Calgary Stampeders grab tall, speedy receiver Damien Alford with top pick in CFL Draft
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The Calgary Stampeders got hands-on with the first pick overall in the 2025 CFL Draft.
They grabbed tall, speedy receiver Damien Alford — a captain of the NCAA’s Syracuse Orange and graduate of the Utah Utes — to add to their arsenal.
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Calgary Stampeders grab tall, speedy receiver Damien Alford with top pick in CFL Draft Back to video
He’s fast and he’s big, standing in at 6-foot-6, 224 lb.
“We got the guy that we wanted,” said Stampeders director of Canadian scouting Dwayne Cameron, of top-choice Alford, who posted a time of 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Big 12 Conference pro day in March.
“He’s got rare highway (straight-line) speed,” Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson told TSN. “There are very successful receivers in the league that don’t have those measurables.
“He could be a great addition to our room. And (QB) Vernon (Adams Jr.) loves big receivers — we want to surround him with as many weapons as possible.”
They certainly drafted weapons Tuesday, taking Alford at No. 1 — they have just two Canadian receivers under contract — and following up with another big target in tight end/quarterback Quincy Vaughn, a short-yardage specialist, with their second-round selection. Then the Stamps plucked Vyshonne Janusas in Round 5.
The Red and White also chose running back Ludovick Choquette — a 5-foot-10, 214-pounder — with their sixth-round pick. And they added to the offence with two linemen — Christopher Fortin and Matt Stokman — with the eighth-overall pick and a seventh-round selection.
But it’s the high ceiling of Alford that excites them most and perhaps the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, as well, as they’ve invited him to their mini-camp next week.
In 42 games including 28 starts at Syracuse, the Montreal native made 67 catches for 1,291 yards — an average of 19.3 yards per catch — and seven touchdowns. His most productive season with the Orange came in 2023 when he had 33 receptions for 610 yards and three scores.
Alford played four games at Utah in 2024 and did not record any stats due to being a late arrival after graduating from Syracuse University.
“People would think that because I’m a tall receiver that I’m not fast,” Alford said. “But as you’ve seen with my 40, I ran a 4.46, and I’m continuously working on my legs to get stronger. And getting faster as a tall receiver is important. And it’s not only my speed, it’s my route-running that’s improved. So it’s about being a versatile receiver.
“In Syracuse, I played in the slot and I played outside. I even played at tight end sometimes. So wherever the coaches need me to be, I’m going to be at. As long as I’m playing football and competing, that’s all that matters.”
Alford played his final season of high-school football at McArthur High School in Hollywood, Fla., after previously attending École secondaire Dalbé-Viau in Lachine, Que., the same school that produced Stampeders offensive lineman Christy Nkanu.
“It’s amazing — I couldn’t ask for better,” said Alford, of both being drafted first overall and joining an offence with Nkanu and led by QB Adams. “I just can’t wait to get on the field. I know how (V.A.) throws. I worked out with him, when I was in Syracuse and when he was training in Montreal. Now going to the pro level and being able to work with him on a continuous basis, the sky’s the limit.”
With four spots in the first 20 positions, the selection of Alford with the draft’s top pick was hoped to be the start of them stockpiling some potentially exceptional Canadian talent.
And Alford wasn’t the only first-rounder drafted by the Stamps.
They also had the No. 8 overall choice in the pick-em and plucked offensive linemen Fortin with it.
The Quebec native stands 6-foot-5, 300-lb., and starred with the NCAA’s Connecticut Huskies. He’s considered a premier run-blocker at tackle can has backed up at centre and guard.
“The kid lives in the weight room,” Cameron said. “He’s played a lot of high-level football for UConn .. and has a lot of versatility. And that’s what we like in terms of what he’s going to bring to our group.”
Here’s a recap of the Stamps’ draft day …
• Round 1, 1st overall — WR Damien Alford, 6-foot-6, 224 lb. (NCAA’s Utah Utes)
• Round 1, 8th overall — OL Christopher Fortin, 6-foot-5, 300 lb. (NCAA’s Connecticut Huskies)
• Round 2, 17th overall — TE/QB Quincy Vaughn, 6-foot-4, 250 lb. (NCAA’s North Dakota Fighting Hawks)
• Round 3, 20th overall — DB Anton Haie, 6-foot, 189 lb. (U SPORTS’ Laval Rouge et Or)
• Round 4, 32nd overall — LB Nicky Farinaccio, 6-foot-1, 217 lb. (U SPORTS’ Montréal Carabins)
• Round 5, 38th overall — WR Vyshonne Janusas, 6-foot, 200 lb. (U SPORTS’ Guelph Gryphons)
• Round 6, 47th overall — RB Ludovick Choquette, 5-foot-10, 214 lb. (NCAA’s Long Island Sharks)
• Round 7, 56th overall — OL Matt Stokman, 6-foot-4, 334 lb. (USPORTS’ Manitoba Bisons)
• Round 7, 61th overall — DL Max von Muehldorfer, 6-foot-2, 285 lb. (U SPORTS’ Western Mustangs)
• Round 8, 65th overall — DB Aston Miller-Melancon, 6-foot-2, 199 lb. (U SPORTS’ Queens Golden)
• Global Draft, 1st overall — P Fraser Masin, 6-foot-4, 230-lb. (NCAA’s Ole Miss Rebels)
• Global Draft, 10th overall — P Mark Vassett, 6-foot-4, 225-lb. (NCAA’s Colorado Buffaloes)
Von Muehldorfer is a local product, having starred in the Calgary high-school ranks with the St. Mary’s Saints. The defensive tackle won the bench press drill at the 2025 CFL Combine by completing 34 reps of 225 lb.
In the 2025 CFL Global Draft earlier in the day, the Stamps selected two Australian punters — Fraser Masin and Mark Vassett — with the first overall and 10th overall picks, respectively.
“You would prefer not to have the number-one pick, right?” added Cameron. “It generally means you didn’t have a lot of success in the previous season. But when you do have it, you want to hit a home run with it. It’s not just about getting a good football player but getting somebody hopefully that has transcendent athletic abilities and traits. And we certainly think that’s Damien.
“We’re very happy and can’t wait to get started here (with training camp) in a week.”
SHORT YARDAGE
Calgary offensive lineman Sam Carson was selected 12th overall by the Ottawa Redblacks. The son of former University of Calgary Dinos o-line coach Paul Carson starred for the NCAA’s Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks after honing his skills with the U SPORTS’ Dinos … Dinos safety Nate Beauchemin, the U SPORTS’ defensive player of the year from Kelowna, B.C., went 14th overall to the Montreal Alouettes, as the first defensive back taken in the draft … Linebacker Jalen Rayam, the son of Thomas Rayam and brother of T.J. Rayam — both former Stampeders — went in the fifth round to the Toronto Argonauts.
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