HAPPY CANADA DAY: A Look at the Bobcats Who Have Starred in the CFL
7/1/2021 3:50:00 PM | Football
A look at the Bobcats who have starred in the CFL
BOZEMAN, Montana – While our neighbors to the north celebrate Canada Day on July 1, it's not a bad time to reflect on the productivity of a few Bobcat football players there.
Most notably, Montana State football alums have captured two Most Outstanding Player awards in the past decade with two others in the CFL Hall of Fame. Current Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Alex Singleton logged 123 tackles for the Calgary Stampeders in 2017, earning CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player and CFL West Division All-Star honors in 2017. After the 2011 season, legendary Bobcat quarterback Travis Lulay earned Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors, and after leading the BC Lions to the Grey Cup Championship also earned Grey Cup MVP honors.
While three Bobcats preceded him to the CFL, Montana State's Calgary Comet, Harvey Wylie, performed brilliantly for the Calgary from 1956-64. He earned All-Canadian All-Star honors twice, and was a Western Conference All-Star for five straight seasons. Wylie was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 1980, and also belongs to the Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame.
Al Wilson was selected to the CFL Hall of Fame in 1997, following a long career as an offensive linemen with British Columbia. The interior offensive lineman was All-Canadian All-Star and All-Western All-Star seven times each, and was voted the Schenley Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 1977. He was a member of BC's 1985 Grey Cup Championship team.
Below is a list of former Bobcats to play in the CFL:
Name, Position, Last Year at MSU, CFL Teams (Years)
Reggie Carthon, CB, 1993, B.C. (1996-99)
Bill Clawson, E, 1948, Winnipeg (1949)
Johnny Gardiner, QB, 1948, Winnipeg (1949)
Roy Gardiner, C/E, 1947, Calgary/Winnepeg (1947-55)
Jim Kalafat, LB, 1977, Toronto (1985)
Bob Lubig, DE, 1976, Calgary/Toronto/Montreal (1978)
Travis Lulay, QB, 2005 NA NA B.C. (2008-)
Mike McCleod, WR, 1979, Edmonton (1980-84)
Jack Meakin, E, 1954, Calgary (1955)
Zach Minter, DT, 2012, B.C. (2015-)
Johnny Reagan, HB, 1946, Winnipeg (1947)
Alex Singleton, LB, 2014, Calgary (2016-18)
Neal Smith, DE, 1997, Saskatchewan (1999)
Brian Strong, 1982, Calgary/Hamilton (1984-86)
Joey Thomas, CB, 2003, Edmonton (2007)
Al Wilson, DL, 1971, British Columbia (1972-86)
Harvey Wylie, RB, 1955, Calgary (1956-64)
#GoCatsGo
Most notably, Montana State football alums have captured two Most Outstanding Player awards in the past decade with two others in the CFL Hall of Fame. Current Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Alex Singleton logged 123 tackles for the Calgary Stampeders in 2017, earning CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player and CFL West Division All-Star honors in 2017. After the 2011 season, legendary Bobcat quarterback Travis Lulay earned Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors, and after leading the BC Lions to the Grey Cup Championship also earned Grey Cup MVP honors.
While three Bobcats preceded him to the CFL, Montana State's Calgary Comet, Harvey Wylie, performed brilliantly for the Calgary from 1956-64. He earned All-Canadian All-Star honors twice, and was a Western Conference All-Star for five straight seasons. Wylie was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 1980, and also belongs to the Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame.
Al Wilson was selected to the CFL Hall of Fame in 1997, following a long career as an offensive linemen with British Columbia. The interior offensive lineman was All-Canadian All-Star and All-Western All-Star seven times each, and was voted the Schenley Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 1977. He was a member of BC's 1985 Grey Cup Championship team.
Below is a list of former Bobcats to play in the CFL:
Name, Position, Last Year at MSU, CFL Teams (Years)
Reggie Carthon, CB, 1993, B.C. (1996-99)
Bill Clawson, E, 1948, Winnipeg (1949)
Johnny Gardiner, QB, 1948, Winnipeg (1949)
Roy Gardiner, C/E, 1947, Calgary/Winnepeg (1947-55)
Jim Kalafat, LB, 1977, Toronto (1985)
Bob Lubig, DE, 1976, Calgary/Toronto/Montreal (1978)
Travis Lulay, QB, 2005 NA NA B.C. (2008-)
Mike McCleod, WR, 1979, Edmonton (1980-84)
Jack Meakin, E, 1954, Calgary (1955)
Zach Minter, DT, 2012, B.C. (2015-)
Johnny Reagan, HB, 1946, Winnipeg (1947)
Alex Singleton, LB, 2014, Calgary (2016-18)
Neal Smith, DE, 1997, Saskatchewan (1999)
Brian Strong, 1982, Calgary/Hamilton (1984-86)
Joey Thomas, CB, 2003, Edmonton (2007)
Al Wilson, DL, 1971, British Columbia (1972-86)
Harvey Wylie, RB, 1955, Calgary (1956-64)
#GoCatsGo
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