By Max Campbell
Stampeders.com

With the 2015 CFL Draft set for May 12, let’s have a quick look back at the Stampeders’ selections from one year ago along with updates on their respective seasons – both collegiately and professionally – in 2014.

Pierre Lavertu (OL)
Laval
1st Round – 1st overall

After trading OL Jon Gott to the Ottawa RedBlacks for the rights to C Marwan Hage and the first overall selection in the 2014 CFL Draft, Lavertu chosen by the Stampeders. Appearing in 15 games, the Quebec City native made his professional debut in Week 1 vs. Montreal and made three starts. He helped lead the league’s top rushing attack in 2014 and the Stamps o-line also allowed the fewest sacks in the CFL. He was in the lineup for both the Western Final and the 102nd Grey Cup. 

Quinn Smith (DL)
Concordia                                                                                                                      
1st Round – 7th Overall

Smith, who played both offence and defence during his time at Concordia, played in 11 games in 2014. He registered 10 tackles to go along with three tackles for loss and four sacks in his rookie campaign. Named CFL Canadian player of the week in the regular season finale against BC, Smith also appeared in both of Calgary’s post-season contests, registering two tackles in the Western Final against Edmonton.

Max Caron (LB)
Concordia                                                                                                                      
2nd Round – 16th Overall

After suffering a season-ending injury in the team’s first pre-season game on June 14, Caron spent last season on the six-game injury list and will look to make his presence felt on the field in 2015. The Kingston, Ont., product was signed on May 27, 2014, after a superb four-year CIS career with the Stingers. Caron was named the team’s MVP in addition to Concordia’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2012. 

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (OL)
McGill
3rd Round – 19th Overall

Regarded as the top prospect heading into the 2014 Draft, Duvernay-Tardif was still available when Calgary made their fourth selection due to significant interest from the NFL. Announced as a sixth-round pick (200th overall) of the Kansas City Chiefs just three days prior to CFL Draft, Duvernay-Tardif spent 2014 with the Chiefs but did not see the field throughout the regular season. However, the former CIS Most Outstanding Lineman did appear in three pre-season contests. 

Adam Thibault (DB)
Laval
3rd Round – 24th Overall

Thibault played in eight games, primarily on special teams, and made five tackles, He registered three more takedowns in post-season play. After beginning the season on the practice roster, his first game came at home in a Week 7 win against Ottawa. Lining up at both the receiver and defensive back positions as a member of the Rouge et Or, Thibault recorded the fastest time in the 40-yard dash at the 2014 CFL Combine.

Joe Circelli (OL)
Western
3rd Round – 25th Overall

Circelli attended training camp for the Stamps on 2014 but returned to university for a final season of eligibility. The Mustangs offence averaged 650 yards in offence last season. Circelli was named an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) all-star in 2013. 

Derek Wiggan (DL)
Queen’s
4th Round – 34th Overall

After attending training camp with the Red and White, Wiggan returned to Queen’s for the 2014 campaign.  The Toronto native went on to make a total of 36 tackles and a team-best 5.5 sacks. In addition, he was credited with one forced fumble, four fumble recoveries and 12 tackles for loss and earned second-team OUA all-star recognition. Wiggan re-signed with the Stampeders on Feb. 18. 

Tyler Crapigna (K)
McMaster
5th Round – 40th Overall

The most prolific kicker in CIS history, Crapigna made the game-winning field goal in Calgary’s pre-season game vs. Winnipeg on June 14, 2014. He ultimately returned to university to complete his fifth year of eligibility and converted nearly 90 per cent of his field-goal attempts. He was also responsible for punting duties at McMaster and was named a CIS all-star in his final season. The 2014 Vanier Cup marked Crapigna’s last game in a Maurauder uniform as the OUA champions were denied victory by the Montreal Carabins.

Brian Marshall (WR)
Western
7th Round – 61st Overall

Marshall, the Stamps’ final pick in the 2014 draft, attended training camp with the Stamps before returning to Western. He led the Mustangs last season with 40 catches for 657 yards and four touchdowns.