By Geoff Crane
Stampeders.com

Of the many highlights of the John Hufnagel era for the Calgary Stampeders, the annual Canadian Football League Draft ranks near the top.

Consistently, the Stamps scouts, coaches and general manager have managed to select impact players, not only for the long-term future of the team but also immediate benefits.

You don’t have to go too far back to see how well the Red and White have stocked their cupboards — 2013 is a great place to start.

Five of the seven players the Stamps chose in that class were a part of the 2014 Grey Cup-champion squad tied a franchise record for most wins in the regular season with 15.

One of the crown jewels of that draft was a centre from the University of Regina — Brett Jones, who was selected in the third round (16th overall). Jones earned the job as starting centre as a rookie, allowing the Stamps to move veteran Jon Gott – himself a fifth-round pick in 2008 – to right guard.

The move paid off for both players as Jones was selected the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie and Gott was a West Division all-star.

The following year, Jones would add to his resume a CFL all-star selection, CFL Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award and the 2014 Grey Cup.

In the two seasons Jones anchored the o-Line, running back Jon Cornish won the league rushing title twice, was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2013 and won two of his three Most Outstanding Canadian awards.

This off-season, Jones signed with the NFL’s New York Giants in the early part of 2015.

Other standouts from the 2013 draft include OL Brander Craighead (selected in the first round), special-teams staple Ben D’Aguilar (13th overall) and OL starter Shane Bergman (48th overall).

Another productive draft for the Calgary Stampeders was the class of 2011, with five of the six players chosen still playing in the CFL and four of those players part of the 2014 Grey Cup champs.

Selected third overall in that draft was local product Anthony Parker from the University of Calgary. Parker had his best season yet in 2014, registering career highs with 33 catches for 360 yards and four touchdowns on a very deep receiving corps. A versatile performer, he also rushed 11 times for 105 yards.

Also taken in that draft with Parker was running back Matt Walter, quarterback turned receiver Brad Sinopoli – who recently signed with Ottawa as a highly sought-after free agent – and defensive lineman Junior Turner, who enjoyed career-best numbers last season.

With so much success on the draft board, the standard is high for 2015 with another talented field of potential stars. If the track record is any indication, you’ll be hearing many of the names the Stampeders select for years to come.