Former Cal Poly football player Burton De Koning signs with CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks
Another former Cal Poly linebacker is headed to the Canadian Football League.
Recent graduate Burton De Koning signed a free-agent contract with the Ottawa Redblacks, the organization announced Monday.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound De Koning was chosen as the Mustangs’ most valuable defensive player in 2015 after recording 82 tackles, three sacks and four quarterback hurries during his senior season.
Officially a part of the #Redblacks family. Time to stay on the grind!#chiponmyshoulder pic.twitter.com/yu9IGxGx2t
— Burton De Koning (@Burton_Dekoning) May 17, 2016
De Koning had a strong showing at Cal Poly’s Pro Day in March and parlayed that into a professional opportunity in Canada. He joins ex-Mustang linebacker and current Calgary Stampeder Cameron Ontko in the CFL.
The Redblacks won the Eastern Conference championship in 2015 and advanced to the Grey Cup final during the franchise’s second year in the league. Ottawa begins a two-week preseason schedule June 13, and the regular season opens June 25.
De Koning and Ontko could meet when their two teams play Sept. 17 in Calgary.
This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Former Cal Poly football player Burton De Koning signs with CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks."