Kelcy Quarles doesn’t need a specific day, every third Sunday in June, to celebrate his father.

There are 365 days a year for that. Every year of his life.

“My pops, man, he is my hero,’’ the 6-foot-4, 310-pound Calgary Stampeders’ D-line prospect is only too happy to confess.

“My father has been on dialysis for six years. Kidney transplant. Pacemaker.

“You name it, he had it.

“And he keeps going.

“He has two prosthetic legs. Most people with prosthetic legs try to cover ‘em up. Put on pants. My dad? He wears shorts to a theme park.

“When you have somebody like that in your life, it puts things in perspective. We wake up every day – you, me, most all of of us – and take everything for granted. Everything.

“This guys has to slide his legs on every day. Worry about his pacemaker working. So what have I got to complain about?

“I’ll tell you: Nothing.

“To see my dad, still being a positive role model in my life, in the lives of my kids, what more can you ask for?”

Buddy Quarles played on the offensive line for four seasons, 1984 through ’87, for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

So, naturally, son Kelcy followed pop’s lead, only compromising to switch sides of the line of scrimmage. Whenever he’d come out of the to the roar of 80,000 at Williams-Brice Stadium during his collegiate career, there’d be Buddy in the south end zone, providing encouragement.

At SC, Quarles the younger flourished, too. In 2013, he was named a first-team All-American and first team All-SEC.

“You go to SC with your dad when you’re a kid, watching games, dreaming of playing there,’’ says Quarles, now 26. “I remember our first game together. Against Vanderbilt. We sat dead at the top. The view was terrible. But from that day on I kept telling myself: ‘One day I’m gonna play on that field. One day I’m gonna play on that field.’

“I had a lot of scholarship offers and stuff but I knew in my heart, I want to make my father happy, I want to make my parents happy. And it ended up working out.”

Owing to health issues with his hero that he’d rather not go into detail on, last week, smack dab in the middle of training camp, Quarles felt compelled to head home to Hodges, S.C. for a few days, to visit with somebody who’s already gone through so much.

Missing time at a job audition is never a good thing – particularly with the depth and quality of inside talent along the Stamps’ defensive fortification – but, well …

“In my life, my career, sometimes I’ve put family second. As you get older – I have two kids now – family always comes first.

“No questions asked.

“I appreciate Huff letting me go home. It was a good time to be around the people I love, taking care of responsibilities, being the man of the family.”

Between 2014 and 2016, Quarles spent NFL time with the NY Giants, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts. His uncle, on his mother Mattie’s side of the family, is New England Patriots’ Hall of Fame tight end Ben Coates.

“Obviously, he comes from a football background and a football haven, South Carolina,’’ says Stamps’ D-line coach Corey Mace. “He missed quite a bit of time here, being away, but the first chance he had he came up to my office and this guy’s pretty much nailed the playbook.

“So he’s smart.

“He’s one of our bigger players and he plays that way. A powerful guy. He’s a playmaker. When the pads are on, he’s at his best. So we’re looking for big things from him this weekend.”

The Stamps open their 2018 pre-season sked by hosting the B.C. Lions on Friday evening.

The switch to the quirks of the Canadian game has, as usual, taken some getting used to.

“Now you got extra receivers, extra lineman, all that,’’ whistles Quarles. “Being a whole yard away from the guy you’re going up against as opposed to two inches. Feels like a mile.

“So initially I’m like: ‘Is this for me?’ But naw, they’ve been trying to get me up the last couple years. Coach Mace and coach Claybrooks, they’ve helped me a lot in getting acclimatized to this game.

“I’m having a lot fun. And the D-line group is amazing. Micah. All those guys. When I found out I was coming up here, I’d watch games online, thinking: ‘How do they do that?’ Watching the Grey Cup, there’s snow everywhere and I’m like: ‘(Blankety-blank)!’ It’s funny, when I was packing I was thinking: ‘Why am I taking shorts? Maybe I should take extra jackets!’”

For someone who places family at the very summit of his priority list, this opportunity, this franchise, this league, seems an ideal fit.

“While I was home, I had time to sit down and reflect,’’ says Quarles. “The one thing I love about this place is they keep it up front. No beating around the bush. They’re going to tell you: ‘This is what we brought you here for. Do this and you’ll be fine.’

“Playing in the NFL, there’s a lot of politics and stuff. But here they treat you like a grown man.

“It’s more of a a family-based thing.

“I can’t wait for this game. I’m rarin’ to go.

“I’m definitely not putting the cart before the horse. I talk to my fiancée about everything. My parents – my dad, of course – too.

“I’m thinking this could be a great way to get my career on track. But it’s all in God’s plan.

“I do know one thing: So far, I’m lovin’ it, man. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.”