D. J. Lalama

Last updated
D. J. Lalama
Manitoba Bisons
D. J. Lalama.png
Lalama with Manitoba in 2016
Born: (1993-07-21) July 21, 1993 (age 30)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Career information
StatusActive
CFL status National
Position(s) Linebackers coach
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight222 lb (101 kg)
University Manitoba
High school St. Paul's
CFL Draft 2016 / Round: 8 / Pick: 70
Drafted by Edmonton Eskimos
Career history
As coach
2021 Manitoba Bisons
(Special teams assistant)
2022–present Manitoba Bisons
(Linebackers coach)
As player
2016 Edmonton Eskimos*
2017–2018 Montreal Alouettes
2019 Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2019–2021 Montreal Alouettes
2022 Calgary Stampeders*
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career stats

D. J. Lalama (born July 21, 1993) is a former professional Canadian football linebacker and is the linebackers coach for the Manitoba Bisons football team of U Sports.

Contents

University career

Lalama began his CIS football career with the Western Mustangs in 2011, but did not play and used a redshirt year. [1] Following the departure of coach Mickey Donovan, he transferred to the Manitoba Bisons program, playing in one game in 2012 before suffering a season ending injury. [2] [3] He played his first full university season in 2013 and played three years en route to being drafted into the Canadian Football League in 2016. He was on the Edmonton Eskimos' practice roster when he requested his release so that he could complete a Master of Business Administration at the University of Manitoba. [4] [5]

During his final university season in 2016, Lalama led the entire country with 72.5 total tackles and 54 solo tackles and also had three forced fumbles and seven pass breakups. For his strong season, he was named the Presidents' Trophy winner and became only the second Bison to win the national award. [6]

Professional career

Edmonton Eskimos

Lalama was drafted with in the eighth round, 70th overall, by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2016 CFL Draft. [7] He initially agreed to a practice roster spot following 2016 training camp, but elected to return to the play for the Bisons and complete his MBA. [5] [8]

Following the conclusion of his U Sports football career, Lalama re-signed with the Eskimos on February 13, 2017. [9] [10] However, he was among the final cuts on June 18, 2017, at the conclusion of 2017 training camp. [9]

Montreal Alouettes

On July 5, 2017, it was announced that Lalama had signed a practice roster agreement with the Montreal Alouettes. [9] [11] He was promoted to the active roster and played in his first professional football game on July 14, 2017, against the Calgary Stampeders. [9] For the 2017 season, he played in 15 regular season games and recorded 10 special teams tackles. He missed the entire 2018 season after suffering a shoulder injury during 2018 training camp. [12]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Upon becoming a free agent, Lalama signed with his hometown Winnipeg Blue Bombers on February 15, 2019. [13] He played in the first seven games of the 2019 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season and recorded one special teams tackle before being a healthy scratch in the eighth game. He declined a practice roster spot with the team and became a free agent on August 14, 2019. [14] [15]

Montreal Alouettes (II)

Shortly after his Blue Bombers release, Lalama was re-signed by the Alouettes on August 15, 2019. [14] He played in 11 regular season games, including starting in two at the end of the season for the playoff-bound team. For the last game of the 2019 regular season against the Ottawa Redblacks, he was named a CFL Top Performer for the week after he recorded a career-high 10 defensive tackles, one sack, and one special teams tackle. [16] In the game, he also served as the team's long snapper following an injury to the team's incumbent, Martin Bédard. [16] Following the end of the season, Lalama signed a one-year contract extension with the Alouettes. [17] He re-signed with the Alouettes again on January 20, 2021. [18] He was placed on the suspended list on July 6, 2021. [19]

Calgary Stampeders

On February 9, 2022, Lalama signed with the Calgary Stampeders, but retired prior to the 2022 season. [20] [21]

Coaching career

While sitting out the 2021 CFL season, Lalama coached for the Manitoba Bisons as a special teams assistant. [21] On June 6, 2022, it was announced that Lalama had been promoted and would be the team's linebackers coach. [21]

Related Research Articles

The 2005 CFL season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.

The 2001 CFL season is considered to be the 48th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 44th Canadian Football League season.

The 1996 CFL season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.

The 1986 CFL season is considered to be the 33rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 29th Canadian Football League season.

The 1980 CFL season is considered to be the 27th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 23rd Canadian Football League season.

The 2006 CFL season is considered to be the 53rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 49th Canadian Football League season.

Isaiah "Ike" Charlton is a former professional Canadian football linebacker and currently the defensive backs coach for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). As a player, he spent most of his professional career playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia Tech.

Burke Dales is a former professional Canadian football punter. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played CIS Football with the Concordia Stingers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim St. Pierre</span>

Tim St. Pierre is a professional Canadian football fullback and long snapper who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in the third round of the 2008 CFL Draft. He played CIS football for the Saint Mary's Huskies. Personal: His wife is Emily Kennedy St. Pierre.

The 2010 CFL season is the 57th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it is the 53rd Canadian Football League season. Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton hosted the 98th Grey Cup on November 28 when the Montreal Alouettes became the first team to repeat as Grey Cup Champions in 13 years, defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 21–18. The league announced on its Twitter page on January 29, 2010 that the season would start on July 1, 2010. As of 2021 this is the most recent CFL regular season to start in July.

The 2012 CFL season was the 59th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 55th season for the Canadian Football League. The pre-season began on June 13, 2012, and the regular season started on June 29, 2012. Rogers Centre in Toronto hosted the 100th Grey Cup on November 25, with the hometown Toronto Argonauts defeating the Calgary Stampeders 35-22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Stafford</span> American football player (born 1990)

Kenny Stafford is a gridiron football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was most recently a member of the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In the United States, he has been a member of the Atlanta Falcons (NFL), Pittsburgh Power (AFL) and Miami Dolphins (NFL). In the CFL, Stafford has been a member of the Calgary Stampeders, Montreal Alouettes, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Eskimos, and Saskatchewan Roughriders. He is the nephew of former American football wide receiver and 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Cris Carter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manitoba Bisons football</span>

The Manitoba Bisons football team represents the University of Manitoba in the sport of Canadian football in U Sports. The program was the first of four U Sports football teams to have won back-to-back Vanier Cup championships, having won in 1969 and 1970. In total, the Bisons have won three Vanier Cup national championships and 11 Hardy Trophy conference championships. The Bisons are led by head coach, Brian Dobie, who has been the head coach since 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Benson (Canadian football)</span> Canadian football long snapper

Mike Benson is a Canadian football long snapper for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played CIS football for the Acadia Axemen and attended St. Paul's High School in Winnipeg. He has also been a member of the Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions, Ottawa Redblacks, and Montreal Alouettes.

Kyle Norris is a former Canadian football linebacker. He was drafted 24th overall by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2013 CFL Draft. Norris played CIS football with the Saint Mary's Huskies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Crapigna</span> Canadian gridiron football player and coach (born 1992)

Tyler Crapigna is a former professional Canadian football placekicker and is currently the kicker coach for the Carleton Ravens of U Sports. He played CIS football for the McMaster Marauders from 2010 to 2014 and kicked the game-winning field goal in double overtime of the 47th Vanier Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micah Awe</span> American gridiron football player (born 1994)

Micah Awe is a Nigerian-born Canadian football linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Texas Tech. Awe has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, Toronto Argonauts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Ottawa Redblacks, BC Lions, and Montreal Alouettes.

The 2021 CFL season was the 67th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 63rd season of the Canadian Football League. The regular season began on August 5 and ended November 20. Each team played 14 regular season games over 16 weeks. Previously, the season was scheduled to begin on June 10 and end on October 30, with 18 games being played per team over 21 weeks, but this was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Hamilton hosted the 108th Grey Cup on December 12, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shai Ross</span> Canadian football wide receiver

Shai Ross is a professional Canadian football wide receiver for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Priester</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Robert Priester is a professional gridiron football defensive back for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

References

  1. ↑ "2012 CIS Football Team Preview: Manitoba Bisons". U Sports . Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  2. ↑ Henry, Rashari (August 4, 2016). "Going Pro - DJ Lalama". The Stath Blog. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  3. ↑ Prest, Ashley (August 21, 2012). "Homegrown talent returning to join Herd". Winnipeg Free Press . Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  4. ↑ "A guide to the 2016 Bisons football training camp". The Manitoban. August 11, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Eskimos draft pick Lalama makes return to Manitoba Bisons, will also pursue MBA". Global News. August 18, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  6. ↑ "All-Canadian Banquet presented by Sun Life Financial Regina's Picton becomes 50th Hec Crighton Trophy winner". U Sports. November 24, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  7. ↑ "2016 Draft Recap - Edmonton Eskimos". Edmonton Eskimos. May 10, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Esks cut linebacker DJ Lalama". Edmonton Sun. July 10, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "CFL Transactions, 2017". Canadian Football League . Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Manitoba Bisons' DJ Lalama 'excited to be heading back to Edmonton' after signing with Eskimos". Global News. February 13, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Alouettes' transactions - July 5". Montreal Alouettes. July 5, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Can't play, will coach; DJ Lalama making most of downtime after season-ending injury". Global News. August 28, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Bombers add Winnipeg-born linebacker DJ Lalama". Winnipeg Blue Bombers. February 15, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  14. 1 2 "CFL Transactions, 2019". Canadian Football League . Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Winnipeg Blue Bombers release local product DJ Lalama". Global News. August 13, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  16. 1 2 "DJ Lalama named among CFL players of the week". Montreal Alouettes. November 5, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Alouettes sign deals with a trio of Canadians". Montreal Alouettes. January 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Alouettes sign Quebecers Jean-Samuel Blanc and Félix Faubert-Lussier". MontrealAlouettes.com. January 20, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Alouettes Transactions". MontrealAlouettes.com. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Ooh Lalama – D.J joins Stampeders". Calgary Stampeders. February 9, 2022.
  21. 1 2 3 "Ex-star returns to football Herd as assistant coach". Winnipeg Free Press. June 6, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.