Calgary Stampeders rookie camp: Is high-draft offensive lineman Chris Fortin already CFL-ready?

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Promising young offensive linemen come ready-made for the CFL from Québec football, it seems.

It’s one of the main reasons why the Calgary Stampeders didn’t hesitate when making Chris Fortin a first-round selection in the 2025 CFL Draft — a moment he’s still soaking up 10 days later during his first few hours being a professional at rookie camp with the club.

“I mean … it was incredible,” said Fortin, through a giant grin. “I was just nervous all the time during the draft because I was with my wife back in our apartment, and it was like, ‘Come on, come on.’ And at some point, I just received the call, and I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ And then my name was appearing right afterwards on TV.

“And my parents were doing something with a couple friends, and they were like, ‘Just film it.’ And I was like, ‘OK, now it’s real.’

“It’s funny, because it’s been surreal so far.”

But it’s certainly getting serious in a hurry for the 6-foot-4, 303-pounder.

As a first-round draftee, Fortin is considered a blue-chip prospect for the Red and White, who want him not only pushing for a starting job but grabbing one with the offensive line in need of bona fide talent.

While they didn’t lose volume along the line in the off-season, remember that veteran centre Sean McEwen took his experience and all-star skills to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Cue perhaps the draftee Fortin to help fill that massive hole.

“So Chris is playing some centre for us, as well, and we think he can play centre, guard and tackle,” said Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson, during the early days of rookie camp. “We’d like him to compete for a starting role. He has to push and keep pushing the guys in front of him but take that job from them.”

Fortin, who was plucked eighth overall by the Stampeders with their second pick of Round 1 after making receiver Damien Alford the top choice overall in the annual pick-em of Canadian talent, was drafted with the idea he could step in right away.

That’s unlike fellow o-lineman Matthew Stokman, a 6-foot-3, 334-lb. beast from the U SPORTS Manitoba Bisons, who the Stamps selected with one of two seventh-round picks in last week’s draft.

And Fortin seems to be embracing the fast-tracking.

“I grew up mostly watching the NFL,” Fortin said. “So if I can be like (retired centre) Jason Kelce, just putting everybody else in the right spot or right place and, after that, just like doing my job and like dominating some way — somehow — and learning every day …”

That would, of course, amount to a huge get for the Stamps from the draft.

And it’s not out of reach, given where he’s from and the path he took to get to Calgary.

Fortin played 41 games over four seasons (2021-24) with the NCAA’s Connecticut Huskies, seeing action at centre, tackle and guard during his career, highlighted by being the starter at left guard during the 2024 season.

And before attending UConn, the native of Saint-René, Que., played with Cégep Beauce-Appalaches Condors in Saint-Georges, Que., with whom he was a two-time all-star and named the league’s top offensive lineman in 2019.

“Kids in Québec play CEGEP football after they’re done high school and prior to university,” explained Stamps director of Canadian scouting Dwayne Cameron. “So not only do they come to us a little bit older, but they come in a little bit more mature and have played a little bit more high-level football from the time they’ve been in high school — and I think that shows.

“Rarely are the Québec kids overwhelmed when they first come into training camp, and it’s a little bit easier for them to make that transition, I think.”

Fortin, 24, appears to be no exception.

“We just come out just a little bit older,” he agreed. “Because of the CEGEP, we have more time to develop and that definitely helps. On the field, some guys are more explosive and more experienced because they’ve been a pro for longer even if they’re younger. But at the end of the day, it balances back because I’m older and I’ve developed in Québec and, after that, in the U.S.”

Fortin can point to teammate and fellow o-lineman Christy Nkanu for recent precedence in such a blueprint.

Coincidentally — or not — Nkanu is from Montreal and was the Stamps’ first-round pick — eighth overall, as well — in last year’s CFL Draft, and his swift progression with the club during his rookie season was certainly praised. Nkanu, who built his skills in Québec and later the States with the NCAA’s Southern Utah Thunderbirds and Washington State Cougars, is also a candidate to play centre for the Stamps.

“Right now, right here, it’s probably Christy,” answered Fortin, when asked about who he’s looking up to for inspiration these days. “Just because he’s from Québec and been in NCAA and is the guard here. So it’s kind of similar to what I’m doing right now. So probably I’m going to try to emulate what he’s doing to be the best I can be right now.”

Even if centre isn’t the fit for him, Fortin boasts the promise of being a massive addition on the interior of the offensive line.

“The more versatile you can be, the more availability you can have for the team,” added Fortin. “So the more valuable you be, the better for them, because we’ve got — what? — six or seven o-linemen per game. So the more a guy can be versatile, the better it will be for that guy to be travelling or be on the team at the end of the day.

“I mean … first days of being a pro is in some ways like a dream for me to play pro football, so I’m always a little bit nervous. But same time it’s just like, ‘OK, now it’s just football time’ — different football than what I’m used to for the past five years but still football at the end of the day.”

Short yardage

One rookie who didn’t make it to Calgary for Day 1 of camp — LB Deshawn Pace — because he just signed with the club Tuesday made it for Thursday’s second day. But the Stamps are still awaiting the arrival of LB Alex Howard due to travel issues … Rookie camp at McMahon Stadium concludes Friday (10:05 a.m.) … Main camp for the Stamps then opens Sunday, also at McMahon Stadium.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

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