Since breaking into the CFL in 2018, running back William Stanback has been leaving opponents black and blue with his bruising style, and this season, he’ll be bringing that to the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
Averaging 5.7 yards per carry in his career, the Hampstead, New York native is 109 yards short of 5,000 across his six seasons of action. Last year with the B.C. Lions, Stanback compiled his second-best campaign yardage-wise, amassing 1,175 yards, a single yard short of his career high, which he set in Montreal in 2021.
Still, the year-to-year nature of the CFL lingered in the back of Stanback’s mind, saying he was “ready for the worst” when it came to contract negotiations with the Lions. When they inked James Butler to a deal, the writing was on the wall, and he was released soon thereafter.
The news of Stanback’s release was posted to the Lions’ social media channels around 3:45 p.m. on January 9th. The very next morning, it was announced that he was a member of the REDBLACKS. The process was remarkably fast, as Stanback suggested Ottawa was always an organization he had a good feeling about potentially joining.
“The fan base has always been respectful to me, I always felt the love,” Stanback said. “Ottawa was always a team that I respected. Every time I played against these guys, I was walking out hurting a little bit. I know how tough they are and I know how hard they practice. I’m ready to be a part of this organization, and I’m trying to bring everything I can to help this team win.”
While the REDBLACKS booked their ticket to the postseason for the first time since 2019 last year, there’s a hunger to continue to push the envelope in their chase for a Grey Cup. Stanback figures to be a big piece of that puzzle, and believes he can bring a different element to the offence.
“From the outside looking in, they’re just a couple pieces away from having deep runs in the playoffs,” Stanback said. “I felt like I would be a good a good piece added to Ottawa, and I feel like I could bring a different dynamic to the running game that helps get over the hump.”
Turning 31 in July, the six-foot, 200-pound Stanback has been hearing all the concerns about his age. To all the doubters, his response is simple: “What does it matter?”
“I feel like I am going into my second prime,” he said confidently. “That injury that I had in ‘22 obviously set me back, I really wasn’t given an opportunity to showcase that I am back to normal, back to the old Stanback, and that’s what I want to do here. I want everyone to understand it, believe in me and see that I can play at that elite level.”
His pushback on conventional thinking about running backs doesn’t come from ignorance, however. Stanback understands how different athletes’ lives become as they age, and he’s taking all the right steps to prolong his playing days as long as possible.
“Your body is your temple, and you have to take care of it,” Stanback said. “You have to make sure that you’re putting the right things in, and you’re getting enough sleep. All of that plays a part in how you perform, and I feel if I do the right things, I can play as long as I want to.”
Stanback is confident the transition to becoming a REDBLACK will be a swift and easy one, partially thanks to connections he already has with former teammates like Michael Wakefield, someone he has kept in touch with since leaving Montreal.
He’s had conversations with the coaching staff, including Offensive Coordinator Tommy Condell, but some of the most impactful chats he’s had have been with Dru Brown, the REDBLACKS’ franchise quarterback.
“He reached out to me early on, like two and a half hours after I signed, and we were just talking about places where I can live and places to eat and all that type of stuff,” Stanback revealed. “We’re both excited to work together, this season. Our wives actually connected on Instagram, so that’s already a little head start.”
The reception he has received from everyone in Ottawa has been first-class, as the excitement of adding the second-leading rusher in 2024 and a Grey Cup champion bubbles.
That championship experience is among the biggest assets he hopes to bring to the nation’s capital.
“It’s all about catching that spark at the right time,” Stanback said. “When everyone is clicking and zoned into the task at hand, I feel like you can be unbeatable, especially late on in the season, when a lot of teams are beat up.”
