Bombers sign linebacker duo
March 17, 2005 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers News Release
WINNIPEG, MB - The Football Club signed linebackers Ryland Wickman and Willie Fells. Wickman (Import, 5-10, 225, California-Sacramento '99
DOB: Oct. 30, 1975 in Silver Springs, FL) and Fells (Import, 6-1, 230, Purdue '99
DOB: July 27, 1976 in Smithville, NC).
"The Football Club is happy to significantly upgrade our linebacker position with the re-signing of Wickman and free agent signing of playmaker Fells," said Brendan Taman, General Manager.
RYLAND WICKMAN BIO
THE CFL YEARS - WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS - 2004
Wickman started 14 regular-season games. He had 42 tackles, two quarterback sacks, six special team tackles and one knock down.
THE CFL YEARS - WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS - 2003
Wickman played in 15 regular-season games as well as the 2003 West Division Semifinal. He totaled 31 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles, two interception returns for zero yards, two forced fumbles and one pass knockdown.
THE CFL YEARS - WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS - 2002
Wickman had 71 defensive tackles. He added five quarterback sacks, four tackles for a loss of six yards, three pass knockdowns, three special teams tackles, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
THE CFL YEARS - WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS - 2001
Wickman played in 14 regular-season games in 2001. In Week 16 action against B.C. (Winnipeg @ British Columbia, Oct. 20, 2001), he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and his posterior collateral ligament, which ended his season.
Wickman accounted for 46 defensive tackles, four tackles for a loss, three special teams tackles, one interception, one quarterback sack and one pass knockdown in 2001. He had several standout games that year.
THE CFL YEARS - WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS - 2000
He played in all of Winnipeg's 18 regular-season and two playoff games in 2000. In February 2001, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. The Vikes assigned him to NFL-Europe, where he bounced around a number of teams but saw little action.
He led the team in defensive tackles with 89 - a total that placed him 4th in the CFL. He also had four tackles for losses, three fumble recoveries and two quarterback sacks.
THE COLLEGE YEARS - SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS
He set the Big Sky Conference record for the most double-digit tackle totals per game, most double-digit tackle totals in a season and highest average tackles per year/career. He also set the Sacramento State school record for tackles in a season with 154 in 1998.
During his four-year college career, Wickman was a Big Sky Conference All-Star every season he played. He was voted his team's Top Defensive Player all four years with the Hornets and never missed a game or start in that span.
WILLIE FELLS BIO
CFL YEARS - CALGARY STAMPEDERS - 2004
Fells was cut from the Stampeders roster during training camp.
CFL YEARS - CALGARY STAMPEDERS - 2003
Fells played in 17 regular season games where he had 45 defensive tackles, three fumble returns, one quarterback sack and one interception. He also had five special teams tackles.
CFL YEARS - CALGARY STAMPEDERS - 2002
Fells played in 12 regular season games and finished the season with 40 defensive tackles, five fumble returns, one quarterback sack and 15 special teams tackles.
CFL YEARS - CALGARY STAMPEDERS - 2001
Fells played his first regular season game with Calgary on July 27, 2001.
CFL YEARS - HAMILTON TIGER-CATS - 2000
Fells played in 16 regular season games where he had 52 defensive tackles and 18 special teams tackles.
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