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October 27, 2017

The wait is over for Randy Colling

Randy Colling during 2017 training camp (Photo by Rob McMorris)

The wait, confesses Randy Colling, has taken longer than anyone expected.

“I mean,’’ he says, searching to properly articulate the experience, “it’s been tough to deal with.

“Real tough.

“It’s something I’m not used to. Waiting, watching.

“What’s it been, 16 weeks? Yeah, that does feel like forever.

“I’ve never missed games before. Never missed a game due to injury in college. But here, I’ve been hurt a lot. And when I came in, everyone had such high expectations for me. I had such high expectations for myself.

“So, like I said, it’s been … tough.

“I felt like I was letting other people down, letting myself down. I kept telling myself: You shoulda showed up better ready to go.

“Then I had some setbacks.

“But I’ve tried to stay patient.

“As I said, it’s been strange, different, but I think I’ve become a better player through it all.

“With any athlete, you hear the saying all the time: Adversity can make you or it can ruin you.

“And it’s true.”

Saturday, at long last, Calgary’s first selection in the 2017 CFL Draft makes his Stampeders debut, at Commonwealth Stadium against those nefarious Edmonton Eskimos.

True, he’s slotted on the depth chart behind league co-sack leader Micah Johnson along the defensive interior.

No matter. At least he’s there. In uniform. Part of the playing roster.

That first step, however belated, is always an important one.

Seems ages ago now, but back on May 7, Stamps’ GM John Hufnagel shipped his club’s eighth and 34th selections in the CFL draft to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers expressly to move up to No. 6 and land Colling, a broth of a lad at 6-foot-5 and 312-lb.

Raised in Arcade, upper-state New York, Colling’s Hamilton-born dad allowed him to apply for and, following a lengthy wait, receive dual citizenship, qualifying him as a non-import.

At 26, with four years of Arena League ball for the Cleveland Gladiators to back him up, he was a solid pick.

But Colling arrived for Stamp camp nursing a knee knock. More time was lost as he waited for a brace.

So he fell behind early – while trying to find his footing on a new team, in a new city, new league, familiarizing himself with new rules – and has struggled to catch up, even auditioning briefly for the O-line when that group went through an injury epidemic.

“When he first came in he was battling injuries so we couldn’t really get a fair assessment,’’ estimates defensive line coach Corey Mace.

“He’s healthy now, has size, strength and the ability to push the pocket, which is always good to get the quarterback off his spot.

“I’m eager to see him play. All the coaches are.”

Compounding Colling’s extended wait has been the depth and strength of Calgary’s quarterback-hunting defensive front. Their contribution to Calgary compiling a glitzy 13-2-1 record and already nailing down first place in the West has been incalculable.

The marauding Johnson, Derek Wiggan, Michael Klassen and Junior Turner all do their work on the inside, complementing Charleston Hughes, Ja’Gared Davis and James Vaughters manning the end spots.

“That’s a gift and curse,’’ says Mace. “I’m sure the playing time isn’t what (Colling) anticipated. But he’s been able to learn from those guys, top-calibre players.”

In that aspect at any rate, agrees Colling, the idling has been beneficial.

“I kinda expected it coming in. We have all-star after all-star at the position. All impressive D-lineman. Watching those guys play, I’ve learned a lot about the Canadian league.

“I lean on them all, mostly the inside guys like Micah, but Charleston and J.G. have helped me out, too.

“When it comes to learning plays and getting caught up on stuff, though, it’s really Derek Wiggan. He’s amazing, a mind-trap for everything.

“He knows what everyone’s doing on every play. If I’ve got a question, I usually go to him.”

The time for questions is over. Finally.

The moment to begin delivering answers has arrived.

“I know,’’ says Mace, “that he’s chomping at the bit, excited to get rolling.

“He’s done what we’ve asked of him. He’s kept working. He’s solid on his assignments. So he’s got this opportunity to prove he is the guy everybody thought he was.

“He’s been patient, waiting for his time.

“Well, that time is now.”