On Tuesday morning, the Edmonton Eskimos announced the contract extension of pending free agent kicker Sean Whyte.
In 2016, Whyte ranked number one in the league in field goal percentage with 93.8% accuracy– the third highest single-season mark in CFL history and well above the league average of 82.7%. He was the sole kicker above 90% last season, making 45-of-48 field goal attempts.
Whyte was also the only kicker in the league last season to be perfect from 49 yards and in (43-of-43) and one of just two kickers perfect from inside 40 yards.
He added 47-of-53 converts attempts (88.6%) in regular season.
In the Eastern Semi-Final against Hamilton, Whyte made three-of-three field goal attempts and two-of-two converts. In the Eastern Final against Ottawa, he made one-of-two field goal attempts and two-of-two converts.
For his efforts, Whyte was named the Eskimos Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and Most Outstanding Canadian for 2016.
Whyte entered the league in 2007 with the BC Lions. In 2011, he was traded to the Montreal Alouettes where he would spend five years.
In his first season with Montreal, he was awarded the Lew Hayman Trophy as the East Division’s Most Outstanding Canadian. He was also named the Alouettes Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. Two years later, he earned East All-Star honours.
Whyte originally signed with Edmonton as a free agent in September 2014 and re-signed January 2016.
Now entering his ninth CFL season, Whyte has made 256-of-299 field goal attempts (85.6%) – third highest in CFL history. He also made 264-of-271 converts (97.4%) in 112 games. The native of White Rock, British Columbia also amassed 27,766 yards on 651 punts with 41 singles.
