Day 2 of the Calgary Stampeders main camp brought the quarterbacks into the spotlight, with Josh Love embracing his role as the No. 2 pivot behind Vernon Adams Jr. Love, who joined the team this spring, is determined to make his mark in the Canadian Football League, drawing inspiration from the storied history of Stampeders quarterbacks like Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, and Dave Dickenson.
Love's Journey to the Stampeders
Josh Love, a 29-year-old from San Jose State, acknowledges the weight of the legacy he is stepping into. "The history here in this organization is awesome," Love said. "I hope to live up to half what they did." He added that he looked up to Tom Brady but also to Jeff Garcia, who played at San Jose State and later for the Stampeders. Love's path to the No. 2 role was accelerated when P.J. Walker, the previous backup, retired after just one CFL season. This opened the door for Love to assume the backup position heading into training camp.
Competing with Confidence
Love is not intimidated by the depth chart. "It doesn't really matter what the pecking order is," he stated. "In my mind, it's about getting more comfortable with the offence, learning the system, and building familiarity with the coaches and teammates. I prepare like I'm a starter because if something happens, I need to be ready to play." Love has been learning from Adams Jr. and the coaching staff, taking pride in his preparation and competitive spirit.
Quarterback Depth Chart
The Stampeders have five quarterbacks in camp: Vernon Adams Jr. (33, Oregon), Jacolby Criswell (24, East Tennessee State, rookie), Josh Love (29, San Jose State), Ben Wooldridge (26, Louisiana, rookie), and Quincy Vaughn (24, North Dakota). Vaughn, a draftee, returns as the short-yardage specialist, having carried the ball 37 times for 67 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. Wooldridge and Criswell are new to the team and are competing for a practice roster spot.
Love's mindset is clear: he wants to compete as if he were the starter, ready to step in at any moment. With the Stampeders' rich quarterback history and a supportive team environment, Love is poised to contribute and potentially carve out his own legacy in Calgary.
