Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the signing of import running backs Jeramy Avery and Michael Smith. As per team policy, terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

Avery rushed for 2,957 yards and 29 touchdowns over the course of a four-year career at Boise State University. He added 67 catches for 790 yards and four majors and 29 kickoff returns for 420 yards. He was a second-team all-Western Athletic Conference all-star in 2009 after rushing for 1,151 yards. As a senior in 2010, he recorded 11 rushing touchdowns.

Smith is a product of the University of Arkansas, where he earned second-team all-Southeastern Conference honours as a junior in 2008 after rushing for 1,072 yards and eight touchdowns. Over four years with the Razorbacks, he rushed for 2,023 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 53 passes for 529 yards and three majors.