Justin Sambu makes a splash in his debut with Stamps

Cochrane Cobras alumnus Justin Sambu didn’t take long to introduce himself as a threat to opponents in his CFL professional debut with the Calgary Stampeders on Aug. 4.

Just 3:48 into the game, the 25-year-old defensive lineman got his first sack in the Stamps’ epic fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Toronto Argonauts, 27-23. It was the first of six by the Stamps defence that shut the door on the Argos in the second half.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to get my pro career started,” says Sambu. “I was shooting to get to the NFL, but you know, maybe in the future. But for right now, I’m just excited to start doing CFL, and coming in hot like that is just a blessing for me. I’m just excited to keep going.”

Sambu was a standout with the Cochrane Cobras and a member of the South all-stars at the 2016 Senior Bowl. He played three games for the Calgary Colts juniors in 2016 and spent one season with the Football North program in Mississauga, Ont., where they play American football, before joining the Black Bears of the University of Maine.

He finished his NCAA career with the Baylor (TX) Bears after considering offers from several other US universities in his last year of eligibility.

The 6’4, 282 lb. defensive lineman was selected by the Argos in the sixth round, 54th overall, of the 2024 CFL draft but was released on June 1 after the pre-season.

“I continued working out and hitting the field,” says Sambu. “I knew with the skills that I showed in the preseason games with the Argos and in camp, eventually somebody was going to give me a call and I was fortunate enough for it to be my hometown team.”

The Stamps were impressed with his tryout, signed him on July 16, and placed him on the practice roster.

Sambu says he knew he would get some field time on Sunday.

“My coach let me know and I was working hard to come out hot in the game. I just found a way to the quarterback early and I was able to get a sack in the first quarter.”

Ironically, his first game came against the team that had released him.

Sambu admits leading up to the game, it was personal but that all changed when he went on the field before the game and saw his former defensive line coach, Demetrius Maxi, and a couple of his old teammates.

“I just realized, it’s all pretty much one big family in the league, and we’re all just having fun competing. That’s one thing that I learned about the CFL in the game against Toronto is that although we’re competing against each other and we’re all trying to win a Grey Cup, we’re all friends at the end of the day.”

He says it was thrilling to be able to play his first game of Canadian football since 2016 in front of family and friends, including his mom, cousins former coaches, and past teammates from the Cobras and the Lions minor football. 

“It was awesome. It felt like everybody I knew was out there because they messaged me after on Instagram saying, hey, I was at the game, you looked good, good luck in the season. I was like, wow, I didn’t realize how many people that I knew were actually out there.”

Former Cochrane Cobras coach Rob McNab visits with Justin at McMahon Stadium. (photo submitted) 

Rob McNab, who recently retired as head coach of the Cochrane Cobras, was among them.

Sambu won three provincial rings at Cochrane High on what McNab believes were some of the most talented teams in the storied history of the Cobras.

He says Sambu was a multi-talented athlete who was destined to succeed.

“Without a doubt, he’s an intimidating dude and he had all the attributes. He was so athletic. He did track and played a great game of basketball, so when you get him on the football field with the size that he had, man, there was just no stopping him. He was very, very intimidating.” 

The Cochrane Cobras visited Baylor one of the years Sambu was on the team, says McNab.

“We took them to Texas one year to play and we ended up at Baylor and went to a Baylor game and toured their facility and the whole bit. And then bingo, he ends up there. That’s a little ironic.”

McNab looks forward to getting one of his jerseys. 

“He’s one of ours. I mean, he’s just an amazing kid. He’s one of those kids that I’ll always remember because he just had that sparkle in his eye. He was athletic, didn’t question things, soaked up information, played both ways… just everything. He never took the game too seriously either, which was kind of refreshing, He just played. “

“I remember when he was young, we were at a track meet and I looked at him and I said, hey, I want to see you in that stadium one day. That’s always been a dream of mine and, you know, obviously a dream of his.”

It’s a short week for both the Stamps and the Argos, as they face each other again Friday night in Toronto.

For Cochrane, #97 is the number to watch and cheer for.