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Eno Benjamin, Jeshun Antwi bring new competition to backfield of CFL club
Published May 16, 2025 • Last updated 5 minutes ago • 5 minute read
Tiyon Evans
Calgary Stampeders running back Tiyon Evans catches a pass during practice at McMahon Stadium on Tuesday May 13, 2025. Gavin Young/Postmedia
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Dedrick Mills has improved his rush numbers year after year with the Calgary Stampeders.
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It was 459 yards in his rookie year with the Canadian Football League club.
Then came 802 in 2023.
And last year, with the starting gig pretty much to himself, the rumbling running back rolled up an impressive 923 for the Stampeders.
So you know what he’s thinking for 2025.
“That 1,000 goal is most definitely in my head,” admitted Mills to reporters, during Week 1 of Stamps training camp at McMahon Stadium. “I mean … I ain’t gonna set too many high goals, but I’m just taking one game at a time and just go out and play the game that I know how to play and just be the guy for my team.”
Heading into camp, Mills was definitely the guy for this team at running back.
In the last two off-seasons, he’s seen backfield mates Ka’Deem Carey — a long-time starter with the Stamps — and Peyton Logan respectively move on to the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, leaving Mills as the undisputed incumbent for the Calgary crew.
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But there is new competition in camp with free-agent Americans, a talented local and a draftee now in the mix in the Red and White running game.
And that mix will be explored more during Monday’s first pre-season game against the host BC Lions in Langford, B.C. (2 p.m., CHQR 107.3 FM/770 AM).
“Running backs is the hardest one to really evaluate in camp when it’s not a game situation, because we really don’t want to bring them to the ground,” said Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson, of practising without tackling in training camp.
“I think we’ve got a good group, though — they’re doing a good job in their protection schemes,” added Dickenson. “We have six guys — probably that’s too many — so we’ll certainly have to take a look at that.”
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THE PLAYERS
13 Ludovick Choquette 5’9, 206 lb. 23 Long Island
20 Jeshrun Antwi 5’11, 207 lb. 27 Calgary
23 William Langlais 6’3, 226 lb. 35 Sherbrooke
26 Dedrick Mills* 5’9, 217 lb. 28 Nebraska
28 Tiyon Evans* 5’11, 210 lb. 23 Louisville
33 Eno Benjamin* 5’9, 207 lb. 26 Arizona State
49 Ryan Jones* 6’2, 235 lb. 25 East Carolina
* — denotes American*
THE SCENE
It seems Mills, 28, should be a lock to be the starting guy.
His year-over-year improvement lends to that, of course.
And the Georgia native’s not shying away from the competition in camp.
“I mean … it helps me a lot, man,” said Mills, with a big grin. “It helps me to come out here every day and prepare myself just for the game. I mean … just seeing other guys step up and do the right things and just everybody on top of their game right now is just making it hard for everybody.
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“But it’s just helping me a whole lot just come out here and be better.”
In particular, there’s Eno Benjamin — a known commodity in football circles after a stellar NCAA career of 2,867 yards and 27 touchdowns with the Arizona Sun Devils and two NFL seasons as a draftee of the Arizona Cardinals.
And Jeshrun Antwi is afoot, as well, as a local product who tore it up with the U SPORTS’ Calgary Dinos and became a 2019 draftee of the Montreal Alouettes, with whom he spent three-plus seasons — highlighted by a 600-yard campaign in 2022.
“It’s been fun, especially bringing in Antwi,” added Mills. “You know … you got a few other guys that are here with me, and just to me, it’s a competition, like always. And I’m out here competing against guys that are going hard, and it’s just making it fun for me.
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“It’s making it fun for all of us. We all go into meeting rooms every day and say, ‘Yo, it’s fun out there — it’s just fun.’ Because everybody competing … and also everybody’s doing their jobs.”
Eno Benjamin
Calgary Stampeders running back Eno Benjamin catches a pass during practice at McMahon Stadium on Tuesday May 13, 2025.Gavin Young/Postmedia
THE PLOT
Benjamin is interesting, to say the least.
The Texan saw some action in the NFL with a few franchises, but a torn Achilles late in his rookie contract while with the New Orleans Saints took him out of action down in the United States.
And now he’s trying to find his way back into the spotlight.
”It’s been kind of find an uphill battle,” admitted the 26-year-old Benjamin. “So I’m just kind of coming out here for an opportunity to prove myself — just trying to fight for an opportunity to get back into it.”
Benjamin was a seventh-round draft of the NFL’s Cardinals.
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“I’m versatile,” continued Benjamin. “I can run in between the tackles and outside, as well as catching the ball. I feel very comfortable in all aspects of the game, and I’m willing to show that.
“It’s not just going to be running up here. Even down south in the States, pass-catching running backs are more becoming a thing.”
Perhaps more important for Benjamin is catching the eye of the coaches while on special teams.
“He’s certainly in the mix,” said Dickenson, of Benjamin. “What I like about him is he seems to excel in the special-teams portion of our compete period. And a lot of times, either a backup American running back as a returner or a guy that can cover on special teams can really make a difference.
“I mean … our story is Jon Cornish was one of the best special-teamers in the league when he was a backup running back, so we always want to push those guys.”
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THE ENDING
With Mills and veteran Canadian fullback William Langlais in place, it’s a battle for a few other spots in the Stamps backfield.
Antwi’s experience despite his age and citizenship as a 27-year-old national certainly helps him. And the team used a 2025 CFL Draft pick — 47th overall — to pluck 23-year-old Ludovick Choquette from the NCAA’s Long Island Sharks, so the Stamps are sure to groom him.
So does it come down then to Benjamin and fellow Americans Ryan Jones, listed as a 25-year-old fullback from the NCAA’s East Carolina Pirates, and Tiyon Evans, a 23-year-old out of the NCAA’s Louisville Cardinals?
“I like the Americans and the Canadians,” added Dickenson. “I think we got guys that are competing.
“I think they’re all very capable of being running backs in our league.”
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM
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