Former Bobcats Set to Open CFL Season
6/9/2022 10:33:00 AM | Football
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ATHENS, Ohio— Five Ohio football alumni are representing the Bobcats in the 2022 Canadian Football League season, opening today (June 9). Nathan Rourke is the BC Lions' starting quarterback, defensive tackle Casey Sayles is on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' roster, wide receiver Papi White plays for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats while running back Maleek Irons is on the Tiger-Cats' practice squad and running back AJ Ouellette plays for the Toronto Argonauts.Â
Rourke (Oakville, Ontario) made his CFL debut in 2021, highlighted by a 43-10 win over Edmonton on Nov. 19 that earned a CFL Top Performer of the Week honor for his efforts. Rourke was on the Ohio football team from 2017-19, where he compiled 7,475 passing yards, 70 passing touchdowns and 49 rushing touchdowns. He led the Bobcats to three consecutive bowl wins, rounding out his collegiate career as the 2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl MVP.Â
Sayles (Omaha, Neb.) signed with the Blue Bombers in 2021, making eight starts in his debut season. Sayles finished the season with 28 defensive tackles and five quarterback sacks. With the Bobcats, Sayles suited up for 45 games, amassing 111 tackles and earning Second Team All-MAC in 2016.Â
White (Seminole, Okla.) signed with the Tiger-Cats in April 2020, making his debut against Saskatchewan on Aug. 14, 2021. He recorded 11 receptions for 105 yards and one receiving touchdown in five regular-season games, including four starts. White played for the Bobcats from 2014-18 and is the program's all-time leader in career receiving yards with 2,620. He earned All-MAC First team honors in 2018 and Second Team All-MAC honors in 2016.Â
Irons (Chilliwack, British Columbia) was the Tiger-Cats' third round pick in the 2019 CFL draft and was selected 22nd overall. He made his CFL debut on June 22, 2019 against the Toronto Argonauts, registering his first CFL rush and rushing touchdown.Over the 2019 and 2021 seasons, Irons has dressed for 22 games with five starts. He played in 28 games for the Bobcats, recording 1,447 yards on 252 carries with 16 rushing touchdowns and no fumbles.
Ouellette (Covington, Ohio) signed with the Argonauts as a free agent in Sept. 2019, making his CFL debut on Oct. 18. During his debut game, Ouellette registered a 36-yard run, the longest that season for the Argonauts. While at Ohio, Ouellette played in 50 games, rushing over 1,000 yards in both his redshirt junior and redshirt senior years. He was named First Team All-MAC as a senior and Second Team All-MAC as a junior.Â
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ATHENS, Ohio— Five Ohio football alumni are representing the Bobcats in the 2022 Canadian Football League season, opening today (June 9). Nathan Rourke is the BC Lions' starting quarterback, defensive tackle Casey Sayles is on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' roster, wide receiver Papi White plays for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats while running back Maleek Irons is on the Tiger-Cats' practice squad and running back AJ Ouellette plays for the Toronto Argonauts.Â
Rourke (Oakville, Ontario) made his CFL debut in 2021, highlighted by a 43-10 win over Edmonton on Nov. 19 that earned a CFL Top Performer of the Week honor for his efforts. Rourke was on the Ohio football team from 2017-19, where he compiled 7,475 passing yards, 70 passing touchdowns and 49 rushing touchdowns. He led the Bobcats to three consecutive bowl wins, rounding out his collegiate career as the 2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl MVP.Â
Sayles (Omaha, Neb.) signed with the Blue Bombers in 2021, making eight starts in his debut season. Sayles finished the season with 28 defensive tackles and five quarterback sacks. With the Bobcats, Sayles suited up for 45 games, amassing 111 tackles and earning Second Team All-MAC in 2016.Â
White (Seminole, Okla.) signed with the Tiger-Cats in April 2020, making his debut against Saskatchewan on Aug. 14, 2021. He recorded 11 receptions for 105 yards and one receiving touchdown in five regular-season games, including four starts. White played for the Bobcats from 2014-18 and is the program's all-time leader in career receiving yards with 2,620. He earned All-MAC First team honors in 2018 and Second Team All-MAC honors in 2016.Â
Irons (Chilliwack, British Columbia) was the Tiger-Cats' third round pick in the 2019 CFL draft and was selected 22nd overall. He made his CFL debut on June 22, 2019 against the Toronto Argonauts, registering his first CFL rush and rushing touchdown.Over the 2019 and 2021 seasons, Irons has dressed for 22 games with five starts. He played in 28 games for the Bobcats, recording 1,447 yards on 252 carries with 16 rushing touchdowns and no fumbles.
Ouellette (Covington, Ohio) signed with the Argonauts as a free agent in Sept. 2019, making his CFL debut on Oct. 18. During his debut game, Ouellette registered a 36-yard run, the longest that season for the Argonauts. While at Ohio, Ouellette played in 50 games, rushing over 1,000 yards in both his redshirt junior and redshirt senior years. He was named First Team All-MAC as a senior and Second Team All-MAC as a junior.Â
#OUohyeahÂ
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