NORTHERN ADVENTURE
The rise of Stampeder Alex Singleton
The long mop, that’s an easy target for DeVone Claybrooks’ mockery.
“You just can’t trust a guy with a man-bun,” the Calgary Stampeders’ defensive co-ordinator snorts as Alex Singleton saunters off the field after Wednesday’s practice. “He’s like Samson — the strength is in his hair,’’ says the coach.
Claybrooks, rolling, also makes a point of calling attention to Singleton’s sense of humour.
“A real lame jokester. Worst jokes ever.”
The newcomer’s preparation, however, is no cause for barbs. The Stamps’ staff admires Singleton’s dedication.
“He puts the time in,” says Claybrooks. “With those things, you always get the fruit of your labour, you always reap the benefits on the field. He’s a student of the game. The game slows down for him because he puts in so much film time.” Claybrooks laughs.
“He meets with our coaches more than I meet with them. Very detail-oriented.”
How early does Singleton’s day start?
He needs two breakfasts to get to lunch.
One plateful upon arrival at McMahon Stadium shortly after 5 a.m. — Bo Levi Mitchell is the only other soul on the premises — then another quick bite before 7:30 a.m. meetings.
Not that much wiggle room is left for coffee and cackleberries.
He’s watching film, getting treatment, lifting weights. Then watching more film.
“It’s not work or a job or studying to me — I want to be better,” Singleton says. “I want to know everything. I don’t just want to know why we do something, I want to know why the people who originally ran the play do something. I want to know what it’s evolving into. I want to be able to notice, by myself, what the offence is going to add to the last play they ran the week before — and what trickery they can run off that.”
These sessions, at dawn’s crack, have made a difference.
He has vaulted from first-round pick to starting middle linebacker in a matter of months.
“Every time I stepped on the field … I felt like I was in a rhythm,” says the 22-year-old, whose next chance to impress comes Saturday afternoon against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“They noticed that I know what’s going on, that I know what I’m doing. That’s what has helped get me to where I am. Being comfortable. Not being timid. Not being scared. Making plays. Taking advantage. Flying around.”
Before Saturday’s 10-tackle performance at McMahon Stadium, before the back-to-back Edmonton dates that solidified Singleton’s status — before all of that was July 8, his telling turnaround in Ottawa.
Inside the three-minute warning of a deadlocked night, Singleton, brimming with pee and vinegar, took a roughing-the-passer penalty – costly.
Same drive, stakes soaring, he forced a goal-line fumble (and overtime) – heroic.
Being able to regroup like that is remarkable.
For any player, let alone a newbie.
“He actually said to me, ‘I’m going to make a play to make up for that, coach,’” says Claybrooks.
“I’m like, ‘ You better.’ And he actually did.”
No. 49 – with that big hair and big frame, with that scruffy beard and wide smile, with that upward-trending career – should be plenty recognizable around town.
But he’s been namechecked only once.
Trust the opposition, though, to be getting mighty familiar – a true rookie starting, and snarling, on the circuit’s stingiest defence.
“His sideline-to-sideline (range) is unprecedented,” Claybrooks says.
“You want guys that play aggressively … and you have to play with that edge if you’re going to be in the red and white. We’re going to come after you.”
By now everyone knows how Singleton’s back-story created intrigue prior to the CFL draft.
The highly touted prospect – who grew up in California, who played his college ball at Montana State University, whose mother was born in Toronto – was, with a little documentation, a Canadian citizen.
Four offensive linemen and a wide receiver were plucked before the Stamps got a crack at Singleton at No. 6.
Homework done, they didn’t flinch.
“One of the blessings of having your head coach (Dave Dickenson) being from Montana, you can pretty much find out anything,” says Claybrooks. “It’s not like a lot of things happen in Montana, so we were able to go get great, extensive background research.
“We knew what kind of player he was.”
Meanwhile, friends and family, through the magic of ESPN3 and the CFL app, are busily tracking Singleton’s northern adventure.
No one is more interested than his little brother Matt, who happens to a senior linebacker at Black Hills (S.D.) State University, who happens to be filing his own paperwork with the CFL.
“Hopefully, he gets approved for this year’s draft,” says Singleton. “A different player (than me) … but he flies around. Fun to watch. If he gets his opportunity, I think he’s going to enjoy it a lot.
“I’ve told him everything about my journey – where I’ve been been, how awesome it is, how much I love it up here.”