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Features February 11, 2020

Free Agency Recap: Day 1

The first day of CFL Free Agency has come and gone.

And the Stampeders have a handful of new faces.

President and general manager John Hufnagel was satisfied with the results of the team’s early shopping spree. He utilized the new CFL Free Agency Negotiation Window to work out deals with with four players; P/K Ronnie Pfeffer, DL Connor McGough, DB Richard Leonard, and DB Brendan Dozier.

“I was pleased with the results,” said Hufnagel. “I thought that our staff did a great job of putting a plan together and executing it. I’m very pleased that those players decided to become Stampeders.”

Take a look at Huff’s haul from Day 1:

Ronnie Pfeffer, Punter/Kicker

The 27-year-old Kitchener, Ont., product has 30 games of CFL experience with the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa RedBlacks. In 2019 with the Argos, he ranked second in the CFL with a net punting average of 37.7 yards.

Pfeffer has a career average of 44.6 yards and a career net of 36.0 on 190 punts. He has pinned the opposition inside the 10-yard line on 12 occasions. He has also kicked 16 career field goals and 14 converts and accounted for 75 points. Pfeffer has averaged 60.3 yards on 65 kickoffs.

Connor McGough, Defensive Lineman

“It’s been a great journey, my time in Hamilton was great and I learned a lot, but it feels great to be home. This field means a lot to me, I grew as a player and most importantly as a man, so for me to continue my journey here is very special.”

The Medicine Hat product was selected fourth overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and he played 51 games for the Ticats over three seasons. McGough has 33 career special-teams tackles, 14 defensive stops including one tackle for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and one knockdown.

McGough played four years for the Dinos, earning Canada West all-star honours in 2014 and 2016, and was named a second-team all-Canadian in 2014. In 26 career games for the U of C, McGough amassed 67 tackles including 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He started his university career at running back before making the switch to the defensive line. He was part of two Hardy Cup-championship teams with Calgary.

Richard Leonard, Defensive Back

Leonard spent the first three seasons of his CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, earning CFL all-star honours in 2019 and East Division all-star recognition in 2017 and 2019.

He started all 18 regular-season games at halfback for the Ticats in 2019, registering 55 tackles including two tackles for loss, four interceptions including one returned for a touchdown, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and eight knockdowns. Leonard started both the Eastern Final and the Grey Cup and recorded nine tackles including one tackle for loss.

In 49 career games, Leonard has 12 interceptions to go with 178 tackles including six tackles for loss, one special-teams tackle, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 31 knockdowns. He has scored two career touchdowns including an 84-yard return after the recovery of a blocked field goal in his CFL debut.

Branden Dozier, Defensive Back

Branden Dozier, a three-year CFL veteran, has played 51 career games for the Montreal Alouettes and BC Lions. Dozier joined the Alouettes in 2017 and played 35 games for Montreal, earning an East Division all-star nod in 2018. He signed with BC in June of 2019 and started 16 games for Lions, leading the team with 70 tackles.

In 51 games, he has 220 tackles including two tackles for loss, 40 special-teams tackles, two sacks, six interceptions, 11 knockdowns, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown.

Montell Cozart, Quarterback

Cozart signed with the Stamps on Aug 14, 2018, and he has dressed for 21 career regular-season games for the Stamps, primarily as the No. 3 quarterback. He completed his only career pass attempt for 11 yards.

In college, Cozart played his senior season (2017) at Boise State, completing 61 of 97 passes for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns with just one interception. He also carried the ball 86 times for 361 yards and four majors. He started his collegiate career at Kansas, playing 27 games over four seasons (2013-16). With the Jayhawks, he completed 265 of 487 passes for 2,755 yards and 14 touchdowns and carried the ball 191 times for 481 yards and two scores.

Dakota Prukop, Quarterback

Prukop dressed for 41 games over three seasons with the Toronto Argonauts. He recorded his first passing stats in 2019, completing 18 of 30 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions. He also carried the ball 11 times for 39 yards.

He also saw action on special teams in Toronto and recorded nine tackles over three seasons.