The Calgary Stampeders' young Canadian duo of Damien Alford and Jalen Philpot is quickly becoming a problem that the rest of the CFL will have to deal with for years to come.
Obviously, a team like the Stampeders, which sits atop the West Division and looks like the real deal, has plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball. But, good Canadian players are the heart of every good CFL roster. And, young Canadian talent has the potential to be a problem for the rest of the league for years to come.
The Calgary Stampeders' 2025 Season
Damien Alford's play has been the talk of the league in the last two games. But Jalen Philpot has been a rising star for years.
Regardless of how they got to this point, they have both enjoyed great 2025 seasons so far.
Alford is a big-bodied receiver who can win with speed and height, which makes him a deep threat nightmare for defenses.
- 12 catches
- 300 yards (25 yards per catch)
- 5 TDs
Philpot doesn't have the height to stress defenses, but he's a sure-handed YAC monster that moves the chains.
- 21 catches
- 347 yards
- 133 yards after catch
Jalen Philpot
Jalen Philpot is the epitome of a Calgary player.
He enjoyed a successful college career at the University of Calgary. Then, he was drafted 5th overall by the Calgary Stampeders.
Philpot showed a lot of promise in his rookie year (314 yards and 3 TDs). Unfortunately, his second season was cut short by injury.
His third season is where he really started to showcase what he could become.
2024
- 66 catches
- 659 yards
- 3 TDs
After the 2024 season, both Philpot and the Stampeders had a decision to make.
Did Philpot want to remain in Calgary long term? Or, was he ready to take his talents elsewhere (perhaps to Montreal to play with his brother)?
The Calgary Stampeders had to decide if one promising season was enough to make a large financial commitment to him.
Thankfully, both the team and the player wanted to continue their promising partnership. That decision is really paying dividends this season.
Damien Alford
Philpot may be in his 4th season, but Damien Alford is just getting started in the CFL.
Alford played his college ball in America for both Syracuse and Utah. He enjoyed a solid college career.
- 67 catches
- 1,291 yards
- 7 TDs
While his college career was solid, it didn't necessarily draw much interest from the NFL. But his large frame (6 feet 6 inches) and playmaking ability had the potential to translate well to the Canadian game. That led to the Calgary Stampeders drafting him with the #1 overall pick in this year's draft.
It's still early, but that pick looks like it will pay off in a big way.
The Future of the Calgary Stampeders
The future looks bright if Calgary can manage to keep both guys long-term.
Interestingly enough, despite the difference in experience, they are both 24 years old. That means neither of them has reached their physical prime yet. And that should be a scary thought for defenses all over the CFL.
There's something else that should scare defenses. While they both have impressive skill sets, they are very different. And, their skill sets complement each other.
Alford is a big play threat anytime he steps on the field. He can win deep with speed, and he can also win a jump ball against anyone in the league.
Philpot is a high-volume guy. He won't win deep as often, but he makes a lot of catches and is great at getting extra yards after the catch.
Their combined talents force defenses to cover the entire field at all times. And that's not easy to do. It will be fun to watch how this young Canadian Duo develops both this season and in the future.