Breadcrumb Trail LinksSportsFootballCFLQB Vernon Adams Jr. shows leadership in first day of main camp in CalgaryPublished May 11, 2025 • 5 minute readCalgary Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson directs receiver Damien Alford during the Calgary Stampeders' rookie camp at McMahon Stadium on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Gavin Young/PostmediaArticle contentVernon Adams Jr. made some plays — some throws — Sunday that brought out oohs and aahs from fans, coaches and teammates alike.Advertisement 2THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsArticle contentArticle contentArticle contentYeah … it’s only Day 1 of training camp for the Calgary Stampeders, but the enthusiasm — from the highly touted new quarterback right through to the fresh faces graduated from rookie camp — was certainly front and centre at Shouldice Park’s Stampeder Field.“Energy is through the roof, off the charts,” said Stampeders veteran receiver Reggie Begelton, with his trademark grin underscoring his own excitement about the power of main camp’s first day.“I mean … come on, man … we’re happy to be back in camp,” continued Begelton. “The competition is high. A lot of jobs are on the line. And everybody knows that, so the intensity is here.“However, at the same time, it is fun. It’s fun to be out here. The first time I was in the huddle, I caught myself smiling. Just grateful to be out here again.”In all, a whopping 99 hopefuls — many of them new to the organization — took the field grateful for the opportunity to make the CFL team.Advertisement 3Article contentIncluded are the 49 who competed in the three days of rookie camp and survived Saturday’s cuts to advance on to main camp, which continues at McMahon Stadium for the next few weeks.The only two players unavailable due to injury were talented receiver Malik Henry (knee) and CFL veteran defensive lineman Charles Wiley (achilles) — one of many off-season additions for the Red and White.“We did have good energy and good leadership,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “You can tell as a group, they were excited to be here.“Pretty easy, though, with this great weather we have, and it’s always that first day to me, the rookies are seeing, ‘Oh, we got some vets here that are maybe playing at different tempo.’ So always good to see what the standard is and seeing everybody get better at practice.“Good first day.”Read More Stampeders rookie camp: Dynamic draftee Quincy Vaughn 'available' to do it all Stampeders rookie camp: Is high-draft offensive lineman Chris Fortin already CFL-ready? Stampeders rookie camp: Day 1 brings excitement, hope and top draft pick Damien Alford Your Midday SunYour noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againArticle contentAdvertisement 4Article contentThe spotlight was on leader Adams, the quarterback tabbed to help turn around a franchise that has slumped the last few seasons.And the now-ninth-year CFL QB didn’t disappoint on the first day.“Man … it’s lovely, just lovely,” said Begelton, of Adams. “I mean … every time we’re going through stations, you hear his voice. You hear his voice in the huddle. You hear his voice after the play. You hear his voice in transition periods. And when you hear a guy’s voice like that, you can’t help but respect that. And then he’s making plays? I mean … yeah … what is there not to smile about?”Adams, who was acquired via trade with the BC Lions in the off-season, was smiling himself, “itching to get out there” in his debut with the Stampeders.“It’s a blessing, man,” said Adams, taking control of the media huddle like he’s known to do in the football huddle. “Just a great day.Advertisement 5Article content“You came out here and it’s Day 1, so great energy, with guys flying around, guys making plays and offence, defence and special teams getting together. But it’s just Day 1 — just got to keep that energy and focus throughout the camp.”Camp includes two pre-season games — next Monday with a matinee against the host Lions (2 p.m., CHQR 107.3 FM/770 AM) and a home game Saturday, May 24, against the visiting Edmonton Elks at McMahon (7:30 p.m., CHQR 107.3 FM/770 AM).With those tilts coming so quickly on the calendar, there will be no Red and White Game — the annual intrasquad scrimmage — at McMahon.No matter, though, because there will be enough internal competition in the camp sessions given all the new blood and desire to turn around the fortunes of the franchise.“More open jobs this camp,” confirmed Dickenson. “There are always a couple guys that are locked in. But there’s quite a bit of competition, especially because in a new system — even offensively — we’re going to try to do different things, and it’s different defence and different special teams.Advertisement 6Article content“I think it does open up to really putting guys maybe more on an equal playing field, which, if you’re a young guy, that’s a positive.”And if you’re an old guy — a veteran?Well … the onus is on you to get your game on that highest level to keep your job.“You always have that nervous energy at first,” added Begelton. “And then when you get that huddle, you remind yourself, ‘Hey, man, I get to play kids game at 30 or something.’“But the biggest difference this year and last couple or three years is that we have a lot of new faces, so a lot of people are trying to get jobs. So there’s that natural energy, where you just feel it a little bit more because nothing is guaranteed.“Opportunity is there, but nothing is guaranteed.”Short yardageThe CFL team made its first batch of cuts Saturday after rookie camp closed a day earlier. Those cuts were QB Joey Gatewood, WR Maxim Malenfant, WR Tykee Ogle-Kellogg, WR Marcus Washington, OL Khadere Kounta, DL Jett Bush, DL Cedrick Lattimore, DB Anthony Cook and DB Londyn Craft … LB Alex Howard finally arrived to take part in his first camp day for the Stampeders … Main camp continues for the Stamps on Monday at McMahon (9:25 a.m.).Advertisement 7Article contenttsaelhof@postmedia.comX: @ToddSaelhofPMCalgary Stampeders training camp rosterQuarterbacksVernon Adams Jr.*Logan Bonner*Josh Love*Quincy VaughnP.J. Walker*Cohen Wright#Running backsJeshrun AntwiEno Benjamin*Ludovick ChoquetteTiyon Evans*Deshaun Fenwick*Ryan Jones*William LanglaisDedrick Mills*ReceiversDamien AlfordJosh Ali*Daylen Baldwin*Clark BarnesReggie Begelton*Erik Brooks*Cam Echols*Mike Harley Jr.*Kaylon Horton*Ishmael Hyman*Vyshonne JanusasTevin Jones*Joseph Ngata*Jalen PhilpotDominique Rhymes*Terrell Vaughn*Offensive linemenWilliam Barnes*Bryce BellRodeem BrownJoshua Coker*D’Antne Demery*Chris FortinPreston Nichols*Christy NkanuDeiyantei Powell-Woods*Kyle SaxelidT.J. Session*Justin Shaffer*Matthew StokmanZack WilliamsDefensive linemenKwadwo BoahenJosh Carr Jr.*Josiah Coatney*Kail DavaAnthony FedericoClarence Hicks*Jaylon Hutchings*George IdokoJason Janvier-MessierSavion Jackson*Michael Mason*Alex Nobles*Folarin Orimolade*Shaun Peterson Jr.*Justin SambuKelon ThomasMax von MuehldorferCedric Wilcots II*Advertisement 8Article contentLinebackersKelechi Anyalebechi*Nicky FarinaccioAlex Howard*Gary Johnson Jr.*Trey Kiser*Marquel Lee*Jacob Roberts*Micah TeitzDefensive backsDaniel AmoakoBen DeLuca*Bailey Devine Scott**Meiko Dotson*Cyrus Fagan*Marlowshawn Franklin Jr.*Jaydon Grant*Adrian GreeneAnthony HaieAnthony Johnson Jr.*Ben LabrosseJeremy Lucien*Sam Mathews*Ashton Miller-MelanconDerrick Moncrief*Godfrey OnyekaDeshawn Pace*Tyler Richardson*Dolani RobinsonBentlee Sanders*Jackson SombachKaylyn St-CyrShon Stephens*Damon Webb*Special teamsRene Paredes, kickerAaron Crawford, longsnapperJason MacGougan, longsnapperMark Vassett**, punter# Denotes QB internship program player* Denotes American player** Denotes global playerArticle contentShare this article in your social networkComments Join the Conversation Featured Local Savings