The Calgary Stampeders have signed six Canadian players, including fullback Sebastian Howard, offensive linemen Rodeem Brown and Alexandre Marcoux, defensive linemen Kwadwo Boahen and Ryan Leder, and kicker Campbell Fair.
Howard was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 CFL Draft out of Saint Mary’s University. The six-foot-five, 219-pound pass catcher impressed at the league’s Invitational Combine and earned a selection for the national event in Edmonton, recording a 4.71-second forty-yard dash and 10-foot, two-inch broad jump.
The Nanaimo, B.C. native saw action at tight end over two seasons with the Huskies, recording seven catches for 69 yards in 11 games. He previously played for the UBC Thunderbirds before a stint in junior football with the CJFL’s Langley Rams.
Brown was a second-round pick of the Montreal Alouettes in the 2022 CFL Draft out of the University of Alberta. He returned to the Golden Bears for his final year of U Sports eligibility last season and was cut by the Als following training camp in 2023. He spent most of the season on Calgary’s practice roster but started one game.
The six-foot-one, 299-pound blocker was born in Halifax but played high school football in Saskatchewan. He was named a first-team U Sports All-Canadian at right guard in 2021 but also has experience at centre.
Marcoux was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 CFL Draft. The six-foot-two, 296-pound blocker played 35 games and made 25 starts over four seasons at McGill, seeing action at left tackle, left guard, centre, and right tackle. He returned to the Redbirds this year after being waived by Calgary.
Boahen was chosen in the third round of the 2023 CFL Draft. The Calgary native played seven games for the University of Alberta in 2022, making 21 tackles and one sack. He returned to the team after participating in training camp with the Stampeders and was named a Canada West all-star in 2023.
The six-foot, 278-pound defender transferred to the Golden Bears from York University where was named to the OUA All-Rookie team in 2018 and accumulated 55 tackles and five sacks over three seasons.
Leder was taken in the fifth round of the 2023 CFL Draft after playing 31 games over four seasons at McMaster University. The six-foot-one, 244-pound defensive end recorded 86 total tackles including 13 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, one blocked kick, and three knockdowns before returning for one final season with the Marauders in 2023.
Fair was drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 CFL Draft out of the University of Ottawa. He was named a second-team OUA all-star in 2022 after connecting on 19-of-26 on field-goal attempts, including a school-record 55-yarder. He returned to school in 2023 and made a 55-yard game-winner in the Panda Bowl.
The Stampeders also released American linebacker Adarius Taylor, who previously played 88 NFL games as a member of the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Cleveland Browns, recording 140 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception, and six pass knockdowns.
