Stamps bring in four hopefuls

Practice just got a little more crowded at McMahon Stadium. Taking advantage of the CFL’s day to expand the taxi squad by five players, the Calgary Stampeders brought in four hopefuls Wednesday.

Teams are allowed to up their practice-roster count from 10 to 15 bodies this week with the calendar rolling over into October.

One is a name Calgarians should know.

Austin Hartley is a 5-foot-10, 186-pound receiver who was a 2016 all-star with the Calgary Dinos, counting 1,334 yards and eight touchdowns on 85 catches over four seasons of CIS/U Sports football.

The star of Calgary’s Bishop Grandin High School was selected in the sixth round (54th overall) by the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2017 CFL Draft. He dressed for 11 regular-season games and also played in the East Division semifinal during which he had two catches for 57 yards.

Another of Wednesday’s players signed to the Stamps practice squad is American running back Ka’Deem Carey, a 5-foot-10, 215-pound star with 5,483 all-purpose yards for the NCAA’s Arizona Wildcats before being selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and playing 37 games in three seasons with the Chicago Bears.

Linebacker Warren Long, at 5-foot-10, 212 pounds, and defensive back DeShaun Amos, at 6-feet, 193 pounds — both Americans — rounded out the foursome inked to the practice squad by the Stamps.

Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson confirmed another receiver was slated to be brought in Wednesday evening to fill out the final spot on the taxi squad.