Maybe by now, you’ve heard the name, Qwan’tez Stiggers, after as a rookie in the CFL he took the league by storm winning CFL Rookie of the Year and being named a CFL East All-Star. Before that Stiggers was an unknown commodity, a player who had terrible heart-wrenching situations nearly derailed a promising football career. A career that in hindsight may not have ended up where it is today had he followed the beaten path.
Let’s back up and take a look at Qwan’tez Stiggers before he entered the professional ranks. Qwan’tez grew up in a rather large family with 12 siblings. Attending B.E.ST. Academy he was a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball. At the time he played wide receiver, defensive back, handled kickoffs, and punt return. Sports acumen ran in his family, but in his particular case he had seen some terrifying situations involving sports that gave him every reason to step away at an early age.
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Qwan’tez had Reasons to Walk Away Before College
One of his many siblings shared a love for football but had his future career taken from him when a spinal cord injury left him suffering from the side effects. Many athletes would have seen this happen to their brother and stepped away from the field right then never to return. To borrow a cringey phrase that I believe is used way too often Qwan’tez Stiggers is just built differently. He kept going determined to succeed even more now than ever before.
After a high school career where he quite literally played nearly every role you can, he drew attention from Lane College. Lane is a Division II program but has a rich history of players in the professional ranks, albeit most came in the early 2000s or much earlier. Some of these names aren’t exactly recognizable but made their mark in the NFL nonetheless.
Fred Lane RB
Jason Brookins RB
Ron Smith DT
Edward Williams WR
Another name potentially headed to the NFL this season is wideout Jacquez Jones. Now if you look at the various other professional leagues that have existed over the past 40 years their list grows exponentially. I say this to make it clear that Stiggers had a path to the NFL from Lane, but it wasn’t going to be easy, and certainly wasn’t a given based on where he attended college like it is if you attend Georgia or Alabama.
College Career Never Came
Before he could ever step onto a football field during a game for Lane his football career was dealt what could have been the knockout blow. Shortly after arriving at college, Stiggers’ father passed away in a tragic car accident. Much like any child Qwan’tez was devastated, and stepped away from school to focus on family, and his mental health. Being so young and having to deal with what he had to do at that point would have left anyone questioning what was important to them.
This could have been the end of his football career right there and the world would have kept turning as Qwan’tez transitioned into a 9-5 job. To borrow another cliche phrase, mother always knows best.. and Qwan’tez’s mother knew her son belonged on the gridiron. Having heard of a new league in early 2022 near where they lived in Atlanta called the Fan Controlled Football League she urged her son to try out. Forgoing the college football process entirely and jumping into a made-for-television football league that was a social media movement at the time.
This proved to be one of the first major stepping stones on Stigger’s path to the 2024 Draft. Not only did he impress the FCF Scouts he was signed by the league as the youngest player on any team’s roster. Having watched Kavontae Turpin parlay a season in the FCF into a USFL bid, Stiggers had a path to some of the biggest professional leagues in the world laid out before him, all he had to do was focus on what he could control.
FCF Built on 1v1 Match-Ups
The Fan Control Football League was built around one-on-one matchups to make the game a little bit more exciting. Often defenses would play a version of man coverage, even though they couldn’t play real press. With the rules set up to leave the defense at a slight disadvantage, they had to line up a yard off the line of scrimmage and allow receivers a free release to that point.
This made what Stiggers was able to do in year one even more impressive. Not only did he play well, he became a star in the league. Instantly garnering recognition as a potential defensive player of the year candidate. As the year progressed, Stiggers continued to rack up interceptions, scoring multiple touchdowns along the way.
Taking his Talents to Toronto
After just one season as the youngest player in the Fan Controlled Football League, he was urged to attend CFL tryouts by John Jenkins a long-time alternative football coach who has spent time with the USFL, CFL, AFL, FXFL, FCF, and IFA. Hearing this from a man who spent 7 years as a CFL offensive coordinator was convincing enough for Stiggers to pursue these workouts.
Not only did he work out for a CFL team, he worked out with Toronto fresh off of a Grey Cup win in 2022. They were making a transition at quarterback but had all the pieces needed to make a run once again, and they would. Compiling a 16-2 record during the regular season.
Stiggers not only made the roster but immediately climbed his way up the depth chart to starter. He also made an immediate impact when he intercepted a pass in the first two games he appeared in for Toronto in weeks 2 and 4. By week 6 Stiggers was a starter and didn’t leave the lineup again.
He would play in 16 games yet still end up tied for second in the league with 5 interceptions. Only Brandin Dandridge and Demerio Houston played in fewer games than Stiggers and managed 5 or more interceptions. Stiggers also collected 54 defensive tackles, and 3 special teams tackles.
Declaring for the NFL Draft as a Third Year Professional
Now Stiggers enters the 2024 NFL draft with two full seasons of professional experience under his belt. Having participated in the East/West Shrine Game donning an Argonauts helmet, Stiggers turned heads and continued to build hype around his status as a potential draft pick.
A current CFL Wide Receiver said, “If he runs a 4.4 he will go in the third round.” Via Instagram
Coach Josh Bell a one-time NFL player and current CFL Coach had this to say: “I hate rookies,’’ said Bell, who is about to begin his sixth season as a CFL coach. “I‘ll tell them every year in the room, I say, ‘Rookies, I’ll see you next year. Maybe if somebody gets hurt I’ll play you. But my son’s got to eat and you ain’t got it. You’re riding on the bench.’’ He went on to say “I’ll say it like this, if he goes through a true Pro Day and he can get into some of these All-Star games, he’d easily be a third or fourth-round pick,’’ via this article;
While that might be slightly optimistic how often do NFL teams get the opportunity to draft players who have already acclimated to the professional level? The answer to that is rarely, and Bell is certain to not be the only coach that hates rookies, technically Stiggers is no longer one.
Stiggers won’t be the only player to enter the draft having already signed a professional contract. There will be a few current UFL players on that list as well who opted to sign contracts before the draft ensuring themselves a chance to compete for a roster spot at the least. If the UFL continues, AND Stiggers makes a name for himself in the NFL, we could see a shift in the NFL draft philosophy as time goes on.
Per Sports Illustrated
Full Interview with Qwan’tez Stiggers from his time in the Fan Controlled Football League
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Good morning I love your stories, I would appreciate if you correct 1 thing. His brother “IS NOT” Paralyzed. Yes he had a very serious spinal injury due to football but he is not paralyzed.
Thank you for clarifying