A Pleasant Surprise

Makayla Berze

If you asked George Idoko which team he thought he would land with on draft night, you wouldn’t have heard Calgary as his answer.

Like most young athletes growing up, Idoko dreamed of playing for his hometown team, but seeing the Stampeders select him with the 28^th overall pick in the third round (via trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers) was completely unexpected for the young defensive lineman.

“Honestly,” began Idoko, “I was a little surprised because I didn’t get a call the day before so when I saw my name on the board come up, I was like, ‘What! That’s my name!’ so it was very exciting.”

The Saskatchewan Huskies alum reveals he’d secretly hoped that a homecoming was in the cards all along.

“Definitely,” he said.

“Throughout the whole interview process I didn’t want to say, like when Edmonton asked me what team I’d want to go to I said it doesn’t matter but Calgary was definitely my number one team.

“I wanted to go to Calgary and I’m very happy they chose (me).”

Just a seven-minute drive away from McMahon Stadium, the 23-year-old’s football journey began nearly 10 years ago at St. Francis High School.

“I started playing football in Grade 10 at St. Francis,” he said. “Around Grade 11 or 12 I imagined making a career out of it, because at the time I was playing basketball as well, but I stopped growing and I realized that I’m not going to be a 6-foot-7 point guard.

“The CFL was a path I could take; it became more realistic for me, so I chose to pursue football even more.

“I was a walk-on with the Huskies, and I got a scholarship from that, but it was something I saw where I could pave a path for myself to do this for a long time.”

(David Cox)

Idoko suited up for 40 games over four seasons (2019, 2021-23) for the Huskies. He had 40 tackles including four tackles for loss and four sacks. He added two forced fumbles and one pass defended.

His 17 tackles and three sacks in nine games for the Huskies last season earned him 2023 Canada West all-star honours.

At six-foot-one and 224 pounds, Idoko chalks up his play style to his physicality on defence.

“Firstly, I’m a very physical player but I believe I can play multiple positions,” he said. “I played linebacker with the Huskies, I played d-end.

“I would say there’s been a lot of growth over the past couple of years, mostly physically. Since we came out of Covid, I had to develop my body a lot. Especially as a d-lineman, it’s a very physical position. You have to be able to take hits from the big hoggies coming at you, the big boys.

“So, it took me a long time to develop that strength.

“I think of myself as someone who can be used in many different positions, but I love edge rushing, pass rushing, getting to the quarterback, and just being a disruptor and complicating the offence.”

From back-to-back Vanier Cup losses (2021-22), to paying rent and cooking his own food, Idoko’s time in Saskatoon has shaped the person he is today both on and off the field.

“I learned a lot playing with the Huskies,” he said.

“But also, the privilege of playing with a lot of players like (BC Lions defensive lineman) Nathan Cherry and (BC Lions long snapper) Riley Pickett, a lot of guys ahead of me. I’ve seen what it takes to be a CFL player and beyond. I’ve seen how these players work, seen them at practice, how they break down film and even how they approach life, what they eat, how they think, how they interact with other people.

“I’ve had a lot of great individuals around me. Even now with the competition that constantly pushes me and forces me to get better. Up until a couple years ago, I wasn’t even really a starter, so I had to earn that job by transforming myself.

“I’ve been surrounded by absolute beasts, great players, great coaches, and just a great team all around.”

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A Pleasant Surprise

(David Cox).

Makayla Berze