Ron Tiavaasue
(pronounced TEE-uh-VAH-soo-AY)
Running back
College: New Mexico State
Height: 6.04
Weight: 275
Born: Nov. 19, 1997
Birthplace: Motootua, Samoa
Global

Born in Samoa and raised in New Zeland, Tiavaasue was selected by Calgary in the first round (fourth overall) of this year’s global draft. He recently attended rookie mini-camp with the National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

In 2023, Tiavaasue played tight end at New Mexico State and he had three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown as well as two carries for 24 yards and one major. He previously played four games at Utah State in 2022 and 19 combined games at Missouri State in 2020 and 2021. At Missouri State, he had 21 receptions for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

Labrosse – Calgary’s first pick, fourth overall at last month’s Canadian Football League draft – recently attended rookie mini-camp with the National Football League’s New York Giants.

Ben Labrosse
Defensive back
College: McGill
Height: 6.00
Weight: 189
Born: Oct. 18, 1999
Birthplace: Greenfield Park, QC
National

Labrosse earned U Sports and Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) conference all-star honours in 2022 at McGill University. In eight games for the Redbirds, he made 35 tackles and had three interceptions and one pass breakup.

Before enrolling at McGill, he played 10 games over two years (2020-21) at Syracuse and had 14 tackles including one tackle for loss.

• Defensive linemen George Idoko and Jason Janvier-Messier
• Fullback Paul-Antoine Ouellette
• Offensive lineman Christy Nkanu
• Defensive backs Jackson Sombach and Kaylyn St-Cyr

All six players will report for the start of rookie camp on Wednesday morning at McMahon Stadium.

Christy Nkanu (selected in the first round, eighth overall)

Nkanu transferred to Washington State for the 2023 season after starting his collegiate career at Southern Utah. He played four games for the Cougars in 2023 and at Southern Utah in 2022, he suited up 12 contests and made eight starts – five at right tackle and one each at left tackle, left guard and left tackle.

Nkanu started his career with the Thunderbirds as a defensive lineman before switching to the offensive line during his redshirt freshman campaign in 2019.

George Idoko (third round, 28th overall)

Idoko is a Calgary product and a graduate of St. Francis High School. He played his university football at Saskatchewan, suiting up for 40 games over four seasons (2019, 2021-23). Idoko had 40 tackles including four tackles for loss and four sacks for the Huskies. He added two forced fumbles and one pass defended.

Idoko was a Canada West all-star in 2023 after accumulating 17 tackles and three sacks in nine games.

Jason Janvier-Messier (fourth round, 33rd overall)

Janvier-Messier was an Ontario University Athletics all-star for York in 2022 after recording 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and one forced fumble in six games. He missed most of the 2023 campaign with an elbow injury, but still managed to collect two sacks in two games before being sidelined.

The Beloeil, Que., product earned an invitation to the CFL draft combine after distinguishing himself at a regional combine event in Waterloo, Ont.

Paul-Antoine Ouellette (fifth round, 42nd overall)

Ouellette played tight end and also did some long snapping for the Université de Montréal. He was limited four games in 2023 as he missed the first half of the season with appendicitis. Ouellette was named to the roster for the 2023 East-West Bowl.

Jackson Sombach (seventh round, 60th overall)

Sombach played five seasons at the University of Regina and was a Canada West all-star in 2022. In 27 career games for the Rams, he recorded 103 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and 15 passes defended.

Kaylyn St-Cyr (eighth round, 69th overall)

St-Cyr was a three-time Quebec conference all-star at the Université de Montréal. In 2023, he made 15 tackles and added one interception, four pass breakups and five passes defended in six games. St-Cyr had 2.5 tackles in the Carabins’ Vanier Cup victory over UBC.

Like most young athletes growing up, Idoko dreamed of playing for his hometown team, but seeing the Stampeders select him with the 28^th overall pick in the third round (via trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers) was completely unexpected for the young defensive lineman.

“Honestly,” began Idoko, “I was a little surprised because I didn’t get a call the day before so when I saw my name on the board come up, I was like, ‘What! That’s my name!’ so it was very exciting.”

The Saskatchewan Huskies alum reveals he’d secretly hoped that a homecoming was in the cards all along.

“Definitely,” he said.

“Throughout the whole interview process I didn’t want to say, like when Edmonton asked me what team I’d want to go to I said it doesn’t matter but Calgary was definitely my number one team.

“I wanted to go to Calgary and I’m very happy they chose (me).”

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Just a seven-minute drive away from McMahon Stadium, the 23-year-old’s football journey began nearly 10 years ago at St. Francis High School.

“I started playing football in Grade 10 at St. Francis,” he said. “Around Grade 11 or 12 I imagined making a career out of it, because at the time I was playing basketball as well, but I stopped growing and I realized that I’m not going to be a 6-foot-7 point guard.

“The CFL was a path I could take; it became more realistic for me, so I chose to pursue football even more.

“I was a walk-on with the Huskies, and I got a scholarship from that, but it was something I saw where I could pave a path for myself to do this for a long time.”

(David Cox)

Idoko suited up for 40 games over four seasons (2019, 2021-23) for the Huskies. He had 40 tackles including four tackles for loss and four sacks. He added two forced fumbles and one pass defended.

His 17 tackles and three sacks in nine games for the Huskies last season earned him 2023 Canada West all-star honours.

At six-foot-one and 224 pounds, Idoko chalks up his play style to his physicality on defence.

“Firstly, I’m a very physical player but I believe I can play multiple positions,” he said. “I played linebacker with the Huskies, I played d-end.

“I would say there’s been a lot of growth over the past couple of years, mostly physically. Since we came out of Covid, I had to develop my body a lot. Especially as a d-lineman, it’s a very physical position. You have to be able to take hits from the big hoggies coming at you, the big boys.

“So, it took me a long time to develop that strength.

“I think of myself as someone who can be used in many different positions, but I love edge rushing, pass rushing, getting to the quarterback, and just being a disruptor and complicating the offence.”

From back-to-back Vanier Cup losses (2021-22), to paying rent and cooking his own food, Idoko’s time in Saskatoon has shaped the person he is today both on and off the field.

“I learned a lot playing with the Huskies,” he said.

“But also, the privilege of playing with a lot of players like (BC Lions defensive lineman) Nathan Cherry and (BC Lions long snapper) Riley Pickett, a lot of guys ahead of me. I’ve seen what it takes to be a CFL player and beyond. I’ve seen how these players work, seen them at practice, how they break down film and even how they approach life, what they eat, how they think, how they interact with other people.

“I’ve had a lot of great individuals around me. Even now with the competition that constantly pushes me and forces me to get better. Up until a couple years ago, I wasn’t even really a starter, so I had to earn that job by transforming myself.

“I’ve been surrounded by absolute beasts, great players, great coaches, and just a great team all around.”

Labrosse was taken with Calgary’s own first-round draft slot while Nkanu was taken with a pick acquired from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In a draft-day trade, the Stamps received the eighth overall pick as well as the Bombers’ third-round selection (28th overall) in exchange for a pair of second-round picks – Calgary’s own selection at No. 13 as well as the No. 14 overall pick, which was acquired in a 2022 trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Ben Labrosse
Defensive back
1st round
Fourth overall

Labrosse, who won finished first in the broad jump at the CFL’s 2024 draft combine, earned U Sports and Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) conference all-star honours in 2022 at McGill University. In eight games for the Redbirds, he had made 35 tackles and had three interceptions and one pass breakup. Labrosse returned the interceptions for a total of 74 yards including a 57-yard return TD against Montreal.

Before enrolling at McGill, he played 10 games over two years (2020-21) at Syracuse and had 14 tackles including one tackle for loss. Labrosse was a three-time all-star during his CEGEP career at Vanier College.

@CoachDCameron delivers the good news to first round pick Benjamin Labrosse! pic.twitter.com/WkagZTZL2R

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) May 1, 2024

Christy Nkanu
Offensive lineman
1st round
Eighth overall

Nkanu transferred to Washington State for the 2023 season after starting his collegiate career at Southern Utah. He played four games for the Cougars in 2023 and at Southern Utah in 2022, he suited up 12 contests and made eight starts – five at right tackle and one each at left tackle, left guard and left tackle. Nkanu started his career with the Thunderbirds as a defensive lineman before switching to the offensive line for his redshirt freshman campaign in 2019.

Nkanu played high school football in Lachine, Que., at École secondaire Dalbé-Viau, winning a provincial title with the Aigles D’Or, before enrolling at St. Paul High School in Los Angeles.

Coach Pat DelMonaco gives our 8th overall pick, Christy Nkanu a call! pic.twitter.com/4IjLaphRCD

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) May 1, 2024

George Idoko
Defensive lineman
3rd round
28th overall

Idoko is a Calgary product and a graduate of St. Francis High School, where he was the Browns’ defensive lineman of the year on two occasions. He played his university football at Saskatchewan, suiting up for 40 games over four seasons (2019, 2021-23). Idoko had 40 tackles including four tackles for loss and four sacks for the Huskies. He added two forced fumbles and one pass defended.

Idoko was a Canada West all-star in 2023 after accumulating 17 tackles and three sacks in nine games.

WESTBOUND

We've selected DL George Idoko with the 28th overall pick!#TogetherWeRide pic.twitter.com/A8ZY5QEiJI

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) May 1, 2024

Jason Janvier-Messier
Defensive lineman
4th round
33rd overall

Janvier-Messier was an Ontario University Athletics all-star for York in 2022 after recording 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and one forced fumble in six games. He missed most of the 2023 campaign with an elbow injury, but still managed to collect two sacks in two games before being sidelined.

The Beloeil, Que., product earned an invitation to the CFL combine after distinguishing himself at a regional combine event in Waterloo, Ont.

SHORING UP THE D-LINE #TogetherWeRide pic.twitter.com/AaObWVvGQc

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) May 1, 2024

Paul-Antoine Ouellette
Fullback
5th round
42nd overall

Ouellette played tight end and also did long snapping for the Université de Montréal. He was limited four games in 2023 as he missed the first half of the season with appendicitis. Ouellette was named to the roster for the 2023 East-West Bowl.

We've selected FB Paul-Antoine Oullette with the 42nd overall pick!

Bienvenue, Paul-Antoine!#TogetherWeRide pic.twitter.com/UGpjZ3QiYa

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) May 1, 2024

Tanner McLachlan
Fullback
6th round
51st overall

McLachlan is a Lethbridge native who earned all-Pac 12 Conference honourable mention honours in 2023 at the University of Arizona. In 25 games over two seasons with the Wildcats, he made 79 catches for 984 yards and six touchdowns. He was a sixth-round selection by the Cincinnati Bengals in the recent National Football League draft.

McLachlan, an alumnus of Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, transferred to Arizona after starting his collegiate career at Southern Utah.

With the 51st overall pick, we've selected RB Tanner McLachlan!#CFLDraft | #TogetherWeRide pic.twitter.com/lREqWqM1BJ

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) May 1, 2024

Jackson Sombach
Defensive back
7th round
60th overall

Sombach played five seasons at the University of Regina and was a Canada West all-star in 2022. In 27 career games for the Rams, he recorded 103 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and 15 passes defended.

Swapping out the green for RED!

We've selected DB Jackson Sombach with our 7th round pick!#TogetherWeRide pic.twitter.com/xtppn0SmXl

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) May 1, 2024

Kaylyn St-Cyr
Defensive back
8th round
69th overall

St-Cyr was a Quebec conference all-star for the Université de Montréal in 2023 after making 15 tackles and adding one interception, four pass breakups and five passes defended in six games. St-Cyr had 2.5 tackles in the Carabins’ Vanier Cup victory over UBC.

With our last pick in the 2024 #CFLDraft, we've selected DB Kaylyn St-Cyr!#TogetherWeRide pic.twitter.com/Sa3qOJVquc

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) May 1, 2024

Ron Tiavaasue (first round, fourth overall)

Tiavaasue is six-foot-four, 275-lb. product of Auckland, New Zealand, who played tight end at New Mexico State. As a member of the Aggies in 2023, he had three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown as well as two carries for 24 yards and one major.

Tiavaasue previously played four games at Utah State in 2022 and 19 combined games at Missouri State in 2020 and 2021. At Missouri State, he had 21 receptions for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

Tiavaasue has been invited to take part in the upcoming rookie mini-camp of the National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

Julius Welschof (second round, 13th overall)

Welschof is a six-foot-six, 265-lb., native if Miesbach, Germany. He completed his collegiate career at UNC-Charlotte in 2023 – recording four tackles in four games for the 49ers – after three seasons at Michigan.

In 34 games with the Wolverines, Welschof had 23 tackles and a half-sack.

Following last week’s NFL draft, Welschof signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent.

The unofficial kickoff to the 2024 CFL season is only three sleeps away with the global draft slated for 9 a.m. MT, and the national draft set for 6 p.m. MT on Tuesday, Apr. 30.

Fans can watch the first two rounds of the national draft live on TSN and stream exclusive coverage of rounds 3-8 live on tsn.ca. Fans can also tap into the CFL.ca Draft Tracker which will update every pick as it happens.

But before the draft arrives Tuesday, let’s take a look at some draft selections still making an impact on the Red and White.

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Clark Barnes – 2023

Selected 24^th overall with the Stampeders third round pick in last year’s draft, Clark Barnes engineered a promising rookie season.

Listed as one of the top receivers exiting the 2023 CFL Combine, Barnes was projected to go early in the first or second round of the draft. Although it took an extra round for the Brampton, Ont., native to hear his name called, Barnes proved analysts right come the regular season.

In his rookie year (limited to just nine games due to injury), the former Guelph Gryphon recorded 25 catches for 234 yards and a touchdown, 18 kickoff returns for 379 yards and two missed-field goal returns for 111 yards.

The 23-year-old was the Stamps nominee for the Most Outstanding Rookie award.

Bryce Bell – 2021

Waterloo product Bryce Bell was selected with the 11^th overall pick in the 2021 CFL Draft.

Since then, the former Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawk has proved his versatility, making starts at left tackle, right tackle, and center for the Stamps over the past two seasons.

BIG BOY x SOFT HANDS

Lineman, Bryce Bell with the grab-and-go for the @calstampeders! #GCPlayoffs on TSN, RDS
Stream on CFL+ pic.twitter.com/GmtRGkQ90k

— CFL (@CFL) November 4, 2023

Not only can he block defenders and open gaps for the running backs, but Bell can catch passes, too. In last season’s Western Semi-Final against the Lions, the 6’4, 315 lbs 26-year-old hauled in a throw from Jake Maier on first down good for 12 yards.

He inked a two-year contract extension with the club on Dec. 31, 2023.

Cody Grace – 2020

There were questions about who would be able to step into the shoes of former Red and White punter Rob Maver when he announced his retirement in 2019.

But with the selection of Australian punter Cody Grace in the 2020 global draft, those questions were quickly put to rest.

The former Arkansas State Red Wolf was named a CFL all-star in 2022, and a West-Division all-star in 2021 and 2022.

In 2023, he was the league leader with 12 punts that pinned opponents inside their own 10-yard line and was also top three in the CFL in gross punting average (47.2 yards) and net punting average (36.6).

Nick Statz – 2019

Plucked from their own backyard, the Red and White selected the former University of Calgary Dino in the sixth round (55^th overall) of the 2019 CFL Draft.

Over the past couple seasons, Statz has seen more action on defense, making plays at both the corner and safety positions for (defensive backs coach) Dwayne Cameron’s group.

Nick Statz— Big Dolphin Dive guy #CFLGameday on TSN & RDS
Stream on CFL+ pic.twitter.com/ng67b6y9qd

— CFL (@CFL) September 23, 2023

In 2023, the 27-year-old Calgarian had five defensive tackles, two special-teams stops, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one knockdown.

William Langlais – 2015

And finally, we take a look at the longest tenured draft pick, and the second-longest member of the Red and White sitting behind only Rene Paredes, William Langlais.

The Université de Sherbrooke alum was selected with the 27^th pick in the third round of the 2015 CFL Draft.

If you look at the stat sheet, his seventh and eighth seasons in the league were arguably his most productive. Typically utilized in blocking schemes on offence and special-teams, the 34-year-old fullback from Hull, Que., hauled in two receiving touchdowns courtesy of Maier.

At the tail end of the 2022 season, Langlais caught a pass from Maier against the visiting Ticats for the first receiving tuddy of his career, and in the Labour Day Rematch last September he hit paydirt again.

His first endzone marker came in 2017 on a special-teams play when he recovered the ball off a botched punt against the Yellow and Black in The Hammer.

Starting at 9 a.m. MDT, it’s the global draft featuring talent from around the world. The Calgary Stampeders currently have two selections in the two-round global draft including the fourth overall pick.

Later in the day, starting at 6 p.m. MDT, the national draft gets underway with the top Canadian talent available. The Stamps have eight selections in the eight-round draft including the fourth overall pick.

Stampeders picks (global draft)

1st round: 4th overall

2nd round: 13th overall

Stampeders picks (Canadian draft)

1st round
Fourth overall

2nd round
13th overall
14th overall (pick acquired from Hamilton Tiger-Cats as part of trade on Nov. 14, 2022)

3rd round
Pick traded to Hamilton as part of trade on Nov. 14, 2022 (Ticats subsequently traded pick to Toronto)

4th round
33rd overall

5th round
42nd overall

6th round
51st overall

7th round
60th overall

8th round
69th overall

The current Stampeders roster features 17 players drafted by Calgary.

1st round      Jalen Philpot (2022), Cole Tucker (2023)
2nd round     Bryce Bell (2021), Kwadwo Boahen (2023)
3rd round      William Langlais (2015), Zack Williams (2019), Rysen John (2020), Clark Barnes (2023)
4th round      Tyson Middlemost (2020), Elliot Graham (2021), Alexandre Marcoux (2023)
5th round      Ryan Leder (2023)
6th round      Nick Statz (2019), Sebastian Howard (2023), Campbell Fair (2023)
8th round      Daniel Amoako (2022), Lucas Robertson (2023)

The global draft has produced three current members of the roster including linebacker Lino Schröter, defensive back Bailey Devine-Scott and all-star punter Cody Grace.

Cole Tucker
#88
Receiver
College: Northern Illinois
Height: 6.02
Weight: 195
Born: June 7, 1999
Birthplace: DeKalb, IL
National

Tucker joins the Stampeders after attending rookie minicamp with the National Football League’s Minnesota Vikings.

In college, he played 53 games over six seasons at Northern Illinois and had 155 receptions for 2,030 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2022, he set career highs for the Huskies with 45 catches for 632 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned 43 punts for 156 yards during his Northern Illinois career.

Howard was selected in the sixth round (49th overall) in Tuesday’s Canadian draft while German native Schröter went in the second round (15th overall) of the global draft.

Sebastian Howard
Running back
College: Saint Mary’s
Height: 6.06
Weight: 230
Born: Dec. 31, 1999
Birthplace: Nanaimo, B.C.
National

Howard saw action at tight end over two seasons at Saint Mary’s and in 11 games for the Huskies, he had seven catches for 69 yards. He played junior football in B.C. for the Langley Rams.

Howard is expected to get a look at fullback during Stamps training camp.                             

Lino Schröter
Linebacker
Previous: Cologne Crocodiles
Height: 6.02
Weight: 225
Born: Aug. 25, 1999
Birthplace: Troisdorf, DE
Global

Schröter played two years for the Cologne Crocodiles of the German Football League. He was the Crocodiles’ special teams player of the year and most improved defensive player in 2021 and made the German league all-star team in 2022 after recording 59 tackles including 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, six pass breakups and one forced fumble in 11 games.

The University of Guelph receiver came out of the CFL Combine presented by New Era seen as the best pass catcher on the turf in Edmonton. The six-foot, 198-pound Brampton, Ont. native felt like come draft night, he wouldn’t be waiting long before his phone rang.

In the big picture, he wasn’t. The Calgary Stampeders took him with their third round pick, 24th overall. The competitor in him got antsy, though, as the first round led into the second. TSN had just made the jump from its on-air broadcast over to its TSN+ feed when Clark was chosen. The draft party he had put together — family and friends, some of his Guelph teammates — got their moment to celebrate his official leap to the pros.

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On Friday, there was more cause for celebration. Barnes was one of six members of the Stamps’ 2023 draft class to come to terms with the team. He’s officially a pro football player now.

“It is definitely surreal. I don’t think it’s totally sunk in all the way yet,” Barnes said on Friday, shortly after he’d signed his contract.

“It’s a real dream come true for sure.”

Landing with the Stamps, the 22-year-old felt it was worth the wait in the end, but it was still a tough one for him. Every vibration of his phone sent a pang of nervousness through him and every time he saw that it was a Snapchat notification or texts from friends, it just added to his nervousness.

“Definitely expected to go a little higher in the draft, but it wasn’t too much of a toll on me,” he said. “Once it happened I was just excited to go and thankful honestly, that Calgary gave me the shot.

“I was told to expect the first two rounds,” he said. “But you never know what to expect. You always know that anything could happen. Regardless, it’s not too much of a difference per round. Everybody has to earn it at camp so it didn’t really matter to me too much.”

When the phone finally did ring and general manager/head coach Dave Dickenson gave him the good news, Barnes got the fit that he was hoping for. The Stamps continue to be a model franchise in the CFL, even if they haven’t hoisted a Grey Cup since the 2018 season. Dickenson and team president John Hufnagel continue to find talent and develop players at a high level. For someone like Barnes, who has shown tremendous potential as a receiver (14 games over three seasons with 516 yards and six touchdowns) and returner (four touchdowns on 23 kickoff returns) in his time at Guelph, Calgary is a perfect landing spot.

“Especially when you’re going out of town and not somewhere close to where you’re from, knowing that you’re going to be in good hands with a great organization, it’s definitely comforting knowing that,” he said.

He’ll head into Stamps’ rookie camp next week with a ton of opportunity in front of him, as well. On Wednesday, the Stamps announced that receiver Jalen Philpot, last year’s fifth overall pick, would miss training camp as he continues to rehab from a hamstring injury that required surgery. That’s bad news for the team, as Philpot was primed to take a leap from the impressive rookie season he had, but as he’s already learned in receiver meetings, it opens up a need and a chance for players to step in and fill the void.

“I’m just focused on doing whatever I can in camp and doing the best with what they’re asking of me,” Barnes said. “It’s really all you can focus on, making sure that you’re taking advantage of any opportunity that comes up.”

He’s more than happy to be with an organization like the Stamps, but that competitor in Barnes is still stewing a little. Ready to put in the hard work for his new team, if he ends up showing some others on what they missed out on, that’s fine by him too.

“I have a pretty big chip on my shoulder, honestly,” he said.

“I want to prove a lot of people wrong in how the draft went but I’m trying not to pay attention to that chip on my shoulder too much and get filled with a lot of negative energy. So I’m just trying to stay positive, just focus on football and not a lot of outside talk and assumptions and stuff like that. I’m just excited to play ball.”

The signed draft picks are:

• DL Kwadwo Boahen
• REC Clark Barnes
• OL Alexandre Marcoux
• DL Ryan Leder
• K Campbell Fair
• FB Lucas Robertson

The Stamps have also signed University of Calgary Dinos defensive back and Calgarian Jacob Biggs as an undrafted free agent and added Calgary Colts defensive back Marc-Sullivan Andzang to the roster as a territorial exemption.

In addition, St. Francis Xavier quarterback Silas Fagnan – a product of Bonnyville, Atla. – will attend training camp as part of the CFL’s quarterback internship program.

Here is more information on the players:

Kwadwo Boahen
Defensive lineman
College: Alberta
Height: 6.02
Weight: 285
Born: Mar. 22, 2000
Birthplace: Calgary, AB

Earlier this week in the Canadian draft, Boahen was chosen in the third round (22nd overall).

He played the 2022 season at the University of Alberta and in seven games for the Golden Bears he made 21 tackles and recorded one sack. He transferred to Alberta after three seasons and 21 games at York. He was a member of the Ontario University Athletics all-rookie team in 2018 and accumulated a total of 55 tackles and five sacks during his tenure with the Lions.

Boahen played high-school football for Bishop McNally/Father Lacombe Laserwolves.

Clark Barnes
Receiver
College: Guelph
Height: 6.02
Weight: 193
Born: Sept. 3, 2000
Birthplace: Brampton, ON

Barnes was drafted in the third round (24th overall).

He played 14 regular-season games over three seasons (2019, 2021-22) at Guelph and made 38 catches for 516 yards and six touchdowns. He also played special teams for the Gryphons and had 23 kickoff returns for 710 yards and four touchdowns. Barnes was a second-team Ontario University Athletics all-star in 2021 after amassing 23 catches for 345 yards and five majors.

Alexandre Marcoux
Offensive lineman
College: McGill
Height: 6.02
Weight: 295
Born: Jan. 3, 1998
Birthplace: Quebec City, QC

Marcoux went in the fourth round (33rd overall) in Tuesday’s draft.

He played 35 games and made 25 starts over four seasons (2018-19, 2021-22) at McGill and saw action at left tackle, left guard, centre and right tackle for the Redbirds.

Ryan Leder
Defensive lineman
College: McMaster
Height: 6.02
Weight: 235
Born: Apr. 15, 2000
Birthplace: Hamilton, ON

Leder was selected in the fifth round (42nd overall).

He played 31 games over four seasons (2018-19, 2021-22) at McMaster and recorded 86 total tackles including 13 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, one blocked kick and three passes defended. In 2021, he earned an invitation to the U Sports East-West Bowl.

Campbell Fair
Kicker
College: Ottawa
Height: 6.01
Weight: 165
Born: Apr. 10, 2000
Birthplace: Oakville, ON

Fair was drafted in the sixth round (51st overall).

He played 28 games over four seasons at the University of Ottawa. In 2022, he was the Gee-Gees’ special teams of the year and a second-team Ontario University Athletics all-star after kicking for 81 points in eight games. Fair was 19-for-26 on field-goal attempts including a school-record 55-yarder on the last play of the game to give the Gee-Gees a win over Wilfrid Laurier.

For his career, he was 48 of 68 on field goals and 69 of 71 on extra points for a total of 213 points. Fair also punted 98 times for a 37.7-yard average.

Lucas Robertson
#22
Running back
College: UBC
Height: 6.04
Weight: 235
Born: Feb. 1, 2001
Birthplace: Edmonton, AB

Robertson was drafted in the eighth round (69th overall).

The Edmontonian played 19 games over three seasons at UBC, making 21 catches for 173 yards and one touchdown and recording seven tackles. In 2022 for the Thunderbirds, he had seven receptions for 74 yards and his first university touchdown, a 21-yard score in a Sept. 23 game against Regina.

Jacob Biggs
Defensive back
College: Calgary
Height: 6.00
Weight: 190
Born: Jan. 19, 2000
Birthplace: Calgary, AB

Biggs played 32 games over four seasons (2018-19, 2021-22) at the University of Calgary. He had 98 career tackles for the Dinos including 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, one fumble recovery and 25 passes defended. In 2021, Biggs scored a touchdown on a 44-yard interception return against UBC.

Biggs is an alumnus of Calgary’s St. Francis High School and the Calgary Cowboys minor football association. His father Raymond was a linebacker who played eight seasons with the Stampeders and was a member of Grey Cup-winning team in 1998.

Marc-Sullivan Andzang
Defensive back
Junior: Calgary Colts
Height: 5.10
Weight: 185
Born: Nov. 16, 2001
Birthplace: Libreville, GAB

Andzang was a Prairie Football Conference all-star as a member of the Calgary Colts junior team in 2022 after accumulating 19 total tackles, two knockdowns, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

Prior to joining the Colts, he played for the Faucons of Cégep de Lévis-Lauzon.

Silas Fagnan
Quarterback
College: St. Francis Xavier
Height: 6.02
Weight: 190
Birthplace: Bonnyville, AB

Fagnan is a two-time Atlantic University Sport all-star was the conference’s Most Outstanding Player in 2021. He is coming off a season in which he led AUS with 1,935 passing yards. Fagnan threw for 13 touchdowns and also had 233 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

Tucker played 53 games over six seasons (2017-22) at Northern Illinois and had 155 receptions for 2,030 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2022, he set career highs for the Huskies with 45 catches for 632 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned 43 punts for 156 yards during his Northern Illinois career.

Tucker, who was born in DeKalb, Ill., receives Canadian status through his mother Cindy, a Brandon, Man., native who was a standout gymnast at Northern Illinois. His father Brett was a defensive back for the NIU football team.

The highly touted receiver was projected to go high in multiple mock drafts, so it comes as no surprise that the Red and White coaching staff were eager to pounce on the talented prospect.

“We were very excited to get the wide receiver that we did in the first round, Cole Tucker out of Northern Illinois University,” said defensive backs coach and CFL Draft coordinator Dwayne Cameron. “He’s obviously played against high-level competition and can do it all. He can catch intermediate routes and turn them into big plays, he can get over the top and make big plays, and he’s very physical in terms of blocking in and around the box. We’re quite excited to get Cole.”

Following the live announcement on TSN, receivers coach Nik Lewis gave the rookie a call to officially deliver the news.

Receivers coach @nikel18 gives 1st round draft pick @cole_tucker15 a call pic.twitter.com/cJXOEbBw90

— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) May 3, 2023

It’s no secret Tucker has accepted an invite to rookie minicamp with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, but that doesn’t mean the former Husky star has closed the doors to play football north of the border.

“I’ve heard about Calgary,” Tucker began. “It looks like a beautiful city with a lot of great people so I’m excited to get up there.

“The CFL has a bunch of great players and still being able to be part of a locker-room environment and be around the game of football … that’s what my dream is, and I’ll play wherever I can.”

(Northern Illinois Athletics)

“The toughest thing for Cole is he’s going to miss rookie camp,” explained general manager and head coach Dave Dickenson. “We knew that, but we feel like we needed to take this shot. If he makes it, he makes it. We can’t wish poorly on anyone that goes down there and takes a shot at it.

“But if he is up here, I think it’s a good match. I think he’s meant to be a Stampeder and he’ll have success.”

If Tucker does find himself participating in Stamps training camp within the next couple weeks, fans can expect to see a versatile target aiming to make his mark on Canadian soil.

His game compares to that of Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, possessing elite route-running, and the ability to get open nearly every play. Add the waggle to his playmaking abilities and he’s certainly a weapon that quarterback Jake Maier will be anxious to torture opposing defences with this season.

“I think I bring a lot of football intelligence to the field,” explained Tucker. “I’m a very cerebral player. At the receiver position I’m always looking pre-snap, post-snap, what the safeties and corners are doing, what the defence is doing and I think I bring great route-running to the equation. I pride myself on being able to get open against any coverage whether it be man, zone, doesn’t matter. There’s always a way to get open in my mind.”

Tucker looks forward to implementing those skills on the wider Canadian turf.

“I think with the CFL it’s a pass dominant league,” he said. “You know with the wide field, the waggle, it allows for receivers and offence to flourish. There’s a lot of space out there and you really can’t touch a receiver if you’ve got the waggle and the ability to move at the line of scrimmage.

“So, you know obviously for me as a receiver that likes to catch the ball and get open, that’s very intriguing,” he said with a wide grin.

Dickenson echoed that sentiment, “I got the sense that this guy loves football. His family background is solid, his mom and dad are both athletes and he can really talk the game and I just felt that he’s going to be a good fit for our team.

“He’s tough, he’s gritty and he’s got great hands and I do think he’ll push to be a big piece of the puzzle if not a starter.”

Football ops continued to stack up on national talent at the receiver position throughout the course of the draft, selecting Clark Barnes (Guelph), Sebastian Howard (St. Mary’s) and Lucas Robertson (UBC) by the end of the night. Those three additions will take to the field with fellow nationals Jalen Philpot, Luther Hakunavanhu, Rysen John, Colton Hunchak and Tyson Middlemost. Add Tucker to the mix and the Red and White have a healthy Canadian competition in camp this May.

Rookie camp opens a week from today on May 10, and training camp will commence Sunday, May 14.

Here are the Stamps’ picks:
Cole Tucker
1st round (fourth overall)
Receiver
College: Northern Illinois
Height: 6.02
Weight: 195

Tucker played 53 games over six seasons (2017-22) at Northern Illinois and had 155 receptions for 2,030 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2022, he set career highs for the Huskies with 45 catches for 632 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned 43 punts for 156 yards during his Northern Illinois career. Tucker, who was born in DeKalb, Ill., has Canadian status through his mother Cindy, a Brandon, Man., native who was a standout gymnast at Northern Illinois. His father Brett was a defensive back for the NIU football team.

Kwadwo Boahen
3rd round (22nd overall)
Defensive lineman
College: Alberta
Height: 6.02
Weight: 285

An alumnus of Calgary’s Bishop McNally High School, Boahen played the 2022 season at the University of Alberta. In seven games for the Golden Bears he made 21 tackles and recorded one sack. Boahen transferred to Alberta after three seasons and 21 games at York. He was a member of the Ontario University Athletics all-rookie team in 2018 and accumulated 55 tackles and five sacks for the Lions.

Clark Barnes
3rd round (24th overall)
Receiver
College: Guelph
Height: 6.02
Weight: 193

Barnes played 14 regular-season games over the past three seasons at Guelph, making 38 catches for 516 yards and six touchdowns. He was a second-team Ontario University Athletics all-star in 2021 after amassing 23 catches for 345 yards and five majors. Prior to enrolling at Guelph, Barnes played for the Football North program at Clarkson Secondary School in Mississauga, Ont.

Alexandre Marcoux
4th round (33rd overall)
Offensive lineman
College: McGill
Height: 6.02
Weight: 295

Marcoux played 35 games and made 25 starts over four seasons at McGill. The versatile Levis, Que., product saw action at left tackle, left guard, centre and right tackle for the Redbirds. At the CFL combine, Marcoux led all offensive linemen with a vertical jump of 26.5 inches.

Ryan Leder
5th round (42nd overall)
Defensive lineman
College: McMaster
Height: 6.02
Weight: 235

The defensive end recorded 15 solo tackles and eight assisted tackles for McMaster in 2022. He added 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. For his career with the Marauders, Leder had 81 total tackles and six sacks. He earned an invitation to last month’s CFL combine with a strong performance at the regional combine in Waterloo, Ont.

Sebastian Howard
6th round (49th overall)
Tight end
College: Saint Mary’s
Height: 6.06
Weight: 230

Howard saw action at tight end for Saint Mary’s and had seven catches for 69 yards in 11 games over two seasons. He played high-school football at Ballenas Secondary School in Parksville, B.C.

Campbell Fair
6th round (51st overall)
Kicker/punter
College: Ottawa
Height: 6.01
Weight: 165

Fair was a second-team Ontario University Athletics all-star at Ottawa in 2022. He set a Gee-Gees record with a game-winning 55-yard field goal against Wilfrid Laurier on Sept. 24, 2022. In 28 career games, Fair converted 48 of 68 field goals and added 69 extra points for a total of 213 kicking points. He also punted 98 times for a 37.7-yard average.

Lucas Robertson
8th round (69th overall)
Fullback
College: UBC
Height: 6.04
Weight: 235

The Edmonton native played 19 games over three seasons at UBC, making 21 catches for 173 yards and one touchdown.