stiggers played for a record setting Argonauts team in 2023. That team was stacked with talent – winning multiple player awards. And among those was Stiggers himself. He was nominated for Most Outstanding Rookie. Following a season in which he played in 16 games, had 53 tackles, 5 passes defended and 5 interceptions, he went on to win the award.

Draft Eligibility

Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'9RNCETWcQCdn8TPTtYmn4A',sig:'cFLzM0zmTPvu93VCWBGZhNpJ_-erj24mzFpYo5EHtio=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1652091360',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});

Stiggers is eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft and opted to declare for it. Although the Argos still hold his contract, GM Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons is quoted as saying, “The procedure won’t be led by us, we will be followers here…If he does get drafted, there is a good chance that we may give him the ability to be mobile.”

Argonauts fans would be sad not to see Stiggers back in Double Blue. But Argos, and CFL fans alike will wish him success in his search for a place in the NFL and celebrate him, in the way they have the likes of Alex Singleton, if he makes it.

If that dream does not pan out, then I am sure there is a place for him back in the 3 Down Game. As ever, it will be fascinating to see how it all pans out.

Feature Image Credit: Matt Johnson/3DownNation

CHRIS LAWTON

CFL ANALYST

Chris originally started following the NFL with the ‘first wave’ of fans when it was shown on Channel 4 in the 1980’s. He has been a keen supporter of the Miami Dolphins since 1983. Chris first encountered the CFL in 2016 and instantly fell in love with the Canadian game. He has been writing about the CFL 2017. Chris has a degree in history, postgraduate degree in librarianship and can be found on twitter as @CFLfanUK

5/5