Familiar ground for new Stamps receiver
Hartley made name for himself during four university seasons with Dinos
Never mind the Alberta Advantage. Where Austen Hartley and his new CFL team are concerned, the hope is for a little Calgary advantage.
Specifically, the former Calgary Dinos star receiver hopes to find an edge on the field he knows so well — McMahon Stadium — while trying to help the Calgary Stampeders to a Grey Cup.
“When I got off the plane, it was a bit surprising to see all the snow,” said Hartley of his return to The Stampede City after signing with the Stampeders earlier this week.
“But one day in, it feels like I’m back at home. Nothing ’s changed, I see, so it’s all good.”
What has changed since he left the Dinos a few seasons back is he now boasts a season-and-a-half of CFL experience, having been drafted in the sixth round (54th overall) by the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2017 draft and dressing for 12 games since.
That kind of a resume can help a Stamps receiving corps hit hard by injury.
Even more important is the experience he brings from having played in the often blustery cold conditions while with the Dinos for four seasons.
Hartley was clutch, after all, grabbing 85 passes for 1,334 yards and eight touchdowns in CIS/U Sports play from 2013-16. He earned Canada West all-star honours in 2016 as he led the conference with an average of 110.2 receiving yards per game.
“Shoot, he’s Canadian,” said Stampeders QB Bo Levi Mitchell of Hartley. “He understands the game, and he’s played in the (cold, snowy) weather before. We came out here and threw (the ball around in the off-season together). And yeah, I liked him a lot. I thought he had great hands and thought he ran great routes.
“So when I heard what happened (with him getting cut in mid-September) in Ottawa, I was over there nudging (head coach) Dave (Dickenson) with the elbow to let him know Austen was a guy that I liked.”
That wasn’t a hard sell to the Stamps head coach.
Dickenson also likes the kid who attended Calgary’s Bishop Grandin High School.
“I’ve liked Austen since college,” Dickenson said. “I just think he has some of the best hands out there. He’s quick. I think he’s a football player.
“Maybe on testing, he doesn’t size well,” continued Dickenson of the 5-foot-10, 186-pounder who is on the practice roster for now. “But I just think he’s a football player. I wanted to see him in person, and yeah, it’s only been two days (since he’s arrived in Calgary), but he seems to be picking (our playbook) up and doing well.”
Hartley, who turns 23 Friday, is hoping it well all translate into a chance to show the Stamps — whether at wideout or at slotback — that he belongs not only in the CFL but with a first-place club.
“It’s great — I’m psyched to be back,” Hartley said. “I feel pretty comfortable with the team and with the playbook already. I know some of the guys. I’ve trained with Bo and some of the other guys, so it’s good to be back.”
Having spent some off-season days playing catch with Mitchell is another advantage Hartley has.
“There’s admiration right now between us,” Mitchell said. “But chemistry? It takes time to get. The chemistry’s not there yet, but he’s definitely smooth and understands things and feels it, so it can come quick.”
Hartley agrees.
“Yeah, it’s still building,” Hartley said. “But getting that head-start on things is really good. Just a few passes goes a long ways in terms of coming in now because I won’t get as many reps out here with the first team. So the previous passes with Bo definitely put me ahead of the game.”
And any guy who’s clutch in chilly conditions is welcome in snowy Calgary.
INJURY UPDATES
CB Tre Roberson rejoined the Stamps at practice Thursday after taking a helmet to the thigh in last week’s 38-16 win over the Argonauts. He suffered a bruised muscle ... Fellow CB Ciante Evans (knee) looks ready to jump back into the lineup, as does C Ucambre Williams (knee) ... Stamps WR Reggie Begelton showed up to practice with his right arm in a sling. Word is he’s done for the year after he broke his arm when an Argos player grabbed it as Begelton was running by.
NEW GUY
Wide receiver Jeremy Tabuyo, a 5-foot-11, 195-pounder who attended rookie mini-camp with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams in 2017, has caught on with the Stamps and fills out the final spot on the team’s practice squad.
During his NCAA career with the Texas A&M Aggies, Tabuyo played 41 games over four seasons (201316), recording 35 receptions for 454 yards and five touchdowns.
SAYING GOODBYE
American linebacker Dwayne Norman has been released from the Stamps practice roster.