IDOKO READY TO PROVE HE BELONGS IN PROS
George Idoko had his heart set on returning home.
The St. Francis Browns star just didn't know where the Calgary Stampeders stood in that regard.
That is until the University of Saskatchewan Huskies defensive end saw his name beside the white horse on the CFL draft board last week.
“I didn't want to say it in the (pre-draft) interview process, but this was my No.l 1 team,” said Idoko, now dressed in Stampeders colours, during the team's rookie camp at Mcmahon Stadium. “I wanted to come back home. I love Calgary — I love everything around here. I love the team and I love the environment.”
The Stampeders made the local product their third-round choice, 28th overall, in the annual pick-em.
It was a spot they didn't have until they made a deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the draft, trading them their 13th and 14th selections overall for the eighth and 28th picks.
“Not at all,” said Idoko, when asked if the thought the Stamps had him on their radar. “That was a shocker to me, actually, because we were inside the clubhouse with my teammates and I didn't get a phone call and Round 3 is flying by.
“And then I saw my name on the board, and I couldn't believe it. I was like, `Is that my name?' I was like, `No way.' And I got a call from the Stamps a minute later, so I was very happy it was Calgary. But I didn't think it would be Calgary, honestly.”
Now that Idoko is here, there's work to be done to prove he belongs.
But the 23-year-old Calgarian is quite the quick learner and, apparently, ready for anything.
“I really only started playing football in Grade 10, so I was really fresh getting into it just watching the Stamps,” said
Idoko, a two-time defensive lineman of the year with the Browns. “I remember back then and playing football, I'm like, `Man, I can't imagine even getting to that level,' because I was nervous to play (high school) football. And I'm watching the Stampeders just so big and flying around and saying, `Oh, man, that's a big jump.'
“It just gave me hope just seeing that — that I go to college, maybe I can get a scholarship and play CFL some day.”
His four years with the Huskies furthered his game and push to become a pro.
He had 17 tackles and a career best three sacks in nine games with the Huskies during his senior season last year, when he earned Canada West all-star accolades.
“I played with a lot of great offensive linemen at the U of S, and I saw them get drafted, and I'm like, `I might have been beat by them once or twice in practice and they're going pretty high in the draft,'” said Idoko, who was also a two-time academic all-canadian.
Now he's stepped into the pros, looking to do whatever it takes.
“I'm physical, I love to compete, and I'm a team guy. I love playing for my team, and I love my guys,” Idoko said. “But No. 1 is I just want to win. That's all I want to do. I want to get out here every day and have a chance to compete and play and grow as a player.”
The coaching staff challenged him to all that on Day 1 of camp Wednesday, when they moved the six-foot-one, 224-pound defensive lineman into the linebacker spot.
“It is a little bit of an adjustment, but I'm not strictly a defensive end,” Idoko said. “I think I can play a lot of positions on the field.”
“Yeah, he was kind of put in a tougher spot (on Day 1),” said Stampeders general manager/ head coach Dave Dickenson. “We moved him to linebacker, and he's gonna to do a little of both. We're really light on linebacker numbers (at rookie camp).
“He competed hard, he learned, and he's got versatility, and I do think he'll excel on special teams. Looking forward to seeing him out there in pre-season Game 1.”
That's set for May 25 when they host the B.C. Lions at Mcmahon Stadium (2 p.m.).