Special teamers in Calgary Stampeders camp: Battles at hand at punter, returner
Many hopefuls did make the most of Monday’s pre-season opportunity in a 26-16 victory over the host BC Lions on Vancouver Island
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Special teams on the Calgary Stampeders have started and ended with one name for many Canadian Football League seasons.
That being René Paredes, the venerable all-star kicker who returns to the team for a 14th CFL campaign in what will no doubt be a hall-of-fame career.
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But the special-teams crew would like to be known for more than just one star.
And the Stampeders as a team certainly want more bright spots from that unit.
Cue the 2025 schedule for what they hope is a breakthrough or two in more key special-teams areas.
Especially with punter Cody Grace and lead returner Peyton Logan having moved on to the Edmonton Elks and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, respectively.
“You just do the best,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson, when talking across the board of his special teams. “You take advantage of your opportunities.”
Many hopefuls did make the most of Monday’s pre-season opportunity in a 26-16 victory over the host BC Lions on Vancouver Island.
And that’s vital, because there’s only one chance left for them in game action to boost their chances — that in the final pre-season tilt Saturday against the Elks at McMahon Stadium (7:30 p.m., CHQR 107.3 FM/770 AM).
The players
Kicker
30 René Paredes 5’11, 190 lb. 40 Concordia
Punters
34 Fraser Masin 6’4, 241 lb. 23 Mississippi
70 Mark Vassett 6’4, 225 lb. 28 Colorado
Long-snappers
52 Aaron Crawford 6’4, 255 lb. 38 Saint Mary’s
58 Jason MacGougan 6’0, 239 lb. 22 Wilfrid Laurier
Returners
13 Ludovick Choquette 5’9, 206 lb. 23 Long Island
28 Tiyon Evans* 5’11, 210 lb. 23 Louisville
31 Jeremy Lucien* 6’1, 197 lb. 25 Vanderbilt
33 Eno Benjamin* 5’9, 207 lb. 26 Arizona State
79 Terrell Vaughn* 5’7, 170 lb. 24 Utah State
87 Erik Brooks* 5’7, 171 lb. 25 Fresno State
88 Kaylon Horton* 5’9, 173 lb. 24 North Texas
* — denotes American
The scene
Beyond Paredes and long-snapper Aaron Crawford — another longtime veteran for the Red and White — there’s just one other returnee at the high-profile special-teams spots.
That’s Erik Brooks at returner, who checks in to start just his second season with the Stamps and is fully healthy after his freshman year was cut short by an ugly injury.
“Erik, I think, honestly was one of the most solid returners in the CFL, and then, unfortunately, he broke his arm,” Dickenson said. “He’s very reliable catching the ball. He makes good decisions. He’s got some juice. I think if he would’ve played all year, he would’ve popped a couple of returns for touchdowns.
“And he’s also one of our smartest receivers.”
Indeed, Brooks played in just a half-dozen games before getting sidelined, returning 17 punts for 166 yards — a 9.8-yard average — and 13 kickoffs for 287 yards — a 22.1-yard average.
But the diminutive, dynamic talent is back — with confidence — to pick up where he left off.
“I mean … it was difficult,” said Brooks of the injury and missing the final two-thirds of the schedule. “But they let me know early that they like the work that I have put on my resume throughout those six regular-season games. So it gave me a sense of relief knowing that they still have faith in me to come back healthy and build on what I did last year.
“And I’m comfortable coming back for Year 2.”
The plot
Year 1 players around Brooks, however, are also getting comfy.
In fact, fellow Americans Eno Benjamin, Kaylon Horton and Terrell Vaughn have all shown strong in the return game so far in camp and in the pre-season contest.
So much so that the returners were positive talking points after Monday’s effort.
And then there are a few guys from last year — receivers Cam Echols and Ishmael Hyman — who have proven themselves in the return game.
“The guys are playing hard and looking fast and doing the right things, as well,” Dickenson said. “So that’s why we know we have good competition.”
It’s up to Brooks to fend them all off.
His experience with the Stamps — albeit limited — should help him in that regard.
As should his knowledge of the offence, whether he’s catching or even running the ball.
After all, the California kid’s done it all in his football career, growing up as a running back but then moving to receiver and blossoming as a returner.
“I just feel like the more you can do, the better … you know,” Brooks said. “You just make yourself versatile by just learning multiple positions — not just limiting yourself to one but just trying to learn the whole concept.
“But I feel like when you make yourself versatile, you have a better shot at whatever you’re trying to do. So growing up, I was just trying to be able to know all the positions in the offence by getting the ball in my hands and just trying to make plays however I can.”
He hopes that happens with the Stamps often in his second season.
His wish list is long, in fact.
“Success will be getting through healthy — that’s first and foremost,” added Brooks. “But I want to get some more touchdowns — I know I had one last year receiving. I want to get some special-teams touchdowns, as well. I was close to breaking a few. So I want to get at least five punt returns, a field-goal return in there and at least two to three kickoffs.
“I want to be explosive this year — be a big-time playmaker that the team can count on.”
The ending
It’s Paredes, for sure, at kicker.
And likely Brooks gets first crack to be the lead returner for the club, with separation still perhaps in the offing to determine other runback artists for the Red and White.
Even those that don’t get starting jobs as returners could find their way onto the roster as special-teams coverage men and positional back-ups on the offence or defence.
But there is a battle for one roster spot between the two rookie Australian punters, Fraser Masin and Mark Vassett, whom the Stamps selected first and 10th overall, respectively, in this year’s global draft in a bid to fill the gig Grace owned the last four seasons at McMahon.
“Yes … no doubt,” said Dickenson, of the tough decision needed to be made between Masin and Vassett. “Both kicked well (Monday). Consistency, ball placement and don’t out-kick their coverage … those are the important things.
“Both have quick operation times, and both are good holders,” added Dickenson. “Both guys are solid players, and both are very good teammates and have good relationships with the guys.
“And that all gives me a lot of comfort, because we came into camp not really knowing.”
Short yardage
WR Clark Barnes returned to the field Thursday at Stamps camp … WR Daylen Baldwin made a terrific one-handed grab Thursday just a day after re-signing with the Red and White. The former NFL receiver is back with the Stamps after being released by the squad earlier this month … DB Kaylyn St-Cyr has been put on the one-day injured list … FB Ryan Jones, who was seriously injured in Monday’s victory, has had his surgery for a broken leg delayed until next week … Camp continues for the Stamps on Friday at McMahon (10:15 a.m.).
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