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National Post

STAMPEDERS ROOKIE CAMP: Dynamic draftee Quincy Vaughn 'available' to do it all

Article content Quincy Vaughn comes to the Calgary Stampeders long — very long — on football skills. Article content Article content That's perfect for a Canadian Football League in need of a short-yardage specialist. Article content Vaughn can run the rock to reach the mark. Article content He can catch the ball or even throw it to convert the distance, too. Article content 'I'm just whatever the team needs me to be,' the newly drafted CFL prospect said through a big smile during Stampeders rookie camp at McMahon Stadium. Article content 'Just in talking to coaches and everything like that, it's just be available,' Vaughn continued. 'Availability is the best ability, whether it's quarterback, running back … whatever the team needs me out there going in as. But I'm not too sure yet — we're just getting started, getting our legs underneath us.' Article content Vaughn's legs combined with his 6-foot-4 length and 251-lb. frame — we told you he has the goods — make him available for just about any gig on offence. Article content And the jack-of-all-trades job isn't foreign to the 23-year-old Hamilton native, either. Article content 'It's something I've been doing the last couple years — short yardage, quarterback, wildcat, converted to tight end … kind of just rolling with it,' confirmed Vaughn, who was an all-Canadian prep-school QB in Mississauga, Ont., before spending three years as backup pivot with the NCAA's North Dakota Fighting Hawks, followed by two more as a tight end with the FCS squad. Article content 'The opportunity to learn so much, it's great,' Vaughn continued. 'Being a quarterback and then being a tight end and being able to combine my knowledge on both positions has been great. Article content 'I think it's my biggest thing. You never know what's coming. So I've kind of just got to be ready for it all, learn it all.' Article content With the Stampeders, he better be ready for short-yardage duty — of which he excelled during all five of his seasons with the Fighting Hawks. Article content Since 'Touchdown' Tommy Stevens — another lanky, large QB — signed in the off-season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Red and White have been looking for a guy to get a yard or two in the clutch. Article content Heck, Vaughn — actually listed by the Stamps as a quarterback on the roster — could just as easily line up at fullback with his size to get that job done. Article content 'He's a big, big man,' Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson said. 'As an ex-quarterback that can, I think, do some things for us in certain situations — like short yardage — we'll give him his chance. But we're also thinking he can play in multiple packages. Article content 'I'm not afraid at all of his compete level. The guy's tough, and I really feel like he'll make our team better.' Article content Dickenson & Co. did use a high pick — second round, 17th overall — to grab the dynamic Vaughn in the 2025 CFL Draft held last week. Article content So there is some expectation there, plus Vaughn's body type and experience lends well to that whole search for a short-yardage specialist. Article content In 2024, the QB-turned-tight end had 11 catches for 111 yards and one touchdown and was a perfect 11-for-11 on keepers on short yardage. In 54 career games for the Fighting Hawks, he had 17 rushing touchdowns as well as 21 catches for 197 yards and four scores. Vaughn had four passing touchdowns in his first two seasons at North Dakota before the position switch. The proof is in the pudding that he seemingly is game for anything, although he has to re-familiarize himself with the Canadian rules. Article content 'If someone's calling for me and I gotta go play wide receiver, I'll go do it,' said Vaughn, whose dad Michael — in 1989 as a running back — and older brother Justin — from 2017-18 as a defensive lineman — both played with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Article content 'If I gotta be on special teams for 85 plays a game, I'll do it. Like, it's just whatever the coaches need from me. I'm looking forward to this opportunity as presented. It's something I really want to take advantage of. Article content 'The more I can learn at this level — at the professional level, where these guys have been doing this for longer than I've been alive — would be really cool,' Vaughn added. 'To learn from them and see what's best to elevate my game in order to help the team, I'm willing to do what I can as best I can.' Article content Article content