The Ottawa Redblacks have a big hole to fill with the loss of right tackle Colin Kelly.

But it looks like they won’t have to search far for his replacement. It seems likely that two-year veteran Nolan MacMillan, who has the Canadian citizenship thing working in his favour, will slide over one spot from guard and play tackle. That could mean that Alex Mateas, the Redblacks’ first-round draft choice of a year ago, could be in the starting rotation.

It’s not like MacMillan is a stranger to the position. He played there in college at Iowa and also saw action there in his rookie season, 2014.

“I feel good about (a move to tackle),” said MacMillan. “I’m happy to play wherever, it’s not too different. I like the challenge of tackle. It’s a lot more 1-on-1, you’re going against pass rushers, especially in this league — somebody who’s paid to go after the quarterback.”

During the off-season, he’s paid more attention to training, working out with teammate Matt Albright.

“(Albright has) got his Poliquin strength certification, it’s very scientific in the approach,” said MacMillan. “In college, everything’s laid out for you, here we’re on our own a bit. I feel strong, I feel lean, those are the two things I was after.”

No question, losing Kelly, who early this year signed to play with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, is a big blow. But the Redblacks have some talent on the offensive line.

“I miss Colin a lot, we’re close, we still talk all the time,” said MacMillan. “This is a great group, everybody’s supportive, everybody wants everybody to get better.”

MacMillan is one of a number of Redblacks players going into the final year of their contract. He likes Ottawa and hopes to stay, but isn’t worried about what 2017 and beyond will bring.

“I’m just focused on the season, I want to have a great year,” he said. “I would like to be considered one of the elite at my position so that’s what I’m thinking about right now.

“The biggest thing for me is staying healthy. That’s allowed me to get some confidence. Once you get some confidence, you can go out there and play your game and set the pace, set the tempo and not be tentative. The biggest thing for me this year is playing confident and sticking to my plan.

“You never want to give up a sack, that’s certainly a goal for me … no sacks. Some goals I set are taking care of my body and doing the little things that add up over the season — stuff that will make the difference for me having a good year or a great year.”

As for his team, which had a great 12-6 regular season and advanced to the Grey Cup — losing 26-20 to the Edmonton Eskimos — a year ago, MacMillan said: “We know what we’re capable of. We have expectations of ourselves and we now have expectations from the outside as well.”

DRAFT LOOKING UP

Next Tuesday’s CFL Draft will be expanded from seven to eight rounds. It will provide an opportunity for nine more Canadians to get a training camp invite and gives teams an additional player in training camp who does not count toward their overall maximum roster limit. Since 2013, the CFL Draft consisted of seven rounds of selections and from 1997-2012 the draft concluded after six rounds. It has also been announced that TSN2 and RDS2 will carry the CFL Draft on TV from 7-8 p.m., with subsequent rounds being streamed live on TSN GO.

QUITE A GUY

Former Ottawa Sooners offensive lineman Dillon Guy is ranked 14th in the final CFL Scouting Bureau draft rankings, but don’t be surprised to see him get picked in the first round, despite knee and foot injuries in his career at the University at Buffalo. The Redblacks pick seventh overall, could that be a landing spot? Guy told 3DownNation’s Justin Dunk: “I know I’m the best prospect in this draft. It may sound arrogant, but that’s the way I think.” Another former Sooner, defensive lineman Trent Corney, is ranked eighth.

THE END AROUND

The Redblacks added a couple of players this week: Linebacker Sean Blomquist, a 23-year-old out of Carroll College, and offensive lineman Joseph Treadwell, a 23-year-old out of Louisiana-Monroe … The nine CFL teams and the league office are donating $50,000 to the Red Cross to support Fort McMurray fire relief efforts. Not $50,000 each — combined. In addition to the donation, the CFL will contribute its proceeds from May 12 CFL/adidas sales on CFLShop.ca to the Red Cross. That is the day the CFL is launching its new adidas collection for the upcoming season. The contributions should be applauded, but doesn’t it still sound a bit stingy, especially from the Alberta teams?

tbaines@postmedia.com

twitter.com/TimCBaines