By Stampeders.com Staff

Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel is pleased to announce the signing of free-agent national offensive lineman and Calgary product Paul Swiston. As per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Swiston, an alumnus of Calgary’s E.P. Scarlett High School as well as the University of Calgary Dinos, was selected by Winnipeg in the fourth round (24th overall) in the 2011 CFL draft. He played 29 games over the past three seasons for the Blue Bombers.

The six-foot-nine, 334-lb. lineman was limited to a single game during the 2014 season but he dressed for all 18 contests during the 2012 season and played 10 games — including four starts — in 2013 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

“Paul is a big lineman who was showing good potential before being sidelined by injury,” said Hufnagel. “We’re hoping that playing in his hometown will give him an opportunity to get his career back on track and I look forward to seeing him compete for a roster spot in training camp.”

By joining the Stampeders, the 25-year-old Swiston is reunited with Stamps offensive line coach Pat DelMonaco, who was Swiston’s position coach for three seasons in Winnipeg.

“I thank John Hufnagel and the Stampeders for this opportunity and I’m so glad to be coming home to Calgary,” said Swiston. “I’m also looking forward to working with Coach DelMonaco again.”

Swiston played three seasons at the University of Calgary (2008-10). In 2010, he played the all-important left tackle position and was a Canada West all-star and a second-team all-Canadian. Swiston was part of an offensive line that allowed the Dinos to lead the conference in rushing by more than 600 yards and was Canada West’s nominee for the J.P. Metras Trophy as the top down lineman in Canadian university football.

He started all 12 games at left tackle during the 2009 season. In 2008, he stepped into the starting lineup in Week 3. He caught a pass for a two-point conversion in the Canada West semifinal against Regina and caught a touchdown pass in the conference final against Simon Fraser.