HAMILTON — Courtney Stephen is unfazed by the challenge before him at the Hamilton Tiger-Cats training camp.
The six-foot, 199-pound native of Brampton, Ont., is making the shift from cornerback to free safety. Stephen is being counted upon to fill the huge void in Hamilton’s secondary created by the loss of all-star Canadian Craig Butler (knee), who’s expected to miss the entire 2016 campaign.
"I consider myself a football player so wherever they put me on the field I’ll do my best to adapt," Stephen said. "They could put me at long-snapper and I’d figure it out and get it done for the team.
"Luckily I’ve got experience playing (safety). So far it has been good."
Stephen played safety in 2013, his first season with Hamilton. However, there’s much more communicating involved there than at corner, which means trying to be heard over Simoni Lawrence, Hamilton’s colourful and always animated middle linebacker.
"I know it sounds like noise from the outside but we know that’s our energy right there," Stephen said. "We need all those voices to be loud and confident on gameday so we’re just getting our practise in right now.
"It’s a bit more vocal back there. You’re going to be involved a little bit more than when you’re out on the island (at cornerback). But the type of defence we play we’re inter-dependant on each other so it’s nothing too different. I’ve just got to be a different cog in the wheel back there."
Even with his experience at safety, Stephen has big shoes to fill. The six-foot-two, 196-pound Butler, a native of London, Ont., was a CFL all-star last season with 43 tackles, four sacks and an interception.
"Hey man, Craig is a hell of a baller," Stephen said. "He’s definitely somebody I learned a lot of things from.
"But pressure is a state of mind that only exists when you let it so I’m going to go out there and do my thing."
Butler’s injury also creates lineup issues for Hamilton because he’s one of the minimum seven Canadians the club must play each game. His absence means the Ticats must start another national player elsewhere on the field.
Stephen, at least, provides the Ticats with a solid Plan B option in the heart of their secondary.
"It takes time to work back into that position and we’re doing some things differently defensively in the secondary because of him being back there," said Kent Austin, Hamilton’s head coach/GM. "Every day he’s getting better but he’ll do fine.
"Courtney is a tremendous player for us and certainly has been versatile enough to play corner and free safety. We’re certainly going to miss Craig but we’ve got a lot of faith and confidence in Courtney."
Stephen, 26, played in 16 games last year, registering 48 tackles and four interceptions (both career highs) while forcing one fumble. He signed a three-year contract extension with Hamilton in the off-season after making 45 regular-season starts in his first three CFL campaigns.
Stephen enters the 2016 season with six career interceptions.
Hamilton selected Stephen in the second round, eighth overall, in the 2012 CFL draft out of Northern Illinois. He began his college career at Wilfrid Laurier, spending two seasons with the Golden Hawks before transferring to Northern Illinois.
Stephen feels he brings distinct qualities to the safety position.
"I like to think I’ve got good range and versatility," he said. "I take a lot of notes so when my coaches pour out all that good knowledge they have, I try to soak it all up and do my best to share it with the younger guys coming up.
"We’ve got a lot of good, young players on this team who are going to have to play their role and it’s my job to make sure they’re ready."
Being ready shouldn’t be a huge problem considering Hamilton kicks off the 2016 season in Toronto at BMO Field, the arch-rival Argos’ new home.
"It’s going to be a lot of fun," Stephen said. "Definitely get your popcorn ready."
