One Hec of a big difference

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/06/2010 (5653 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Meet the new Daryl Stephenson: A leaner, meaner, special teamer still trying to do anything to open eyes among the Winnipeg Blue Bomber coaches.

It’s been an interesting transformation for the 24-year-old London, Ont. product, from all-everything at the University of Windsor — he won the Hec Crighton Award as the best player in Canadian college football in 2006 — to fullback/bit player with the Bombers.

Think about it — the all-time leading rusher in CIS history has carried the ball just 19 times in 20 games with the Bombers over the last two years. Not only that, his new role required him to beef up — he put on 15 pounds of muscle over the winter — and help open holes for Fred Reid and keep defenders out of the backfield.

And once in a blue moon he might actually get the chance to touch the ol’ pigskin again, just as he did in Sunday’s pre-season win over Montreal (two carries for two yards, including a TD and a reception that covered 30 yards).

"I’m still getting used to this," said Stephenson. "I knew I was going to be doing a lot more of the fullback role with Fred here, obviously, and I’ve gone to the body type to do that. They definitely use the fullback a lot more (in the offence). I worked really hard this off-season, got my nutrition down pat and came in a whole lot faster — even faster than last year when I was lighter. I’m feeling really good now so hopefully I can contribute on special teams.

"I’m not as comfortable as I was back in college but the playbook, I’ve got it down pat and I’m confident in what I’m doing out there and the coaches do a good job of getting us prepared."

None of this — the good attitude, the glowing resumé — will guarantee Stephenson anything, of course. Jon Oosterhuis, a popular glue-guy in the locker-room and excellent blocker, is the incumbent fullback. And the Bombers snatched up Andre Sadeghian after he was released from Hamilton because they love his skill set.

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But it also says something of Stephenson that he eagerly gobbled up the position change. Remember, this guy was the big man on campus. Now he’s a foot soldier.

Interestingly, it’s a switch many CIS stars have to make when turning pro. Consider that of the last nine Hec Crighton winners, only three — Stephenson, Jesse Lumsden and Andy Fantuz — have carved out CFL careers.

The others — quarterbacks Ben Chapdelaine of McMaster (2001), Tommy Denison, Queen’s (2002, 2003), Erik Glavic, St. Mary’s/Calgary (2007, 2009) and Benoit Groulx, Laval (2008) are all quarterbacks — but that’s another debate for another time.

"I knew the switch (to fullback) was coming," said Stephenson. "I always heard when I was in college that I was going to have to work on my blocking, my receiving and my special teams if I was going to come here. Hey, I’m humble and I’m just happy that I’m playing football. I could be doing a lot of other things. If I’m not touching the football I can help out in other areas. I have a lot of fun on special teams."

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca