SFU Athletics
CFL.ca Staff
CALGARY – The Calgary Stampeders have signed three members of their 2015 draft class – receiver Lemar Durant and offensive linemen Karl Lavoie and Aaron Picton – as well as international offensive lineman Garry Williams and international defensive back Ciante Evans. As per team policy, terms of the agreements were not disclosed.
Durant, the Stamps’ second-round selection, played three seasons at Simon Fraser and amassed 175 receptions for 2,392 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was named a Great Northwest Athletic Conference first-team all-star in 2012 and 2014.
Lavoie was Calgary’s first pick, ninth overall. He played for four years at Laval and helped the Rouge et Or win Vanier Cup titles in 2012 and 2013. He was a three-time conference all-star and a two-time all-Canadian. In 2014, Lavoie was part of an offensive line that paved the way for the leading rushing attack in the Quebec conference (235.4 rushing yards per game) and the best offence (565.8 total offensive yards per game).
Picton, a sixth-round selection, played four seasons at the University of Regina and manned the centre position in 2014 as he helped the Rams lead Canada West with 394.5 passing yards per game.
Williams played in 41 games including 21 starts for the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers from 2009-14. He was a three-year starter at Kentucky and twice earned second-team all-conference honours.
Evans played four seasons (2010-13) at Nebraska and saw action in 47 games including 33 starts. He accumulated 143 total tackles, including 15 tackles for loss. He had five sacks and five interceptions including four picks during his senior season.
