By Geoff Crane
Stampeders.com

Lemar Durant is excited to not only be joining the CFL’s defending Grey Cup champions, but also to be reunited with a long-time family friend in Stampeders defensive lineman Corey Mace.

Selected in the second round (18th overall) of the 2015 CFL Draft by the Stamps, Durant — who was projected by many as a first-round choice — was surprised to have fallen to where he did.

“You don’t quite know what to expect,” says Durant from B.C., where he was gathered with family for the draft. “I was planning on going higher than I did but then, at the end of the day, things happen the way they are supposed to and I’m happy I got on the best team in the CFL.”

Joining the ranks of the CFL’s top squad in 2014, Durant is looking forward to seeing long-time family friend in Mace.

A former high school chum and teammate of Durant’s older brother Julien, Mace remembers watching the now six-foot-two receiver when he was only a couple feet tall playing flag football with other kids from their street in Coquitlam, B.C.

“I was pretty fortunate to follow his career from when he was playing flag through to high school and university,” says a happy Mace at the prospect of Durant joining him in Calgary. “He’s been a playmaker at every level and I don’t expect things to change when he gets here.”

Mace was able to give some insight into what type of player the Stamps have chosen and what fans can look for during training camp.

At 230 lbs., Durant is built like a receiver who could play south of the border and in fact did garner some attention from NFL teams earlier in the year. Along with his build comes an unflappable attitude that, according to Mace, can keep the rookie calm under pressure.

“People who don’t know him might think he’s not passionate because he has a laidback demeanor but when he is on the football field, you get a guy who wants to make the plays, who has always been a playmaker and I don’t think any of that will change,” says Mace.

Along with Mace, Durant will have other Simon Fraser alums on the Calgary roster — Brad Erdos and Adam Berger — to help in the young receiver get acclimated to his new team.

“It always helps to have some people you know to kind of show you the ropes,” says Durant. “Corey and I worked out at the same gym I did, so I always talked to him there when I was young. He’s one of the best defensive linemen in the league and played in the NFL, so it’s good to have him as a guy to talk to me, motivate me and give me little tips on things to do to get me through now I’m just ready to get things going.”

As nice as it is to renew old acquaintances, Durant’s focus in now squarely on making a case for himself to join a deep and talented Stampeders corps.

“I’m really looking forward to stepping in and being the best player I can be and show them what I can do and hopefully play early,” he says.