March 30, 2017

East Division All-Star Brandon Whitaker returns to Argos

Brandon Whitaker (3) of the Toronto Argonauts during the game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BMO Field in Toronto, ON. Friday, August 12, 2016. (Photo: Johany Jutras)

TORONTOThe Toronto Argonauts announced today that the club has re-signed 2016 East Division All-Star running back Brandon Whitaker.

Whitaker returns for his third season in Double Blue after setting a number of career milestones in 2016, including becoming the 42nd player in CFL history to rush for 5,000+ career yards. The eight-year CFL veteran compiled 1,558 yards and seven touchdowns in 18 regular season games. He led the East Division and ranked second in the CFL in rushing with 1,009 yards and three touchdowns on 189 carries, becoming the first Argonaut since Cory Boyd in 2011 to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark.

Brandon Whitaker (3) during the game between the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at BMO Field in Toronto, ON. Sunday, September 11, 2016. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
The versatile back also set a career-high with 81 receptions which he translated into 549 yards and four touchdowns. Whitaker’s 2016 reception total ranks second to just Robert Drummond (85, 1997) for a player with 150+ rushing attempts. Whitaker and Drummond are the only two players to record more than 75 receptions and 150 rushing attempts in the same season.

The Baylor product originally signed with the Argonauts on June 21, 2015, after spending six CFL seasons with the Montreal Alouettes.