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May 4, 2018

Sceviour Staying Close to Home

The commute to work didn’t change much for Ryan Sceviour.

Calgary’s first-round selection in Thursday night’s CFL Draft, eighth overall, has been playing his football out of McMahon Stadium with the University of Calgary Dinos for the past four years.

Now, he’ll just need to move his gear over to the Stamps locker-room.

“It’s great,” said Sceviour. “I’ve always looked down there and have seen this big building and their locker-room and thought ‘maybe one day you can be there’,”

The 6-foot-3, 303 -lb. offensive lineman was the second Dino taken in the first round, with fellow lineman Darius Ciraco being grabbed two picks prior by the Hamilton Tiger -Cats.

With Sceviour on the board and the Stamps on the clock, the match-up was perfect for what President and GM John Hufnagel was hoping to do with his first -round selection.

“We had hoped that we’d be able to select a good offensive lineman with that first -round pick and we succeeded,” explained Hufnagel.

And with five offensive lineman off the board by pick number six, Huff was sweating it out waiting for his man.

“I’ll say there was a little nerves,” Hufnagel said. “But fortunately he was still there, so I’m pleased with the way it worked out.”

“Very pleased with the selection, Ryan’s a good football player. Excellent guard. He plays with great technique, he’s a smart player with a very strong lower body. He’ll be a great addition to our squad and he’ll come in and compete and provide great depth for us.”

One thing the Stamps management won’t have to worry about with their top pick is his loyalty to the Red and White.

He’s been dreaming of the chance to wear the horse on his helmet since before he began playing football.

“My family had season tickets all while I was growing up, probably until I was 20,” said Sceviour. “I’ve been to… I don’t know how many games. When I was watching, I modelled myself after [former Stampeder Dimitri] Tsoumpas, for a while. I loved the way he played and watched him while he was here. Unfortunately his career ended, but then he came to Calgary and coached me for a year, so that was fantastic too.”

Understanding the Stampeders need for national offensive -line depth, Sceviour is focused on coming to training camp and making the team.

“I don’t think anyone would come to camp and say it was not their goal to contribute, so I’m going to go in there and try my best and try to crack the roster and crack a starting spot if I can and just help the team,” Sceviour explained.

“I’ve been trying to prepare for this moment, and I’m prepared as I physically can be, I think.”