October 4, 2017

Argos RB James Wilder Jr. named CFL Top Performer of the Month

Alex Hoffman-Ellis (12) of the Edmonton Eskimos and James Wilder Jr. (32) of the Toronto Argonauts during the game at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, Saturday, September 16, 2017. (Photo: Johany Jutras)

The Canadian Football League announced today that Toronto Argonauts rookie running back James Wilder Jr. has been named a CFL Top Performer of the Month for the month of September.

In four games during September, Wilder amassed 389 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries to go along with 16 receptions for 176 yards. Weeks 13 and 14 were Wilder’s coming out party as he combined for 475 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns (75 and 85 yards) in home victories vs. Edmonton and Montreal respectively, earning him back-to-back CFL Top Performer of the Week honours.

In those two games, Wilder’s rushing total of 331 yards set an Argos record, topping Corky Tharp’s 300 yards during a two-game stretch in 1955. It was the 17th-highest rushing total over a two-game stretch in league history and the most since Jon Cornish rushed for 338 yards during back-to-back games in 2013.

After a strong month, the Florida State product now sits sixth in CFL rushing yards (552) and leads the league in yards per carry (7.6) and carries of 20+ yards (8).

Wilder is joined by Calgary’s LB Alex Singleton and Edmonton’s WR Brandon Zylstra, who were also named CFL Top Performers for the month of September.