It’s the end of an era for the Montreal Alouettes, as the club announced Tuesday that it has released running back William Stanback.
In a statement, the Alouettes indicated that it was the 29-year-old American who had asked to be released. Stanback was to become a free agent as of February 13.
Arriving with the Alouettes for the 2018 season, the six-foot, 233-pound running back had two seasons of more than 1,000 yards in five campaigns in Montreal: 1,048 in 2019 and 1,176 in 2021. He also dominated the Ambrosie circuit in 2021, in addition to being named the Alouettes and Eastern Division MVP.
Stanback suffered a serious ankle injury in the 2022 season opener at Calgary, limiting him to just five games that year.
He didn’t find his groove again until the start of the 2023 season, but with a new coach in Jason Maas, his usage has changed. Still the club’s No. 1 running back — ahead of Jeshrun Antwi and Walter Fletcher — Stanback has been “spared” so he can reach the playoffs at the top of his game.
After buying into Maas’ plan, Maas’ goal was achieved. After rushing 147 times for 800 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games, Stanback helped lead the Grey Cup with 36 carries for 178 yards and a major in three playoff games.
Stanback leaves Montreal after playing 62 games in five seasons, during which he carried the ball 625 times for 3,716 yards and 11 touchdowns. He added 107 receptions for 1,058 yards and four majors.
As soon as the Alouettes’ season ended, it felt like the Stanback era was possibly over in Montreal. Rushing to sign his defensive pillars, general manager Danny Maciocia always suggested that this position would possibly be the subject of an overhaul this winter.
All three running backs were without contracts since the end of the season. Only Antwi has come to an agreement with the club since then, and Fletcher, who has never asked for more playing time — publicly at least — is clearly ready to take on more responsibility in an attack, whether it’s the Alouettes’ or another team’s.
It will be interesting to see how Maciocia does in his case, as another top candidate, Brady Oliveira, the CFL’s leading rusher with 1,534 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023, will also be testing the free-agent market this winter.
