Hufnagel on Stamps’ Draft: ‘As of today, I’m pleased’

CFL.ca Staff
With files from Stampeders.com

CALGARY — If you liken the CFL Draft to Christmas time, the Calgary Stampeders are kind of like that kid that gets all the best presents.

One person pleased with the outcome is Head Coach and General Manager John Hufnagel, who was able to both fill some needs for his team but also get the players he believed were the best available to be picked.

“I was pleased with the results,” Hufnagel told Stampeders.com. “We got a lot of players that we thought were good football players and we had ranked fairly high. There were some needs that we wanted to fill so we accomplished that. As of today, I’m pleased.”

There’s still a matter of getting the players into camp and determining their roles for the start of this season, but at an early glance it appears as though the Stampeders may have some difference-makers.

Armed with the ninth overall pick to start after last year winning the Grey Cup, the Stampeders opted to snag Laval offensive lineman Karl Lavoie with their first pick – one Hufnagel said he at least considered using on highly-touted receiver Lemar Durant instead.

But for a team whose strength is on the big men up front and will also be missing top offensive lineman Brett Jones (departed for the NFL), replenishing the O-line was a no-brainer in the end.

“There was consideration,” Hufnagel said when asked about taking Durant in the first round. “But we really liked Karl, and the fact that the foundation of our football team is our offensive line – I wanted to make that we have enough good bodies that can keep it rolling.”

Lavoie joins former Laval teammate Pierre Lavertu (selected last year first overall after a draft-day trade with Ottawa) as the young up and coming Canadians on Calgary’s roster that could anchor the Stamps’ O-line for many years to come.

While the Stamps’ first round pick was as solid as could be, the draft seemingly only got better from there. When the next pick rolled around at 18th overall, the player they contemplated at ninth was still on the board.

Without any hesitation, the Stampeders went with the Simon Fraser alum, ranked eighth overall in the CFL Scouting Bureau rankings.

“I’m very surprised to have Lemar Durant,” said Hufnagel. “He’s a very gifted athlete, good size, good speed, strong receiver.”

“Has the ability to jump and catch the football with great body control.”

Durant, once considered a possibility to go first overall to the Ottawa REDBLACKS before they signed Chris Williams, may have been the biggest surprise to fall in the draft. Some even say the six-foot-three, 230-pound dynamo is the best receiving prospect in the draft since Andy Fantuz.

“I was surprised,” added Hufnagel. “I think most people were surprised, especially [TSN Draft Insider] Duane Forde.”

Calgary’s next pick at 19th overall may have been its most intriguing, selecting Yale running back Tyler Varga. Varga signed a contract with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent where he’ll possibly look to play fullback.

A dominant runner who is both physical and fast, some project he may be too slow to play tailback in the NFL and too small to fit in as a fullback, potentially opening the door for an eventual arrival in Calgary. If Varga ever does land in the CFL, the Stampeders could go from one generational running back in Jon Cornish to another.

After three solid picks, the draft’s biggest potential steal and a player many considered to be a first round talent was taken by Calgary in the third round, 22nd overall. Regina’s Tevaughn Campbell was widely considered the second best defensive back in the draft and will now add a new dimension to Calgary’s stout defensive backfield.

“Fastest guy at the combine,” Hufnagel said of Campbell, who broke a Combine record for the fastest electric 40 time. “He had an NFL look at a free agent workout camp and we feel that he can come in and compete and hopefully develop over a number of years and become a starter.”

“In the meantime, we believe that he can be effective on special teams, especially at the gunner position because of his speed.”

WATCH: Stampeders select OL Karl Lavoie with their first pick of the draft