Former Troy University linebacker and current Canadian Football League player for the Montreal Alouettes Bear Woods has reached a three-year contract extension with the team, the league reported.

Woods enjoyed a productive 2014 season for Montreal under defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe, highlighted by a CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player finalist honor.

“I always felt that if Bear could stay on the field for any amount of games, he could solidify the middle,” Montreal General Manager Jim Popp told CFL. ca. “Last year he proved that he is a tremendous leader and a real force when healthy. The last twelve games last season where as good as anyone has manned the middle in the CFL over the last few years.”

Though he missed the first six games of the 2014 season, Woods still managed to finish second in the league with 89 tackles, including seven sacks.

Woods was just one key peg in a dominant Alouette defense that lead the CFL with 47 forced turnovers.

The former Trojan proved himself a multi-faceted defensive player, picking off one pass, forcing two fumbles and recording two tackles on special teams.

In the playoffs, he hit his stride, recording 21 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble in just two games.

Along with Woods, the Alouettes offered extensions to two other players.

Linebacker Winston Venable reached a one-year extension with the team, while defensive linemen Aaron Lavarias and Scott Paxson reached two-year deals with the team.