Draft night started with a surprising theme of picking offensive linemen. Ottawa chose Alex Mateas; Winnipeg chose U of C Dinos player Suhk Chungh; and Toronto drafted Sean McEwen, also from Calgary. As last year’s Grey Cup champions, the Calgary Stampeders chose 9th in the first round.
Stampeders 2015 CFL Draft Review
They drafted offensive lineman Karl Lavoie, a very talented player out of Laval who was named to the RSEQ offensive all-star team but did not compete in this year’s combine due to injury. It wasn’t surprising that Calgary would pick an offensive player considering the loss of Stanley Bryant and Brett Jones during the off season.
Normally the top draft prospects get picked in the first round, so while teams were busy securing the offensive players, a few big names fell to the second round. One in particular turned a few heads: Lemar Durant, a receiver out of Simon Fraser who many predicted would go in the first round. John Hufnagel and team were surely thrilled when they grabbed him in the final pick of the second round. Durant, at 6’2″ and 231 lbs, will be a very physical force on the field, one the Stampeders need after losing Nik Lewis and Maurice Price.
The final rounds of the draft saw the Stampeders pick up some much-needed defensive and offensive linemen. Running back Tyler Varga, who is under contract with the Indianapolis Colts after going undrafted in the NFL, is a strong contender as a future CFL product. Trevaughn Campbell, a DB out of Regina, set CFL Combine records this year for speed in the 40-yard dash.
Fullback William Langlais will mostly likely show his full potential being able to help out on special teams, an area that Coach Hufnagel expressed concerns with given the new punt return rule implemented this year. Defensive back Dexter Janke went 44th overall in the 5th round and offensive lineman Aaron Picton was chosen in the 6th.
Calgary ended the night picking quarterback and Calgary native, Andrew Buckley, HEC Crighton Trophy winner. Mr. Irrelevant is usually a title saved for the last player picked in the draft. Buckley said in an interview, “I’m okay with that title…I’m just glad to be picked”.
Overall, the Stampeders obtained some very talented, young players in this year’s draft. That’s the way Hufnagel likes to play, by grooming young talent rather than spending large amounts of money in free agency and elsewhere. In case you were counting, yes, three University of Calgary Dinos were selected in the Top 10 this year. Training camp awaits.
