TORONTO, Ontario – North Dakota tight end Quincy Vaughn was selected by the Calgary Stampeders in the second round (17th overall) of the 2025 CFL Draft in Toronto on Tuesday.
Vaughn becomes the first UND player drafted to the CFL since former running back Brady Oliveira (2015-18) was picked 14th overall by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the second round of the 2019 CFL Draft. Vaughn is also the first Fighting Hawk drafted by any pro team since Matt Waletzko was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (155th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
At North Dakota, Vaughn played both quarterback and tight end during his career. In UND’s Division I record book, he ties for No. 6 in career rushing touchdowns (17) and is also No. 7 in career touchdowns scored (21).
Most recently, he saw action in every game as a tight end and started three of them in 2024. As a tight end last season, he pulled in 11 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. He was also North Dakota’s short-yardage specialist and went 11-for-11 when it came to picking up first downs on 3rd & 1 and 4th & 1 situations, including 8-for-8 on fourth downs. Vaughn also scored a pair of rushing touchdowns on short yardage situations last season. His career-best as a pass catcher was four grabs for 37 yards against No. 3 South Dakota State.
In 2023, he appeared in every game and started three of them at tight end. During the season, he hauled in eight catches for 66 yards and two scores. He scored the game-winning touchdown with a 15-yard reception in the 36-33 overtime win over Indiana State to keep UND’s playoff hopes alive that season. In the MVFC, he ranked No. 11 in rushing touchdowns and scored seven times from less than two yards out. He also tied for No. 9 in the conference in total touchdowns scored (9) and tied for No. 16 in points scored per game (4.5). Vaughn had at least one rushing touchdown in five games, including a pair of short-yardage scores in the 37-22 Potato Bowl USA win over Northern Arizona and recorded two rushing touchdowns in the first round of the FCS playoffs against No. 15/16 Sacramento State.
His junior season (2022), Vaughn saw action in all 12 games as the backup quarterback. He rushed 35 times for 83 yards and six touchdowns. At the end of the season, he ranked No. 13 in the MVFC in rushing touchdowns scored and ran ahead for six scores from less than two yards out. He also recorded two scores in short yardage situations at both Northern Arizona and No. 4 North Dakota State and accounted for at least one rushing touchdown in four games. He was 1-for-8 passing during the year and hauled in a five-yard grab at Nebraska.
As a sophomore (2021), Vaughn appeared in all 11 contests as a backup quarterback. He rushed 38 times for 134 yards and a touchdown. At QB, he completed nine passes on 17 attempts for 70 yards and three touchdowns. He accounted for five touchdowns on the season and ended the year with three passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown.
During his freshman season (2020-21), Vaughn appeared in all seven games as the backup quarterback. He had 12 carries for 62 yards and a score, while averaging over 5.0 yards per carry. He took his first career snap in the 44-21 win over No. 24 Southern Illinois and had his first career pass completion in the form of a 21-yard passing touchdown in the 21-10 victory against No. 20 South Dakota. Vaughn picked up 23 yards rushing in the 44-10 win over No. 12 Missouri State in the FCS playoff win and ran in his first touchdown on a season-best four carries at No. 1 James Madison in the FCS quarterfinal.
Vaughn joins current UND products Oliveira and Evan Holm (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and Donny Ventrelli (Montreal Alouettes) in the CFL.
The Calgary Stampeders will open week one of the preseason at the BC Lions on Monday, May 19 at 3 p.m. (CT).
SOURCE: UND News Release
