Dimitri Tsoumpas
Encyclopedia
Dimitri Tsoumpas [ZOOM-pus] (born September 26, 1985 in Edmonton
, Alberta
) is a gridiron football
guard
for the Calgary Stampeders
of the Canadian Football League
. He was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders second overall in the 2008 CFL Draft
. He played college football
for Weber State.
he signed on to play at Weber State University
. As a true freshman, Tsoumpas was a part of the starting lineup until he was injured. As a junior in 2006 he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Sky
. During his senior season, Tsoumpas helped Weber State allow the least amount of sacks
in the conference, he also helped Trevyn Smith lead the Big Sky in rushing yards for the second year in a row. He was named Second Team All-Big Sky.
team. A few days before the draft, the Edmonton Eskimos
were reportedly considering Tsoumpas, Keith Shologan
and Samuel Giguere
. However Shologan and Giguere signed contracts with NFL teams. After a draft day trade with the Edmonton Eskimos
, the Calgary Stampeders
acquired the second overall pick in the 2008 CFL Draft
and used it to draft Tsoumpas. He was named the starting right guard
, while fellow rookie Jesse Newman
was the starting left guard. He debuted for Calgary, in week one against the BC Lions
. Tsoumpas started all 18 games including all playoff games which included the 96th Grey Cup
. He helped Calgary's running back
s average 134.6 yards per game with 6.4 yards per carry. He was also key in helping the Stampeders allow the fewest sacks
in the CFL. Joffrey Reynolds
the CFL's leading rusher gained 1,310 yards with the help of Tsoumpas. Following the season he was Calgary's nominee for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie award.
Tsoumpas was expected to remain a starter in 2009.
of the National Football League
on January 8, 2010. Tsoumpas was waived on July 30th and returned to the Calgary Stampeders
.
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
) is a gridiron football
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
for the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders second overall in the 2008 CFL Draft
2008 CFL Draft
The 2008 CFL Draft took place on April 30, 2008. 48 players were chosen from among 752 eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA....
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for Weber State.
College career
After playing for three straight city championship teams at Strathcona Composite High SchoolStrathcona Composite High School
Strathcona Composite High School, or Scona as students and staff refer to it, is a public high school located in Edmonton, Alberta. The school was constructed to hold 1200 students, but there are currently just under 1500 students attending the school...
he signed on to play at Weber State University
Weber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
. As a true freshman, Tsoumpas was a part of the starting lineup until he was injured. As a junior in 2006 he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
. During his senior season, Tsoumpas helped Weber State allow the least amount of sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
in the conference, he also helped Trevyn Smith lead the Big Sky in rushing yards for the second year in a row. He was named Second Team All-Big Sky.
Calgary Stampeders
At the 2008 CFL Draft Evaluation Camp, Tsoumpas benched 30 times to be one the leaders in that category at the camp. He was considered a possible top pick in the draft, however it was heavily rumored he could try to make an NFLNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
team. A few days before the draft, the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
were reportedly considering Tsoumpas, Keith Shologan
Keith Shologan
Keith Shologan is a Canadian football defensive tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League...
and Samuel Giguere
Samuel Giguère
Samuel Giguère is a American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats eighth overall in the 2008 CFL Draft and signed by the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
. However Shologan and Giguere signed contracts with NFL teams. After a draft day trade with the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
, the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
acquired the second overall pick in the 2008 CFL Draft
2008 CFL Draft
The 2008 CFL Draft took place on April 30, 2008. 48 players were chosen from among 752 eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA....
and used it to draft Tsoumpas. He was named the starting right guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
, while fellow rookie Jesse Newman
Jesse Newman
Jesse Newman is a former Canadian football guard for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted in the first round with the 3rd overall pick in the 2008 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders. He played college football for UL Lafayette...
was the starting left guard. He debuted for Calgary, in week one against the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
. Tsoumpas started all 18 games including all playoff games which included the 96th Grey Cup
96th Grey Cup
The 96th Grey Cup was held in Montreal, Quebec at Olympic Stadium on November 23, 2008. The Eastern Division Champion Montreal Alouettes hosted the Western Division Champion Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders won the game 22-14, with quarterback Henry Burris winning the MVP award...
. He helped Calgary's running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
s average 134.6 yards per game with 6.4 yards per carry. He was also key in helping the Stampeders allow the fewest sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
in the CFL. Joffrey Reynolds
Joffrey Reynolds
Joffrey Reynolds is a professional Canadian football running back, currently playing for the Calgary Stampeders...
the CFL's leading rusher gained 1,310 yards with the help of Tsoumpas. Following the season he was Calgary's nominee for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie award.
Tsoumpas was expected to remain a starter in 2009.
Miami Dolphins
Tsoumpas agreed to terms with the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
on January 8, 2010. Tsoumpas was waived on July 30th and returned to the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
.