The Calgary Stampeders have taken steps to bolster their depth by signing two new players to their practice roster: offensive lineman Rodeem Brown and defensive lineman Aaron Donkor.
Aaron Donkor: Gaining Experience
Aaron Donkor, who wears the number 93 jersey, will bring an international flair to the Stampeders. Born in Aachen, Germany, Donkor has spent time in the NFL and XFL before coming to the Canadian Football League.
In the NFL:
Donkor was part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program and was with the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad in 2021 and 2022. However, he did not see any game action during this period.
College and Beyond:
Before his stint in the NFL, Donkor had a modest college career at Arkansas State where he played in six games, starting two, and recorded 25 tackles in 2019. He previously played at the New Mexico Military Institute.
Post-NFL, Donkor briefly played in the XFL with the Houston Roughnecks and Arlington Renegades in 2023, appearing in three games and making seven tackles.
Pre-US Career:
Prior to moving to the United States, Donkor played for the Düsseldorf Panther in the German Football League, where in 2016, he had a somewhat productive season with 14 sacks and 74 tackles.
Rodeem Brown: Finding His Footing
Rodeem Brown, an offensive lineman with the number 63 jersey, is a domestic talent hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
University Days:
Brown spent four seasons at the University of Alberta where he played 32 games. He earned Canada West and USports all-star honours at the guard position in 2021. Brown also played as a centre for the Alberta Golden Bears.
Montreal and Beyond:
After his college career, Brown was drafted in the second round of the 2022 CFL draft by the Montreal Alouettes. He attended training camp with the Alouettes for two years but is yet to establish himself as a regular in the league.
Calgary’s Strategy:
The Calgary Stampeders are looking for depth and potential development prospects in both Brown and Donkor. While both players are relatively inexperienced at the professional level, the Stampeders are likely hoping that they can evolve within the system.
Only time will tell if these additions to the practice roster will translate into significant contributions on the field for the Stampeders.
