Stampeders pick Ben Labrosse, Christy Nkanu in Round 1 of CFL Draft

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One for the defence. One for the offence.

That’s how the Calgary Stampeders spent their two first-round picks Tuesday in the 2024 CFL Draft.

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At 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 selection — a “flexible” one in terms of where he can slot in the lineup — of the opening round.

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

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

Indeed, it was a big day — a big first round — for the Stamps.

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

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

“I think Ben’s different than everyone else in the draft,” said Stamps GM/head coach Dickenson. “He is a guy who really can fit in athletically down south. He’s went a different path, and it hasn’t necessarily worked for him.

“But meeting him at the combine, I think he’s a football guy,” continued Dickenson. “I think he’s a guy that’s committed to the game, that just wants to play. He’ll have a mini-camp down south, so we wish him well. If he comes up here, he’s got a home, and we’ll be a great player for us.”

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Indeed, Labrosse — according to 3DownNation — has been invited to rookie mini-camp with the NFL’s New York Giants, as per sources.

While the native of Greenfield Park, Que., was a first-team all-Canadian at corner with McGill in 2022, after recording 35 total tackles — including 29 solo tackles — and three interceptions, Labrosse didn’t play for them last year after running into academic issues.

“I definitely do have a chip on my shoulder,” Labrosse said. “A lot of the talk was that I’m not committed and I’m not a serious football player, but I’m gonna prove that I am committed and that I am serious football player.

“I’m going to just prove to people that I’m a serious football player and I’m ready to ball out.”

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

“I’m an electric football player,” continued Labrosse. “I can turn nothing into something. It’s not good enough to just get the pick, but I want to get the pick and I want to get the 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 are hoping the same for him and all the draftees once rookie camp opens next Wednesday.

While Labrosse might be with the Giants at that time, it’s expected the team’s other first-round draftee — Nkanu, a 25-year-old Montreal native — should be in camp.

“Christy is a guy that I liked at the combine,” said Dickenson of the 6-foot-2, 309-lb. star of the NCAA’s Washington Cougars. “He competes. He’s got versatility. He’s played tackle and guard. We think he can even play centre for us. For us, it was important to get that guy — get him into camp and compete.”

Offensive line is an area of concern for the Stamps, which prompted them to make the draft-day deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, dealing the 13th and 14th overall selections to grab the eighth overall spot. The trade with the Bombers to move up in the draft also netted them the 28th overall pick.

“We definitely felt we had to do it,” said Dickenson of the deal. “We have holes on our offensive line, and we’re going to shore it up a little bit the next few days as well looking for more guys, whether that’s in free agency — we’re still looking at guys — as well as other draft picks, and we’ll see what happens.”

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

With the 33rd pick in the fourth round, the Stamps grabbed defensive lineman Jason Janvier-Messier. The 6-foot-2, 230-lb. star of U SPORTS’ York Lions is 23.

At No. 42 in the fifth round, the Red and White drafted wide receiver Paul-Antoine Ouellette of the U SPORTS’ Montreal Carabins. The 6-foot-3, 239-lb. target is 26.

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

At No. 60 in Round 7, the selection for the Stamps was defensive back Jackson Sombach, a 5-foot-8, 195-lb. star of the U SPORTS’ Regina Rams. He is 24.

And with the 69th overall pick, the Stampeders wrapped up their participation in the draft by choosing defensive back Kaylyn St-Cyr, a 25-year-old from the Carabins. He stands 5-foot-1, 206 lb.

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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 other local draft-eligibles, Calgary Dinos offensive lineman John Bosse was plucked 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 made linebacker Joel Dublanko, of the NCAA’s Cincinnati Bearcats, the first pick overall in Tuesday’s draft.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM

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