Canadian running back inks new deal with Stamps
Milanovic-litre says he needs ‘to be a leader and step up … when I’m called on’
He’s only 25 years old, but Ante Milanovic-litre isn’t sure he gets to call himself one of the young guys on the Calgary Stampeders any more.
He’s been around for three years, after all, and temporarily stepped into the Stampeders’ starting running back role late in the 2019 season.
He’s not old, but this isn’t about old or young.
It’s more that Milanovic-litre doesn’t get to use inexperience as an excuse anymore.
After signing a new contract for the 2020 season on Monday morning, he’s seeing himself as one of the guys who needs to take on a little bit more of a leadership role next year.
“I’m getting a couple grey hairs in the beard,” the B.C. native joked over the phone. “I need to be a leader and step up on special teams and step up on offence when I’m called on.”
Milanovic-litre was one of the pleasant surprises of the 2019 season for the Stampeders.
The team selected him in the fourth round of the 2017 CFL Draft and kept him around that season, so there was never really any question that he had potential.
His role grew in 2018, especially on special teams.
But there were few who would have chosen him to start games at running back in 2019, especially not on a Stampeders team that had Don Jackson, Ka’deem Carey and — eventually — Romar Morris fighting for that job.
But a combination of injuries, ratio issues and a couple strong performances from the bruising Canadian led to Milanovic-litre starting games down the stretch for the Stampeders.
His numbers don’t blow you away, but he proved that he was a viable option at running back. His Canadian passport makes him even more valuable.
“If you asked me at the beginning of the season, I would have said I was ready to take a progression on offence,” Milanovic-litre said. “I kind of set my feet on special teams in Year 2 (2018). Year 1 was more about not getting sent home, just getting a feel for pro football.
“Year 3 was a big year. I came in with confidence and made the position change from fullback to running. I knew the offence based on what I did in Year 2. I came in hungry this year, earned some playing time — which was a blessing — and Year 4 is going to be about solidifying that role and growing in that position even more.”
Milanovic-litre isn’t necessarily calling for the Stamps’ starting running back job next year. It’s a position that carries a serious amount of uncertainty.
Carey will be back, but has had injuries plague him throughout his career. Jackson is set on testing free agency and it seems unlikely that he’ll return to Calgary. Morris has torn two Achilles tendons in the last two seasons. He’s just not a safe bet to play again.
But Milanovic-litre isn’t setting his focus squarely on being the week-in, week-out starter. He wouldn’t turn that role down, but that’s not the be-all and end-all goal.
“When I stepped in for 10 or 20 snaps a game and I was that change-of-pace back, I think that was a great role to have,” Milanovic-litre said. “I got to still maintain what I do on special teams. I think I proved I can come in and just pick up the game. I don’t necessarily need to get into a rhythm. They can just kind of plug-and-play me a little bit.”