CFL B.C. Lions

Lions Sign Three Free Agents

Published on May 24, 2002 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
B.C. Lions News Release


VANCOUVER, B.C. May 24, 2002 – BC Lions General Manager, Adam Rita, today announced the signing of three free agents, Brandon Nash, Tony Walker and Craig Stutzmann. In keeping with team policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Byrd, a 5'11" 180-pound cornerback from Syracuse University, makes his CFL debut after spending last season with the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe. A four-year letter winner in three sports at Syracuse, Byrd attended the Buffalo Bills training camp in 2000 before being acquired by the Seattle Seahawks. After spending the 1997 season competing solely for SU's track team, Byrd returned to the gridiron for his junior year and had 17 tackles and one interception. He started the first seven games of his senior year in 1999, before an off-field injury ended his season.

Nash, a 6'1" 212-pound free safety from the University of Arizona, is also making his first CFL appearance. Nash spent four years patrolling the Wildcats defensive backfield, and helped the team to a 1999 Holiday Bowl victory and a fourth-place national finish. Nash started all 11 games in his senior year, and made 47 tackles including 6.5 tackles for losses. He also had two sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery. He returned both of those turnovers for touchdowns.

Walker, a 5'11" 183-pound cornerback from Lancaster, California, comes to the Lions after four seasons at Utah State University. During his college career, Walker started all 44 regular-season games the Aggies played. He made 175 tackles over that span, including six for losses. He picked off 11 passes, returning one of them for a touchdown. The 23-year-old also returned kicks at USU; during his career he brought back 50 punts for 382 yards and 58 kickoffs for 1,229 yards.

Stutzmann, a 5'10" 190-pound wide receiver from Honolulu, makes his professional debut with the Leos after four seasons with the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. In 2001 Stutzmann caught 54 passes for 611 yards and five touchdowns. Over his four-year career at UH, Stutzmann played in 45 games and caught 177 passes for 2,025 yards and 18 TDs.

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Canadian Football League Stories from May 24, 2002


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