Qwan'tez Stiggers
{{Short description|American football player (born 2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Qwan'tez Stiggers
| image = 2023, 42, Qwan'tez Stiggers.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Stiggers with the Toronto Argonauts in 2023
| number = 37
| current_team = New York Jets
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|1|8}}
| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 197
| high_school = The B.E.S.T. (Atlanta, Georgia)
| college = None
| draftyear = 2024
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 176
| pastteams = * FCF Beasts (2022)*
- FCF Bored Ape Football Club (2022)
- Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2023}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights = * CFL Most Outstanding Rookie (2023)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 8
| statlabel2 = Interceptions
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Interception yards
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Pass deflections
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Sacks
| statvalue7 =
| statlabel8 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue8 =
| cflstatlabel1 = Total tackles
| cflstatvalue1 = 56
| cflstatlabel2 = Interceptions
| cflstatvalue2 = 5
| pfr = StigQw00
| cfl = qwan-tez-stiggers/167563/
}}
Qwan'tez London Stiggers (born January 8, 2002) is an American professional football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Unlike most professional football players, Stiggers did not play college football.
Early life
Stiggers grew up in a family of 13 children and attended The B.E.S.T. Academy high school in Atlanta where he played American football, basketball, and baseball.{{Cite web |date=January 4, 2023 |title=Argonauts sign three, including 20-year-old FCF standout Qwan'tez Stiggers |url=https://3downnation.com/2023/01/04/argonauts-sign-three-including-20-year-old-fcf-standout-qwantez-stiggers/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=3DownNation}} One of his brothers was almost left as a quadriplegic after a spinal cord accident playing football. Stiggers' father was involved in a serious car accident on February 14, 2020, and later died on September 19, 2020, while Stiggers was a freshman at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee; his father's death caused him to enter into a significant depression that resulted in him dropping out despite being on a scholarship.{{Cite web |last=O'Leary |first=Chris |date=July 28, 2023 |title=O'Leary: Enjoy Argos Qwan'tez Stiggers While You Can |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2023/07/28/oleary-enjoy-argos-rookie-qwantez-stiggers-while-you-can/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=CFL.ca}}
Professional career
=Fan Controlled Football=
At the urging of his mother, Stiggers tried out for and signed with Fan Controlled Football (FCF), a livestreaming indoor American football league. He played during the 2022 FCF season and caught the attention of former Toronto Argonauts offensive coordinator Josh Jenkins, who suggested he should try out for the Canadian Football League (CFL).{{Cite news |date=May 8, 2022 |title=Fan Controlled Football: Youngest player talks about family support |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/sports/fan-controlled-football-youngest-player-family-support-qwantez-stiggers-mothers-day/85-276d3c54-4a22-482c-b219-70446b933d2c |access-date=2024-06-30 |publisher=11Alive}}{{Cite news |last=Zwolinski |first=Mark |date=May 24, 2023 |title=Argos hopeful trying to make one team to help support another — his family |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/argos/argos-hopeful-trying-to-make-one-team-to-help-support-another-his-family/article_89375055-0a97-5807-b696-46a78765e0fc.html |access-date=2024-06-30 |publisher=Toronto Star}}
=Toronto Argonauts=
Stiggers signed with the Argonauts of the on January 4, 2023, and attended the team's rookie camp at the University of Guelph later that May. While many expected him to be cut during the preseason due to his lack of college or professional experience, Stiggers made the team's initial regular season roster and also became a regular starter for the Argonauts during his rookie 2023 CFL season, successfully transitioning to play Canadian football.{{Cite web |last=Zwolinski |first=Mark |date=October 14, 2023 |title=The Argos took a flyer on Qwan'tez Stiggers. Now he might be rookie of the year. Here's why. |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/argos/the-argos-took-a-flyer-on-qwan-tez-stiggers-now-he-might-be-rookie-of/article_521b3605-048b-57a2-9773-f10525a919af.html |access-date=2024-06-30 |newspaper=Toronto Star}} He played in 16 regular season games where he had 53 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, and five interceptions.{{Cite news |date=November 16, 2023 |title=Qwan'tez Stiggers takes home Most Outstanding Rookie honours |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/16/qwantez-stiggers-takes-home-most-outstanding-rookie-honours/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |publisher=Canadian Football League}} By the end of the year, he was chosen as the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie and as a CFL East All-Star, as well as selected to attend the 2024 East–West Shrine Bowl prior to the 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Ambrose |first=Dominic |date=January 27, 2024 |title=Player spotlight: Qwan'tez Stiggers unorthodox journey to the Shrine Bowl |url=https://withthefirstpick.com/posts/player-spotlight-qwan-tez-stiggers-unorthodox-journey-to-the-shrine-bowl-01hn56r1reak |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=WithTheFirstPick.com |publisher=Fansided}}{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Jack |date=January 27, 2024 |title=Qwan'tez Stiggers: Being NFL Draftee Without CFB Reps Wouldn't be a 'Fairy Tale' |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10106843-qwantez-stiggers-being-nfl-draftee-without-cfb-reps-wouldnt-be-a-fairy-tale |access-date=2024-06-30 |work=bleacherreport.com |publisher=Bleacher Report}}
=New York Jets=
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 3/8
| weight = 203
| dash = 4.45
| ten split = 1.52
| twenty split = 2.50
| shuttle = 4.32
| cone drill = 7.03
| vertical = 36.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 8
| arm span = 30 1/2
| hand span = 8 7/8
| note = All values from East–West Shrine Bowl/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/videos/jets-select-qwan-tez-stiggers-with-no-176-pick-in-2024-draft |title=Jets select Qwan'tez Stiggers with No. 176 pick in 2024 draft |website=NFL.com |access-date=July 23, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1100035&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Qwan'tez Stiggers College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=April 27, 2024}}
}}
Stiggers was selected with the 176th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft by the New York Jets. He was the first player drafted directly from the CFL since Jermaine Haley in 1999.{{Cite web |date=April 27, 2024 |title=Toronto Argonauts DB Qwan'tez Stiggers selected by New York Jets in fifth round of 2024 NFL Draft |url=https://3downnation.com/2024/04/27/toronto-argonauts-db-qwantez-stiggers-selected-by-new-york-jets-in-fifth-round-of-2024-nfl-draft/ |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=3DownNation |publisher=Catena Media}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/players-roster/qwan-tez-stiggers/ New York Jets bio]
- [https://www.cfl.ca/players/qwan-tez-stiggers/167563/ CFL bio]
{{New York Jets roster navbox}}{{CFL Most Outstanding Rookie Award}}
{{Jets2024DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stiggers, Qwantez}}
Category:American football safeties
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:Toronto Argonauts players
Category:Canadian football defensive backs
Category:Players of American football from Atlanta
Category:New York Jets players