Stampeders select Ben Labrosse and Christy Nkanu in Round 1 of the CFL Draft

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One for defense. One for the offense.

This is how the Calgary Stampeders spent their two first-round picks on Tuesday in the 2024 CFL Draft.

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Fourth overall, the Stampeders selected defensive back Ben Labrosse, a “football guy,” says Red and White boss Dave Dickenson.

Then, after engineering the trade of their two second-round picks to move up and get the eighth overall pick, Dickenson & Co. made offensive lineman Christy Nkanu their second pick, a “flex” in terms of where he can fit in the lineup. . – from the first round.

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“We got a lot better, we got a lot better,” Stampeders draft guru Dwayne Cameron said.

“When we started, we were hoping that a scenario would be created where we could catch both Ben Labrosse and one of the offensive linemen we had targeted. Obviously, a team was open to making a trade and that gave us the opportunity to be able to get both players.”

In fact, it was a great day, a great first round, for the Stamps.

But Labrosse’s selection came after his big day at the CFL Combine for draft eligibles last month in Winnipeg.

The 24-year-old star cornerback for the U SPORTS McGill Redbirds had a spectacular combination, putting up brilliant numbers, including the fastest 40-yard dash at 4.51 seconds out of the 72 participating players.

“I think Ben is different than everyone else in the draft,” Stamps general manager and head coach Dickenson said. “He is a guy who can really fit in athletically in the south. He has taken a different path and it hasn’t necessarily worked out for him.

“But knowing him at the combine, I think he’s a football guy,” Dickenson continued. “I think he is a guy committed to the game, who just wants to play. He will have a minicamp in the south, so we wish him the best. If he comes here, he will have a home and we will be a great player for us.”

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In fact, Labrosse, according to 3DownNation, has been invited to rookie minicamp with the NFL’s New York Giants, according to sources.

While the Greenfield Park, Que., native was a first-team Canadian at cornerback for McGill in 2022, after recording 35 total tackles, including 29 solo tackles, and three interceptions, Labrosse did not play for them on the year past after encountering academic problems.

“I definitely have a grudge,” Labrosse said. “There was a lot of talk that I am not committed and that I am not a serious football player, but I am going to show that I am committed and that I am a serious football player.

“I’m going to show people that I’m a serious soccer player and that I’m ready to play.”

The 6-foot, 189-pound talent also played for the NCAA’s Syracuse Orange in 2021.

“I’m an electric football player,” Labrosse continued. “I can’t turn anything into something. It’s not enough to just get the pick, but I want to get the pick and I want to get pick six, something that could change the game and make a big difference and a big impact on the field.

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“I want to play my role and I want to make big plays.”

The Stamps hope the same for him and all the recruits once rookie camp opens next Wednesday.

While Labrosse could be with the Giants at that time, the team’s other first-round pick, Nkanu, a 25-year-old Montreal native, is expected to be in camp.

“Christy is a guy I liked at the combine,” Dickenson said of the 6-foot-2, 309-pounder. star of the Washington Cougars of the NCAA. “He competes. He has versatility. He has played tackle and guard. We believe he can even play center back for us. It was important for us to get that guy: get him to camp and compete.”

The offensive line is an area of ​​concern for the Stamps, leading them to reach a draft day deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, dealing the 13th and 14th overall picks to take the eighth overall spot. Trading with the Bombers to move up in the draft also earned them the 28th overall pick.

“We definitely felt like we had to do it,” Dickenson said of the deal. “We have holes in our offensive line, and we’re going to shore it up a little bit in the next few days, in addition to looking for more guys, whether in free agency (we’re still looking for guys), as well as others. draft picks and we will see what happens.”

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With that 28th pick acquired from the Bombers, defensive lineman George Idoko was the Stamps’ selection. The 23-year-old from Calgary and former St. Francis Browns High School standout has starred for the U SPORTS Saskatchewan Huskies, listed at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds.

With the 33rd pick in the fourth round, the Stamps selected defensive lineman Jason Janvier-Messier. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder. The U SPORTS York Lions star is 23 years old.

At 42nd overall in the fifth round, the Red and White selected U SPORTS wide receiver Paul-Antoine Ouellette of the Montreal Carabins. The 6-foot-3, 239-pounder. The goal is 26.

They took another top pass catcher in Round 6 by selecting Lethbridge native Tanner McLachlan, a former standout for the NCAA Arizona Wildcats. The 6-foot-6, 255-pounder. McLachlan, 25, was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals last week.

At No. 60 in the seventh round, the pick for the Stamps was 5-foot-8, 195-pound defensive back Jackson Sombach. U SPORTS Regina Rams star. He is 24 years old.

And with the 69th overall pick, the Stampeders concluded their draft participation by selecting defensive back Kaylyn St-Cyr, a 25-year-old from the Carabins. She is 5 feet 1 inches and 206 pounds.

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• ROUND 1: 4th overall – DB Ben Labrosse, 24 (McGill)
• ROUND 1: 8th overall: OL Christy Ndaku, 25 (Washington State)
• ROUND 3: 28th overall – DL George Idoko, 23 (Saskatchewan)
• ROUND 4: 33rd overall – DL Jason Janvier-Messier, 23 (York)
• ROUND 5: 42nd overall – WR Paul-Antoine Ouellette, 26 (Montreal)
• ROUND 6: 51st overall – TE Tanner McLachlan, 25 (Arizona)
• ROUND 7: 60th overall – DB Jackson Sombach, 24 (Regina)
• ROUND 8: 69th overall – DB Kaylyn St-Cyr, 25 (Montreal)

Earlier Tuesday, the Stamps selected fullback Ron Tiavaasue and defensive lineman Julius Welschof in the CFL Global Draft.

• ROUND 1: 4th overall – FB Ron Tiavaasue (New Mexico State)
• ROUND 2: 13th overall — DL Julius Welschof (UNC-Charlotte)

Of others eligible for the local draft, Calgary Dinos offensive lineman John Bosse was taken 25th overall by the Toronto Argonauts, Alberta Golden Bears running back Matthew Peterson was taken 36th overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and South Florida Bulls wide receiver, Golden Bear defensive back. Jonathan Giustini went 52nd overall to the Tiger-Cats and Ajou Ajou went 59th overall to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Edmonton Elks selected linebacker Joel Dublanko of the NCAA’s Cincinnati Bearcats with the No. 1 overall pick in Tuesday’s draft.

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