The Calgary Stampeders selected a total of seven players in today’s CFL Canadian Draft.
Brander Craighead, OL, Texas-El Paso (first round, seventh overall):
6.06, 280 lbs… Born: Sept. 8, 1990… Started all 12 games for UTEP in each of the 2011 and 2012 seasons… has started at both left and right tackle… helped the UTEP Miners rank fourth nationally in long plays of 70+ yards from scrimmage… Played for Fork Union Military Academy before going to UTEP… Ottawa native.
Head Coach/GM John Hufnagel says: “He’s a very athletic young man. He has another year left in school. He’s excited. At the time we were selecting him he was in his coach’s office at UTEP waiting by the phone. It’s a look to the future. Because of the draft following 2013 season, a red shirt player will not have signed a contract so I do not need to protect him, and one thing I didn’t want to do was select a player in the first round that we could possibly lose six months later.”
Offensive line coach Mike Gibson says: “He’s athletic for his size and can move his feet. He’s a good fundamental player who has good arm length and plays with balance.”
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| D’Aguilar was the 2012 JP Metras Award winner as the CIS’s top lineman |
Benjamin D’Aguilar, DL, McMaster (second round, 13th overall):
6.02, 240 lbs… Born: Sept. 12, 1989… 2012 JP Metras Award winner as the CIS’s top lineman… Recorded a Canadian university record 12.5 sacks last year… Had a total of 28 tackles including 27 solo… Helped the McMaster Marauders to the best defensive record in the OUA (Ontario University Athletics)… Tallied a team-best six solo tackles and one sack for the West squad in the 2012 CIS East West Bowl… First team All-Canadian… First team 2012 OUA all-star… Posted a 4.70 – 40 yard dash time accompanied by a 35 inch verticle in the combine… Hamilton, ON native.
Defensive line coach DeVone Claybrooks says: “Very athletic player who hustles and gives you 110%.”
Special teams coordinator Mark Kilam says: “When playing on special teams he is a difference maker. He is big and fast and plays with an aggressive streak about him.”
Head coach/GM John Hufnagel says: “He’ll be able to come in and hopefully be a starter on all four special teams and you know how much we value our special teams play. And then he’ll work to get into a defensive rotation. He’s a big-body guy with excellent speed and he’ll be able to win individual matchups on special teams.”
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| Jones started all eight games in 2012 for the University of Regina. |
Brett Jones, OL, Regina (second round, 16th overall):
6.03, 305 lbs… Born: July 29, 1991… Started all eight games in 2012 for the University of Regina… Finalist for J.P Metras Award (Top CIS lineman)… 2012 CIS first team All-Canadian… 2012 Canada West all-star… 2011-12 University of Regina Male Athlete of the Year… 2011 CIS first team All-Canadian… 2011 Canada West Outstanding Student Athlete (Russ Jackson Award nominee)… 2011 Canada West all-star… 2010-11 Academic All-Canadian… 2009-10 Academic All-Canadian… Prior to attending University of Regina, Jones helped the Weyburn Eagles win Regina Intercollegiate Football League 3A titles in ’07 and ’08.
Offensive line coach Mike Gibson says: He has a strong lower body and moves his feet on contact. He has a good punch, takes good pass sets and also shows good patience.
Head coach/GM John Hufnagel says: “He’s been a four-year starter. He really has given us great depth at that centre position we were concerned about. I was very pleased to acquire him at that time.”
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| Morin-Plante recorded the third best 40-yard dash time at 4.534 seconds. |
Yannick Morin-Plante, REC, Laval (third round, 25th overall):
6.00, 200 lbs… Born: Sept. 25, 1989… Native of Drummondville. PQ… Recorded the third best 40-yard dash time at 4.534 seconds… Morin-Plante had 17 catches for the Rouge et Or in 2012 for 150 yards and one touchdown and was part of Laval’s Vanier Cup championship team.
Head coach/GM John Hufnagel says: “One of fastest receivers that was at E-Camp this year, he’s a physical player, a strong player, and has the ability to break tackles.“
Charlie Power, REC, Saskatchewan (fourth round, 28th overall):
6.03, 230 lbs… Born: June 1, 1991… played linebacker before switching to receiver in 2012… made 18 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns as an inside receiver in 2012.… had 25 tackles, a fumble recovery and two break-ups over two seasons (2010, 2011)… Okotoks native who graduated from Holy Trinity Academy Where he was defensive player of the year all three years… was a member of his high school’s 4x100m relay provincial gold medal team in 2008.
Special teams coordinator Mark Kilam says: “He played all four special teams units in university. He’s a former defensive player who shows spatial and positional awareness. He plays solid and will be consistently in the right place.”
Receivers coach Pete Costanza says: “He has good hands and the ability to make the tough catch.”
Head coach/GM John Hufnagel says: “Charlie is a bigger kid. He was a hybrid player for them. He played in the slot and then came back in the backfield and did some fullback responsibilities. He’s a big man who has good speed. Last year was his first year as an offensive player, so I think he has tremendous upside.”
>> Position switch lands Power in CFL
TRADE: Calgary acquires non-import DL Étienne Légaré from Edmonton in exchange for Calgary’s 34th overall pick in the 2013 CFL Draft.
Head coach/GM John Hufnagel says: “He is a little injured at this time and won’t be ready for training camp. We’re hoping he can be there for the first regular season game, possibly even the last pre-season game. But with losing Brian Bulcke over the off-season and really not being able to fill that need in the draft today, we thought it would be a great acquisition for us. Now we just need him to get healthy.”
Shane Bergman, OL, Western (sixth round, 48th overall):
6.07, 352 lbs… He was part of a Western offensive unit that led the country with 289.1 rushing yards per game in 2012 and allowed Garret Sanvido to rush for a CIS-best 1,001 yards. The Mustangs were third in total offence with 40.9 points and 535.1 yards per contest… nickname is “Big Country” by Mustang teammates.
Offensive line coach Mike Gibson says: “This kid is athletic, can sink his hips and can move his feet. He plays with effort and does not spend time on the ground.”
Head coach/GM John Hufnagel says: “Shane’s a big man. He’s lost some weight and is looking forward to dropping even more. He’s a project. But when you have that big of a man who can play, we are going to take some time to see how he can develop.”
Dumitru Ionita, P, Concordia (seventh round, 59th overall):
6.02, 208 lbs… Born: May 29, 1990… The Woodstock, Ont., native led the country in punting in 2010 with an average of 42.5 yards per kick. In 2012, he played for the Twin Cities Predators (based in Waterloo, Ont.) of the Canadian Junior Football League.
Head coach/GM John Hufnagel says: “He was teammates with Paredes and he played junior ball this past year and probably will play junior ball again this year. This selection was, more or less, maybe providing us with depth because of what may or may not transpire in the expansion draft.