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“He’s just got to run his routes hard and find his openings, but he is a load and he’s tough to bring down once he catches it, and we’d like to get him the ball.”

Last season, Durant played in 14 games and had 35 catches for 402 yards. Pretty good numbers, all things considered, but five other Stamps receivers hauled in more passes than him last year.

That’s not the result of Bo Levi Mitchell not looking for Durant on the field, it’s simply because the Stampeders happen to have a deep receiving corps which often doesn’t get the love it deserves.

When there are guys such as Marquay McDaniel, DaVaris Daniels, Anthony Parker and, last year, Bakari Grant out on the field, the ball is going to get spread around.

The best thing that a player like Durant can do is simply make sure he’s ready when the ball does come his way.

“I’ve had injuries here and there, but overall, I think the coaches have seen what I can do and I kind of showed myself what I can do at this level, so I think if I just be me, good things will happen this year,” Durant said.

Durant isn’t shying away from saying he wants to take his game to the next level this season, and he showed in last year’s Grey Cup that he was more than capable of stepping up when he was called upon.

It wasn’t just that the Vancouver-native had the presence of mind to get back to his feet and score the crucial third-quarter touchdown. Durant also finished the game with four catches for 59 yards, the third-most of any Stamps receiver.

Now, the question is whether the Stamps’ second-round pick from the 2015 draft can replicate those numbers and solidify his place as a starting receiver.

Speaking Friday at McMahon Stadium, Durant suggested that after two seasons with the team, the pieces are in place for him to break through.

“It’s just being comfortable with the playbook, so I don’t really have to focus on that,” Durant said. “I can just worry about reading the defences and running fast, and I think I’m ready for a big year.”

E-mail: daustin@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @DannyAustin_9