Defensive tackle Laurent becomes four-time Divisional All-Star
The Canadian Football League unveiled Wednesday the 2016 East and West Division All-Stars, which includes Tiger-Cats defensive tackle Ted Laurent, defensive end John Chick, linebacker Simoni Lawrence, defensive back Emanuel Davis, running back C.J. Gable, offensive lineman Ryan Bomben, kicker/punter Brett Maher, and wide receiver/kick returner Brandon Banks.
Laurent, who is now a four-time divisional all-star (2012-Edmonton, 2014, 2015, 2016), earned the honours for the third consecutive season along with teammates Lawrence and Banks. Chick also became a three-time divisional all-star having previously been named a West Division All-Star in 2009 and 2014 with Saskatchewan. Bomben and Davis were each named an East Division All-star for the second consecutive season, while Gable also earned his second selection as a Ticat with the other coming in 2013. Maher, voted in as a punter, took home the honours for the first time in his career.
Laurent, 28, played 17 games, starting 16 times at defensive tackle for the Tiger-Cats this season. The 6-1, 303-pound native of Powder Springs, Georgia, recorded 26 defensive tackles, three tackles for loss, eight quarterback sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Chick, 33, started all 18 games for the Tiger-Cats at defensive end this season, registering 40 defensive tackles, four tackles for loss, 14 quarterback sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five pass knock downs. The 6-4, 253-pound native of Gillette, Wyoming, finished the 2016 season ranked second in CFL sacks (14), tied for third in forced fumbles (4) and was named a Shaw CFL Top Performer (2nd Place) for Week 18.
Lawrence, 27, started 17 games for the Tiger-Cats at linebacker this season, recording a team-high 89 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, five tackles for loss, one interception returned for a touchdown, four pass knock downs, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The 6-1, 228-pound native of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, finished the season ranked fourth in CFL defensive tackles with 89 and was named the Shaw CFL Top Performer for Week One.
Davis, 27, started 17 games at defensive back and safety for the Tiger-Cats this season, registering 55 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, two tackles for loss, five interceptions, seven pass knock downs, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. The 5-11, 182-pound native of Manteo, North Carolina, finished the season ranked third in CFL interceptions, was tied for fourth in fumble recoveries and was named a Shaw CFL Top Performer (3rd place) for Week 13.
Gable, 29, started 15 games at running back for the Tiger-Cats this season, registering 126 carries for 693 yards with three touchdowns, and 39 receptions for 405 yards and a receiving touchdown. The 6-0, 215-pound native of Sylmar, California, finished the season ranked sixth in CFL rushing yards.
Bomben, 29, started all 18 games for the Tiger-Cats at right guard in 2016. The 6-4, 295-pound native of Burlington, Ontario, suited up in his 100th career CFL game on October 21 at Ottawa. Last season, Bomben signed a three-year contract extension with the Tiger-Cats on October 15, 2015.
Maher, 26, appeared in all 18 games for Tiger-Cats this season as the team’s punter and placekicker. The 6-1, 183-pound native of Kearney, Nebraska, recorded 97 punts for 3,363 yards (45.9 avg.) with three punt singles. The University of Nebraska product finished the season ranked seventh in CFL punting yards. Maher, who also serves as the Tiger-Cats place kicker, registered 41 field goals on 50 attempts (82%), including six-of-seven successful attempts of over 50 yards.
Banks, 28, played 16 games for the Tiger-Cats this season and lead the CFL with three total kick return touchdowns. The 5-7, 157-pound native of Garner, North Carolina, recorded 61 punt returns for 588 yards with one touchdown, 55 kickoff returns for 1,245 yards, and three missed field goals for 249 yards with two touchdowns. Banks finished the season ranked first in the league in missed field goal return yards, second in kickoff return yards and fifth in punt return yards. The Kansas State product became the Tiger-Cats all-time kickoff return yardage leader (3,047) on November 5 versus Montreal, surpassing Wally Zatylny’s previous record of 3,012 yards.