The newest Stampeder, Aston Whiteside, hit the turf at McMahon on Monday for practice with the team.

And he took notice of the elevation while he was trying get up to speed with the team’s defence.

“Oh man, the altitude,” Whiteside said as he let out a big breath. “That’s the first thing I noticed. I’ve been working out all off-season, but running around with the fellas is a different game.

“I’m trying to get out there, get acclimated with this altitude, and get my football legs back.”

The 6-foot-2, 240 lb defensive end spent the past three seasons between the Ottawa RedBlacks and the Toronto Argonauts, recording 40 defensive tackles, 12 sacks and seven forced fumbles in 31 games.

After signing with the Edmonton Eskimos during the off-season, things did not go as planned for the 28-year old.

“It’s a blessing to be in Calgary,” said Whiteside. “Edmonton signed me in the off-season, but a lot of things went wrong in the off-season and I couldn’t make it there in time. But I’m here now and I’m ready to rock and roll. I like this defence – it’s a nice fit, similar to what I just left [in Ottawa], so I’m ready to go.”

And he may need to be ready for Friday night.

With a number of injuries to the defensive line, head coach Dave Dickenson knows he may need to insert Whiteside into the lineup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“I’ve liked him as a player,” said Dickenson. “He’s got good edge pressure, he’s got a good motor. Our d-line has been hit, especially at the end position and also with Charleston knocked up a bit, too. It was a no-brainer. I think we got a good football player and if we have to and he needs to play, I’m confident he can get the job done.”

Luckily for the new guy, he’s already spent some time in the classroom getting ready for the Bombers.

Prior to the Eskimos’ pre-season game against Winnipeg, he prepared to play against their starters. Although he didn’t get to play in the game, that information could be useful now that he’s a member of the Stampeders.

“Just watching film on them, this is an aggressive team,” said Whiteside. “Those guys like to play hard.”

The Stamps defensive line already boasts a number of big-time pass rushers in Micah Johnson and Charleston Hughes, but none are built in the same mould as Whiteside. The Abilene Christian alum is quite lean for a lineman and has great quickness, which he can use to beat opposing lineman. And he’s not afraid to throw his body around.

“I’m just a speed guy,” Whiteside said. “A lot of people, like the o-line, they might think I’m just going to try and run by them, but I’m explosive too and I’ll pop them when it’s time to get under the lineman’s chin.”

Back in 2015, in his debut as a member of the RedBlacks, Whiteside put his name on the radar for people in Calgary as he recorded two sacks and two forced fumbles, including a strip-sack in overtime that set up the game-winning field goal for Ottawa.

Two years later, he’s hoping to make that sort of impact for the Stamps.

“I’m sure those guys remember that. The o-line remembers it, the coaches remember it, I remember it,” said Whiteside.

“But I’m part of this organization now and I’m trying to go put that pain and that hurt on someone else.”