Breadcrumb Trail Links
Sports
Football
CFL
D'Antne Demery, Zack Williams anchor o-line as 'Blind-side Brothers' for Red and White
Published May 14, 2026 • Last updated 11 minutes ago • 5 minute read
Calgary Stampeders offensive lineman D'Antne Demery
Calgary Stampeders offensive lineman D'Antne Demery smiles during practice at McMahon Stadium on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Gavin Young/Postmedia Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia
Article content
Everything is right on the left side of the Calgary Stampeders offensive line.
Advertisement 2
Toronto Sun
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe 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 ARTICLES
Subscribe 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 ARTICLES
Create 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 account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Article content
D’Antne Demery is there for at least another two seasons.
Article content
Article content
So, too, is Zack Williams.
And together they return in 2026 as ‘Blind-side Brothers’ to a unit that was among the best in the Canadian Football League last season.
That’s a heavy burden — a hefty combined weight of 629 pounds — taken off the shoulders of Dave Dickenson in his mission to keep his quarterbacks upright and his running backs running miles.
“I think they’re happy,” said the Stampeders GM/head coach, who’s pleased as punch himself after the off-season re-signings of Demery to a one-year extension through 2027 and Williams to a two-year extension through 2028 in the face of having nearly every contract held by offensive linemen expire after this season.
“It was our goal to try to lock down at least two of the remaining guys,” continued Dickenson. “And so with both Dem and Zack signing extensions, I think that was big for us. They play well together, too — they really do.
“So happy to have them this year — but also, hopefully, it gears us up for the future.”
opening envelope
Your Midday Sun
Your 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 again
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
Demery himself lines up at left tackle — the QB’s much-valuable blind-side protector.
And all-CFL West star Zack Williams “is locked in” beside him at left guard.
The fact both re-upped with the Stampeders in the off-season is no coincidence. They talked about returning together heading into the winter.
“Oh … man, we just got a connection with each other,” said the 6-foot-4, 322-lb. Demery, of left-side success with Williams. “Man … we’ve built something, and we brothers now.
“So it’s like something that we wanted to do — something that we talked about during the off-season. We just stuck to the plan, and we knew we just wanted to stay back and try to come back here and win a Grey Cup.”
But it’s not just Demery and Williams that have turned what had been a struggling unit into one that help the Stampeders contend for the home-town CFL championship in November at McMahon Stadium.
The surprising debut of Chris Fortin at centre in place of injured veteran Bryce Bell, the consistency of ironman Christy Nkanu at right guard and a solid show of next-man-up efforts at right tackle have all contributed to a rise in o-line fortunes.
Advertisement 4
Article content
“I think we just got comfortable with each other,” said 28-year-old Demery, of last year’s success along the line. “We started to figure it out, and we just got comfortable and just started dominating.
“So it’s just keep building this year. One day at a time, one game at a time, one play at a time, one practice at a time …”
WHO ARE THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN IN STAMPS CAMP?
# Age Ht Wt School
61William Barnes 26 6’4 336 North Carolina
66Bryce Bell 28 6’4 304 Wilfrid Laurier
68Deondre Buford* 25 6’4 321 Cincinnati
60D’Antne Demery 28 6’4 322 Florida International
62Cameron Dye* 23 6’3 311 Southern Illinois
57Chris Fortin 26 6’4 307 Connecticut
64Tomas Jack-Kurdyla 30 6’4 295 Buffalo
69Chris Murray* 25 6’2 300 Oklahoma
52Preston Nichols 26 6’2 284 Purdue
65Christy Nkanu 27 6’2 325 Washington State
55Mitchel Schechinger* 22 6’2 306 Guelph
59Matthew Stokman* 24 6’3 340 Manitoba
56Jack Warrack* 22 6’5 298 Saskatchewan
67Zack Williams 29 6’5 307 Manitoba
* — rookie
Advertisement 5
Article content
Cameron Dye, Chris Murray and Deondre Buford are young Americans hoping to land a spot on the Red and White roster.
Matthew Stokman, a seventh-round CFL draft-pick last year, and Michel Schechinger and Jack Warrack — respective sixth- and eighth-rounders this year — are the fresh Canadians in camp, joining experienced compatriots Bell, Fortin, Nkanu, Williams and Tomas Jack-Kurdyla. The only one of those eight Canucks not drafted and groomed by the Stamps is Jack-Kurdyla, who was a fourth-overall pluck by the Edmonton club in 2020.
Add in the three returning Americans — Demery, Preston Nichols and William Barnes — and the hope is the o-line can be as cohesive as it was last year.
“I think it’s just being around each other and understanding each other and communicating with each other,” said Demery, a native of Brunswick, Ga. “One of the big things that I’ve kind of seen early on in my career here is just the communication and kind of trying to be around each other to be a unit.”
Advertisement 6
Article content
WHAT’S UP WITH THE REST OF THE O-LINE?
With Demery and Williams seemingly all-in on the left side, jobs along the rest of the o-line are still up for grabs.
At centre, Bell is back, hoping to recoup his old gig.
And Nkanu has been a fixture at right guard.
But the undeniable talent of Fortin, who was the Stamps’ Most Outstanding rookie last year after being selected eighth overall in the 2025 CFL Draft, is pushing both.
“I’ve been slow-playing Bryce a little bit just to make sure he can stay healthy,” Dickenson said. “But he’s doing a nice job.
“But Chris, Christie and Bryce know there’s only going to be two positions for the three of them. You know … I get that they’re three good players. They all want to start and play and push each other, and hopefully that makes us better.”
And expect William Barnes and Preston Nichols to shore up the right-tackle position, although Dickenson is liking the push from fresh faces at that position, including Murray.
“Yeah … there’s a lot of guys there,” Dickenson said. “Definitely, it’s a job that’s wide open, and we’ll see how everyone does.
Advertisement 7
Article content
“And we’re nicked up a little bit here and there, as well. So take advantage of reps when you get in there, compete hard and get better each day. That’s the big thing.
“I think if you see these young guys and all the guys find a way to improve each and every day, I think that’s the only way to get better.”
Don’t be surprised to see four Canadians start along the offensive line.
A nice ratio-breaker, if you can get it.
“I’m not really working any (Canadian) as much at right tackle, though,” added Dickenson. “We do have multiple guys that have played it. Zack has played it, Chris has played it, and actually, so has Bryce. And Christy played it in college, as well. So we could (put a Canadian there).
“We do feel pretty good with our interior depth. Stokman is stepping up. Even our young draft-picks this year are, too. So I think we got good depth in there. So if we need some help on the outside and we think that’s the best option, certainly we can do that.”
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments