Cameron Wake, left, seen with B.C. Lions teammate Aaron Hunt, has been courted by several NFL clubs. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)Cameron Wake will leave the B.C. Lions after agreeing to a deal with the Miami Dolphins.
The NFL club confirmed the signing on their website Monday, and the Lions released a statement on what was inevitable following Wake's two stellar CFL seasons at defensive end.
"It happened really fast," Wake, who is expected to play linebacker with the Dolphins, said on a conference call.
After the season, he went to Montreal during Grey Cup week to collect his second straight award as the CFL's outstanding defensive player, then went to Hawaii on a short vacation.
"As soon as I stepped back in Vancouver, it all started," he said.
Wake made visits to nine or 10 teams over the past month, finally narrowing his list to the "really serious" teams: Miami, Denver, Indianapolis, Buffalo and Minnesota.
He chose the Dolphins, the club that rebounded from a 1-15 season to go 11-5 in 2008.
"It's probably the biggest decision I've made," the Beltsville, Md., native said. "You look for the total package, not just the biggest deal or who had the best record.
"From the coaching staff, the position, the opportunity, the organization, everything combined, Miami put themselves above everyone else. Not by much, but at the end of the day, that was the best opportunity for me."
The six-foot-three-inch, 240-pound Wake was the CFL outstanding defensive player of the year in each of the past two seasons, using his speed and strength to break through offensive lines and get to the quarterback, which he did 39 times. Wake also totalled 137 defensive tackles.
He led the CFL with 23 sacks the past season, more than twice as many as the next highest total. The sack total was tied for fourth-best for a single season in league history.
"His two years up here were nothing short of spectacular," said Lions coach and general manager Wally Buono. "When you saw him dominate the league, it just speaks volumes for the kind of player he was.
"I know he's going to be missed. I think the CFL is losing a tremendous player, but yet the NFL is gaining a great player and a very good person."
Wake, who turns 26 next week, played collegiately at Penn State. He went undrafted in 2005 and signed with the New York Giants but couldn't gain a foothold .
It is likely that the hybrid player, who went by his birth name Derek during his collegiate career and first NFL pass, will revert to linebacker after starring on the defensive line with the Lions.
The Dolphins have been looking for pass rushing help to complement Joey Porter.
Wake is the big-bodied, fitness freak that Miami vice-president of football operations Bill Parcells and general manager Jeff Ireland crave.
The Miami Herald reported the deal is for four years and could total as much as $5 million US, with slightly less than $1 million in guaranteed money.
Wake spent the past two weeks trying out for clubs. It was reported that the Indianapolis Colts were also serious contenders for his services.
The Dolphins also announced the signing of free-agent safety Ethan Kilmer, who previously played for the Cincinnati Bengals and is a former teammate of Wake's from Penn State.
With files from the Canadian Press
