Stamp of approval for Mosley
Josh Mosley had been working out in preparation for a Canadian Football League combine when he got a call that changed everything.
On the other end of the line was a representative of the Calgary Stampeders offering the 24-year-old Port Colborne native a contract.
“I’m really excited,” the Lakeshore Catholic graduate said. “I just wanted to play this last season at Queen’s and have a successful season and see what happens so it was great to get the call from Calgary.”
Mosley played five seasons at Queen’s where he was an Ontario University Athletics Second-Team All-Star in 2021. He was the starting right guard on an offensive line that allowed the Gaels to finish first in the division and third in the conference in rushing yards per game. He started at left tackle during his second, third and fourth seasons at Queen’s.
Mosley, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound blocker, went undrafted in 2020 and was a free agent.
“I had spoken with a few teams in 2020 leading up to the 2020 combine and draft,” he said. “I spoke with them (Calgary) then and they did an interview with me over the phone.”
Calgary lost Justin Lawrence to the Toronto Argonauts in free agency, leaving a hole in their offensive line. The former fifth-round pick filled a key depth role in 2021 and Mosley will look to help fill the void.
“I’m going to go in there and compete like every other guy,” Mosley said. “They don’t really say anything in terms of what kind of chance or shot (I have). It’s known they’re bringing me in to compete and to be a body to make the team better.
“I’ll just go in and show them what I have and see where it goes from there.”
Mosley plans to change his workout routine now that he has a contract.
“Where the last couple of months I have been training for the combine and concentrating on combine drills, now I’ll just reorient my drills on becoming a better football player,” he said. “I’ll continue to hit the weights and focus on offensive line techniques and continue to hone that and make sure that’s sharp for when May comes.”
Mosley began football in Grade 1 and quickly took to the line.
“I’ve always done well as an offensive lineman,” he said. “I committed to being an offensive lineman since a young age. I’ve always been an offensive lineman and was told I had potential.”
He is more than comfortable playing a position that often goes overlooked — until something goes awry with the offence.
“It’s what makes offensive linemen so close, we know we have each other’s backs,” he said. “People that understand football understand what we do and people that don’t focus on us so much, we’re OK with it.
“We want to do our jobs and protect our teammates. If you’re an offensive linemen, then you love what you do and take great satisfaction from protecting your teammates and know they’re doing well. You don’t need the recognition.”
Mosley is completing a Masters Degree at Queen’s and then plans to study for a PHD in philosophy or attend law school.
But first, Mosley plans to give the CFL his best shot.
“Over the years, I made various all-star teams and such and it was kind of a thing where I wanted to see what my maximum potential was with this game. I had lots of fun with it. I knew university was a stepping stone to the CFL so I just wanted to do the best I possibly could and if the CFL was in the cards for me, then I would jump at the opportunity.”
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