Stampeders sign seven CFL Canadian Draft picks, including linebacker Eric Rascoe

CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders have agreed to terms with all seven of the team’s 2026 CFL Canadian Draft picks, including linebacker Eric Rascoe, receiver Jesulayomi Ojutalayo, defensive lineman Tristan Marois, receiver Matt Sibley, offensive lineman Mitchel Schechinger, defensive lineman Steven Kpehe, and offensive lineman Jack Warrack.

The Stamps have also signed Global kicker Jude McAtamney, the team’s first-round pick (sixth overall) from the 2026 CFL Global Draft.

Rascoe played five seasons (2020-24) at Angelo State after redshirting in 2019. Across 48 games, he racked up 225 tackles including 20 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 18 passes defended, five interceptions include two returned for touchdowns, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery with the Rams.

After completing his college career, he played five games in 2025 for the San Antonio Gunslingers of the Indoor Football League. Rascoe recorded 39 tackles including one tackle for a loss, one sack and two pass knockdowns.

CFL CANADIAN DRAFT
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Ojutalayo has played three seasons (2023-25) at Wilfrid Laurier. Across 21 games with the Golden Hawks, he has 44 receptions for 705 yards and six touchdowns, with his longest catch going for 81 yards. Ojutalayo also has three carries for 32 yards. He was a 2024 Yates Cup and Uteck Bowl champion and was named a 2025 Ontario University Athletics first-team all-star.

Marois played two seasons (2021-22) at Robert Morris, playing 13 games. He tallied 26 tackles including six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and one safety for the Colonials. Marois sat out the 2023 campaign after transferring to Colorado. He played from 2023-25 for the Buffaloes and was primarily used on special teams but saw action on defence in seven games and made three tackles.

Sibley has spent four seasons (2022-25) with the University of Calgary Dinos, appearing in 28 games. He’s recorded 105 catches for 1,302 yards and seven touchdowns. On special teams, Sibley has 100 punt returns for 808 yards and 27 kick returns for 585 yards.

Schechinger has spent four seasons (2022-25) at Guelph and is a two-time Ontario University Athletics all-star. He was a U Sports second-team all-Canadian in 2024 and a 2025 invitee to the East-West Bowl. Schechinger won back-to-back U Sports bronze medals as a member of the Gryphons’ wrestling team.

Kpehe has spent four seasons (2022-25) at Queen’s, registering 38 tackles including four tackles for loss, five sacks, one pass defended and one forced fumble in 35 career games for the Golden Gaels.

Warrack, a native of Strathmore, was named the Canada West rookie of the year in 2022 when he started all 12 games at right tackle for the Huskies. He then moved to left tackle where he didn’t miss a start for the next three seasons. Warrack was named a 2024 Canada West all-star.

McAtamney spent his 2021 season at Div. II Chowan University in North Carolina and played nine games, making six of 10 field goal tries and converting all 47 extra-point attempts for the Hawks. He then transferred to Rutgers for two seasons (2022-23) and played 25 games. McAtamney was successful of 12 of 19 field goal attempts, had a 95.8 per cent success rate on his extra points and delivered 106 kickoffs for a 60.5-yard average with the Scarlet Knights.

He went on to play five games for the National Football League’s New York Giants across the 2024-25 campaigns. McAtamney went three-for-three on field goals and 10 of 13 on extra points for the Giants and executed 10 kickoffs for an average of 63.8 yards.

The Calgary Stampeders also announced they have signed five players, including offensive lineman Deon Buford, receiver Rylan Davison, offensive lineman Cameron Dye, defensive back Ike Larsen, linebacker Olivier Ruest.

Buford made 32 starts in 36 appearances during his three seasons (2023-25) at Cincinnati. He was part of a Bearcats offensive line in 2025 that finished No. 2 in the country with only eight sacks allowed. Buford also helped pave the way for running back Corey Kiner to reach 1,000 rushing yards in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. In 2023, Cincinnati complied 200 rushing yards as a team on nine occasions. Buford redshirted at Kentucky in 2020 before playing for the Wildcats from 2021-22 and playing in 15 games with two starts.

Davison played his entire college career at Mercyhurst. During his five seasons from 2021-25, Davison played 39 games and registered 134 receptions for 1,604 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also completed both of his pass attempts for 36 yards and added a rushing score. On special teams, Davison returned 16 kicks for 268 yards as a member of the Lakers.

Dye spent three seasons (2021-23) at Georgia State and appeared in one game during his final season with the Panthers. He then transferred to Southern Illinois and played at both left tackle and right tackle during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. During his time with the Salukis, Dye played 24 games and started on 20 occasions. At the conclusion of his final year, he was named an all-Missouri Valley Conference honourable mention.

Larsen spent all five seasons (201-25) at Utah State where he appeared in 45 games and made 36 starts. With the Aggies, he accumulated 272 tackles including 12 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns, 22 passes defended, two sacks, one forced fumble and a school-record five blocked kicks. He was named second-team all-Mountain West Conference in 2022, first-team in 2023 and an honourable mention for the 2025 season.

Ruest spent his final two seasons (2024-25) at Laval and played primarily on special teams, winning the 2024 Vanier Cup with the Rouge et Or. Prior to Laval, Ruest played 14 games over two seasons (2022-23) at Western. As a member of the Mustangs, he made 23 defensive tackles with one interception and one pass defended.

In a separate transaction, National defensive lineman Anthony Federico has retired. During his Stampeders tenure from 2024-25, he made two defensive tackles and three special-teams stops over 11 games.