Seventeen months ago, Cohen Wright helped orchestrate a 22-point comeback victory to claim Ernest Manning High School its first-ever Alberta football championship.
Building off an undefeated 12-0 season, the young pivot led the Griffins to a 28-24 decision over the Raymond Comets.
Click fast-forward and now the Calgary-born QB is soaking up as much information as he can at Stampeders training camp as part of the CFL’s quarterback internship program – an initiative dating back to 2013 that has also brought in passers such as current TSN broadcaster Marshall Ferguson, former Stampeder Andrew Buckley and Vanier Cup champion Adam Sinagra.
“At first I was a little bit starstruck surrounded by all these vets, former NFL guys, but I started to settle in towards the end of rookie camp,” admitted Wright, who will be entering his sophomore season with the Saskatchewan Huskies later this summer. “I’m trying to learn as much as possible.”
As a freshman last year with the Huskies, Wright only saw game action in one pre-season exhibition contest against the Alberta Golden Bears. He went five-for-six for 73 yards against the U of A.
Before he returns to Saskatoon in September, Wright gets the chance to play understudy to Calgary’s quadruplet of signal-callers – Vernon Adams Jr., P.J. Walker, Logan Bonner and Josh Love.
All four bring with them their own set of attributes, giving Wright plenty to digest.
“It’s been super cool seeing V.A., P.J. Logan and Josh’s processes,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to grow up around Dave (Dickenson), so I know him pretty well and there’s some familiarity there.
“I’m taking things I can apply to my game that will make me better. It’s a lot of improving the mental capacity, taking this all in, seeing all these reads and see them happening at a higher speed.
“I may not get the same amount of reps, but just taking those mental reps and getting used to that speed will allow me to operate quicker in university.”
Although he may be behind his QB counterparts in reads and foot movement, there is one thing he has them beat on.
“I can’t let them beat me on gassers,” Wright informed of the conditioning drill. “That’s my one thing I got on them.”
Since he is back in Calgary for a few weeks, Wright was able to invite his family to come watch him at McMahon Stadium.
“It’s awesome, it kind of worked out well because they’re actually moving to Newfoundland soon. I had my grandparents out, too, so it was nice to be in my hometown and share this moment with my whole family.”
Training camp continues for the Red and White with the team’s first pre-season game slated for Monday, May 19 at 2 p.m. MT against the BC Lions in Langford, B.C.