Day 17 of the Calgary Stampeders main camp put the secondary under the spotlight, with defensive back Devodric Bynum bringing the electrifying energy of Texas high school football to McMahon Stadium. Known as 'Friday Night Lights,' that atmosphere fueled Bynum's rise as a dangerous defensive back.
Bynum, a 27-year-old from Dallas, signed with the Stampeders as a free agent after spending the 2024 season with the Edmonton Elks and most of 2025 recovering from a torn pectoral muscle. In his rookie CFL campaign, he recorded 23 tackles, five interceptions, and a forced fumble in 14 games.
“I got recruited by Coach Dave,” Bynum said, referring to Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “He gave me an opportunity. I became a free agent in the winter, and that opportunity’s what brought me down here. I’m bringing the big hits and interceptions to turn the crowd up.”
Dickenson sees potential in Bynum at the halfback position, a role he hasn't played before. “He hasn’t played the halfback spot,” Dickenson said. “We feel like it’s a position he can play, and what I saw when he was at Edmonton was good speed and he was a shoot-tackler, meaning that when he triggered, he triggered with great speed. Certainly, I think we’ve got a lot of corners, so I’m trying to give him his best opportunity to compete for a starting job.”
Bynum is determined to regain his top form. “I want to definitely get back on the map. Get back on the top of the most interceptions, just be a lockdown playmaker and an all-around player,” he said.
The Stampeders secondary returns most of its key players from last season, making competition fierce. Bynum remains undeterred: “I really don’t worry about that. God has the last say-so in everything with me. This is where God placed my feet, so this is where I’m at. My faith is big. And I’m a big competitor, and Coach gave me a fair opportunity. I know I can crack the lineup.”
Here is a list of defensive backs currently in Stamps camp: Kam Alexander (25, 5'11", 178, Oregon), Zy Alexander (24, 6'2", 187, LSU), Sheldon Arnold II (24, 6'1", 189, UCF), Devodric Bynum (27, 5'11", 186, UAB), Corey Coley (22, 6'1", 184, NC State), Jaydon Grant (27, 6'0", 196, Oregon State), Adrian Greene (27, 6'0", 192, Saint Mary's), Anton Haie (25, 6'0", 200, Laval), Anthony Johnson (26, 6'2", 218, Virginia), Ben Labrosse (26, 6'0", 194, McGill), Ike Larsen (23, 5'10", 200, Utah State), Ashton Miller-Melancon (24, 6'2", 201, Queen's), Derrick Moncrief (32, 6'1", 217, Oklahoma State), Godfrey Onyeka (32, 6'1", 216, Wilfrid Laurier), Jordan Polk (25, 6'1", 181, Texas State), Dolani Robinson (26, 6'2", 201, Regina), Justin Sombach (26, 5'8", 194, Regina), and Damon Webb (5'11", 205, Ohio State).
