Staten Island, NY – Former Wagner College standout Julian Stanford ('12), a member of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012 after earning First-Team All-Northeast Conference (NEC) honors in 2011, signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions earlier this month and will conclude his second NFL season today when the Lions play at Minnesota in a 1:00 pm kickoff.

Another of Wagner's all-time great defensive performers, C.O. Prime ('13), a former Seahawk teammate of Stanford's and a 2013 free agent signee of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, was a third-round draft of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and contributed to their run to the Grey Cup - the CFL's title game. The Saskatchewan Roughriders earned a 45-23 victory over the Tiger-Cats in the 101st Grey Cup which took place on November 25.

Stanford, a 6-1, 230-pound linebacker,  signed a free agent contract with Jacksonville in April of 2012 after not being invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, then bucked the odds by earning a spot on the Jaguars' 2012 roster following preseason camp. Stanford made his presence felt immediately, recovering a fumble against the Minnesota Vikings in the season opener and went on to become one of just 19 Jaguars to see action in all 16 games last season.

A starter in six of Jacksonville's 16 games and a stalwart on special teams, the Bloomfield, CT native finished his rookie campaign with 23 total tackles, including 18 of the solo variety. In three games with the Lions in 2013, Stanford has recorded two tackles on special teams.

Stanford is the first former Wagner player to see action in an NFL regular season game since December of 1971 when Rich Kotite played for the New York Giants.

Prime, a native of Laval, Quebec, was drafted 19th overall in the third round of the CFL draft and joined the team on September 9 following a busy spring and summer that began with his signing a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts on April 30.  After spending the summer in the Colts training camp, Prime was released by Indianapolis, leaving him able to sign with Hamilton

The hard-hitting 6-1, 255-pound Prime played an integral role I in Wagner's extraordinary 2012 season, which featured a nine-game winning streak, the school's first NEC Football Title, a 31-20 NCAA FCS Playoff win over No. 24 Colgate, followed by a gallant effort in a 29-19 defeat at No. 4 Eastern Washington.

In four seasons at Wagner, Prime saw action in 43 games, amassing 278 tackles, 3.5 sacks, forcing four fumbles, and adding one interception. The Quebec native was named First-Team All-NEC in 2012.

Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@wagnerathletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department