The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed linebacker Simoni Lawrence to a two-year contract extension on Tuesday.

Lawrence, who was named the East Division’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player and a CFL All-Star and for the first time in his career in 2015, was also named a Divisional All-Star for the second consecutive campaign. He started all 18 games at linebacker and recorded career highs in defensive tackles (80) and sacks (5), while adding two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

“Simoni is an outstanding player with a great work ethic and love for the game that is infectious to everyone around him,” said Tiger-Cats vice president of football operations and head coach Kent Austin. “He embodies the qualities we look for in a football player and we’re very pleased he will be a Tiger-Cat through 2017.”

The 6-1, 228-pound native of Pennsylvania has appeared in 61 career CFL games (46 starts) with the Edmonton Eskimos and Tiger-Cats, registering 225 defensive tackles, 11 tackles for loss, nine quarterback sacks and seven interceptions.

He has also seen action in eight playoff games, including two Grey Cup appearances in 2013 and 2014 with Hamilton.