Offensive linemen in Calgary Stampeders camp: Battle on to fill big centre void
With Sean McEwen’s departure comes a chance for others — especially up-and-comers — to fill that spot along the offensive line
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Sean McEwen took his all-star strength and talents to a Canadian Football League rival.
His departure in the off-season has left a massive hole at centre for the Calgary Stampeders.
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Offensive linemen in Calgary Stampeders camp: Battle on to fill big centre void Back to video
But with McEwen’s move to the Saskatchewan Roughriders comes a chance for others — especially up-and-comers — to fill that spot along the offensive line, which is a unit that could shape up much differently than last year for the Stampeders despite allowing the third-fewest sacks in 2024.
“We do know that very few — if any — of the jobs are actually settled,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson during training camp at McMahon Stadium.
“I would say Zack Williams is locked in,” continued Dickenson. “But other than that, we’re trying to figure out our best group.”
That best group — with sizy Williams at guard — won’t be “a super veteran one,” declared Dickenson.
Of the 13 o-linemen still in camp, the most senior is 30-year-old Kyle Saxelid, while six are age 25 and younger.
And there isn’t much time to earn experience ahead of filling out a starting five, with just one more pre-season game ahead for the Stampeders — that being Saturday against the Edmonton Elks at McMahon (7:30 p.m., CHQR 107.3 FM/770 AM).
“I think offensive line play is important to get to know the guy next to you and play off him and play as a group of five,” added Dickenson. “But the young guys have competed well, and we’re going to bring some vets, as well. And we want to keep our quarterback upright.
“We want to be able to move people at the line of scrimmage. And pre-snap penalties, let’s limit that and then go play.”
The players
53 T.J. Session* 6’4, 305 lb. 24 California
54 Joshua Coker* 6’1, 310 lb. 27 Rhodes College
55 Matthew Stokman 6’3, 334 lb. 23 Manitoba
60 D’Antne Demery* 6’4, 320 lb. 27 Florida International
57 Chris Fortin 6’4, 303 lb. 24 Connecticut
68 Tomas Jack-Kurdyla 6’4, 307 lb. 29 Buffalo
62 William Barnes* 6’4. 305 lb. 25 North Carolina
63 Rodeem Brown 6’0, 290 lb. 25 Alberta
64 Preston Nichols* 6’2, 290 lb. 25 Purdue
65 Christy Nkanu 6’2, 309 lb. 26 Washington State
66 Bryce Bell 6’4, 283 lb. 27 Wilfrid Laurier
67 Zack Williams 6’4, 315 lb. 28 Manitoba
69 Kyle Saxelid 6’7, 290 lb. 30 UNLV
* — denotes American
The scene
There’s no doubt McEwen’s are big shoes to fill given he is a three-time CFL all-star — in 2017, ’21 and ’22.
But the coaches are confident they have a few younger candidates to snap into that spot and help make the Stamps a success on offence.
The front-runners are Bryce Bell, heading into this fifth CFL year — all with the Stamps after being a second-round selection by the club in 2021 — and Rodeem Brown, now in his third season and calling it “a make-or-break year.”
And he’ll be happy if that happens at centre.
“All off-season, I was training to be that guy at centre,” Brown said. “So … yeah … I’m expecting them to fill that role if it comes down to it, for sure.”
“They’re thinking it’s a tight race between me and Bryce,” continued Brown. “He’s been here longer, obviously. So he knows the offence.
“But I put a lot of hours in last year behind Sean McEwen, so I feel like I know the playbook just as well.”
Both slotted in at guard last season, so that position is in play for Bell and Brown, as well.
But getting centre solved — and 2025 first-round draftee Chris Fortin is also in the mix there — is top priority for the Stamps on the o-line.
“I’m confident in our guys,” added Dickenson. “Bryce has been doing it. Rodeem has been doing it. Chris Fortin’s been doing it. The operation, the calls and the communication have been excellent. So I feel like we’ve got some good players here.”
The plot
Perhaps there’s no better person to learn from than McEwen.
So Brown is understandably feeling good about his current push for the gig at centre.
“Sean was a huge part the last two years — like he helped me out day-in and day-out,” Brown said. “He’d be here at six in the morning going over plays, and I had so many questions to ask him. He’d always help me out.
“So … yeah … I owe a lot to Sean, for sure.”
Brown, who is Halifax-born but went to school in Saskatoon, played 32 games over four seasons — from 2018-22 — with the U SPORTS’ Golden Bears, earning national all-star honours at guard in the university ranks.
The Montreal Alouettes then made him a second-round draft choice in 2022 but released him a little over a year later, prompting his arrival in Calgary as a guard, although he did start at centre in Week 17 in 2023 for the Red and White.
“I’d never played centre before, and when I stepped into that role, it was a big mental burden,” Brown said. “So, honestly, just the mental part is the toughest part of playing centre.
“You’ve gotta know where to go. You’ve gotta tell everyone else where to go. You’ve gotta know what to expect before it happens. You’ve gotta make sure everyone’s in line, because you’re the leader of that group. So that’s a pretty heavy role on top of snapping the ball and being a physical player on the field, too.”
He got the call to start Monday’s pre-season 26-16 victory for the Stamps over the host BC Lions, during which he anchored a strong showing by the unit.
“I’m trying to be a physical and reliable o-lineman,” added Brown. “They want a centre that can make calls, be confident and know what they’re doing — and I can be that.”
The ending
The starting situation at centre is likely to land on either Bell or Brown — or both — rather than on rookie Fortin.
After that, it’s likely a crew that should be familiar to fans, barring a push from newcomers or returnees, such as seventh-year CFLer Kyle Saxelid.
To the left is American tackle D’Antne Demery, who made 13 starts there last year, and Canadian guard Williams.
Christy Nkanu, also a Canadian and a first-round pick last year by the Stamps, should slot in at right guard after playing all 18 games at both guard positions in 2024 and improving as much as anybody on the offence throughout the schedule.
Then it’s Josh Coker at right tackle, with Pro Football Focus slotting him in as a pre-season second-team CFL all-star.
“He’s doing a good job — he’s working hard,” added Dickenson of his American right tackle. “We think he’s improved daily. But there’s some good young players, so we’ll see what happens.
“I think Josh has always competed harder than most. Now we’re just trying to keep it where technical he’s consistent.
“But every one of them needs to improve along that offensive line.”
Short yardage
The two Stamps named to PFF’s CFL pre-season first all-star team were WR Reggie Begelton and K René Paredes. QB Vernon Adams Jr., WR Tevin Jones, DE Folarin Orimolade and DB Damon Webb joined Coker as PFF second-teamers … Adams is slated to start under centre and play “about a half,” said Dickenson, in Saturday’s contest … FB Ryan Jones, who was seriously injured in Monday’s victory, undergoes surgery for a broken leg Thursday … Camp continues for the Stamps on Thursday at McMahon (9:15 a.m.).
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