After a productive training camp and continued progress throughout the season, Mezzalira is making a successful transition to pro ball.

“The first couple weeks, you’re kind of wide-eyed and nervous, and you’re just trying to fit in. But as everything slows down, you start relaxing and you start making more plays,” he said.

Although he’s listed third on the middle linebacker depth chart, Mezzalira said he couldn’t have asked for a better place to play than Calgary.

“I love our whole organization from top to bottom, just from the guys in the locker room, all the way up to the general manager, the coaches. Everyone’s really inclusive, and everyone’s trying to help each other out, and the level of accountability is high,” he said.

Mezzalira is getting plenty of help from veteran players like starting middle linebacker Alex Singleton, Calgary’s 2017 nominee for most outstanding defensive player.

“He’s like the best linebacker in the league,” said Mezzalira, “so for me to come into a spot where I can sit back and learn from him and just focus more on my (special teams), it allows me to develop at a better rate.”

With help from some family friends in Calgary, Mezzalira has settled into his own place and is quickly adapting to life in western Canada. Earlier in the season, he had a chance to reconnect with his former McMaster Marauders head coach Greg Knox, who attended training sessions as a guest coach. Knox is also a former Stampeder player.

“He was tough on me at McMaster, but he just wanted great things for me,” Mezzalira said of his former coach. “So he always pushed me to my limits and made me a better player.”

Mezzalira is part of the same draft class as Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie wide receiver Dan Petermann, who was drafted 26th overall. Both players were teammates at Cardinal Newman and McMaster and remain good friends today. Mezzalira and Petermann also spent three summers working together at the City of Hamilton and Fox 40.

Mezzalira said his long-term goals include helping the team as much as possible and putting himself in the best position to get on the field and make plays.

“Hopefully, going into next year and the year after that, I’ll be familiar with the playbook and I’ll have a better football IQ, just going out on the field,” he said.

