Tiger-Cats linebacker earns a return audition with World Wrestling Entertainment 

He gives new meaning to the “fight” part of his college team’s nickname.

Ryan Meed, the 24-year-old linebacker who played one game for the Ticats late last season and is vying for a job again this spring, spent four years with the Illinois Fighting Illini.

But in February, as he waited for Cats camp to open, he took an athletic detour. He had a tryout with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the biggest wrestling promotional company on the planet.

Unbeknownst to him, he had been scouted by the multi-faceted company and identified as a potential wrestling prospect, although he’d never wrestled in high school or anywhere else.

“I got a DM one day from their recruitment page, and they offered me an opportunity to try out,” he said at practice this week. “It was truly an unbelievable week, a great experience.”

He was flown into the WWE Performance Centre in Orlando, where the company bases its development brand programs: NXT and Evolve.

During the week, he and other recruits were taught how to “run the ropes” in a square pattern around the ring, learned how to take a “bump” from an opponent, how to properly roll, and several other basic techniques and the very physical, athletic demands of the squared circle.

By the end, he’d shown enough that he was invited back for another audition in July, during SummerSlam auditions, but hopes to still be playing with the Cats at the time, and would put his wrestling future on hold.

“I was able to see the NXT and Gorilla (the backstage area behind the wrestlers’ entrance to the ring) and see what’s going on behind the scenes,” Meed said. “I was able to meet Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Bayley. To be kind of mentored by them was a memorable experience.”

Especially to someone who grew up idolizing WWE stars, as Meed did in Brooklyn, N.Y. His favourite was DX (D-Generation-X), a revolving conglomerate of mega-stars including Michaels, Triple H and even Mike Tyson, who projected an anti-authoritarian image, as part of wrestling’s “attitude era.”

“DX were my favourites, not only because of how cool they were but also because of how much fun they were constantly having. It looked like they were living their best life, so to speak, and I admired that as a kid.”

Meed was a rarity in the new world of college football, spending all six seasons (2019–24) of his eligibility—“loyalty matters”—on the same campus. By his senior season, he was a team captain, but it didn’t start out quite that way.

After a stellar high school career in Brooklyn, he wasn’t offered a scholarship at Illinois but was given “preferential walk-on” status. He liked the family atmosphere he felt on a visit to the school, so he gambled on himself in the walk-on role. He got into four games, including a huge victory over Michigan State as a freshman, he then was red-shirted but played four more the next year, and seven in a third “freshman” season before new coach Bret Bielema called Meed and his close friend Isaac Darkangelo—a fellow linebacker who is now with the rival Toronto Argonauts—to stand in front of the rest of the team.

The coach gruffly said that the two had been spotted the previous night on Green Street, the vibrant student entertainment and shopping area in the heart of the university.

“He stood us up and said, ‘What were you guys doing on Green Street?’” Meed recalls. “And I was panicking. I wasn’t even on Green Street, I was home sleeping. He was, like, ‘Well, we heard you were there…but the good thing is you guys are on scholarship as of now, so you don’t have to worry about it. And everyone on the team kind of erupted.”

The following three years he played in every Illini game, made the pass break-up in the end zone, which clinched a 21-17 Citrus Bowl win over No. 14 South Carolina in his final college game, and was team captain in his senior season. All, finally, on scholarship.

“It was definitely one of the most beautiful, rewarding journeys ever,” he said. “It wasn’t easy by any means but something I’m really proud of. I love Illinois, I love everything it represented.”

As well as evolving into one of Illinois’ most reliable players, Meed earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a graduate certificate in strategic leadership and management. He’s got a probing intellect and in his final four years at Illinois, he was an Academic All-Big Ten every season. He was also a semi-finalist for the “Academic Heisman” in his senior year, and was a member of the Hampshire Honour Society for U.S. college players who excel on the field and in the classroom.

That intelligence and eagerness to learn should translate to the football field.

“It helps a tremendous amount,” he agrees. “It kind of helps you see things before they happen, and not only that, it puts you in the right position, puts you in the front end of things instead of the back end of things. That’s what playing linebacker is about. Even though it’s a lot about reaction, putting yourself in the best position helps.”

With the advanced education and the gumption to audition for wrestling’s biggest stage, it’s obvious that Meed likes challenges.

“That’s the title of my life,” he says. “That’s how you get the best out of yourself.”

CATS CLAUSES

Trevor Reid already has a football pedigree but is “just getting started.”

Just outside of Las Vegas, during practices for the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl—the all-star game which showcases top senior NCAA players—the left offensive tackle for the East was Louisville’s Trevor Reid, and the right tackle was Grand Valley State’s Quinton Barrow.

“I’ve got my dog with me on the right side,” the athletic 6-foot-5, 312-pound Reid was saying this week about reuniting with Barrow (6-foot-6, 331), who was CFL All-East last year. “He’s one of the guys I talked to about coming here. I saw him two years ago when I was in Saskatchewan, and after leaving to go to Minnesota (Vikings), I saw him have a great year last year. Having another opportunity to come back to Canada, it was one of those things where I couldn’t turn it down.”

Reid was one of the Ticats’ premier free agency signings back in February, after he’d been given a long look by the Vikings, then not signing with the Dallas Renegades, who had selected him in the UFL draft.

“I chose Hamilton because of what I saw here,” he says. “We have a tight group. Everybody, the offensive line, D-line, everybody, is close together in a big family.”

Reid grew up in Griffin, Georgia, which is part of Metropolitan Atlanta. Looking to improve his academic qualifications and his self-discipline, he went to Georgia Military College, where he was ranked the top Junior College offensive tackle in the country, earning himself a scholarship to Louisville. He started 24 of the Cardinals’ 25 games in his final two years and helped one of the top ground games in college ball average over 200 rushing yards in his senior season.

He went undrafted by the NFL, then spent time with Philadelphia and Atlanta before signing with Saskatchewan in 2024 and immediately becoming the starting left tackle. The Riders allowed only 35 sacks that year, and Reid was the club’s rookie of the year.

After injuring a pectoral muscle in offseason gym work, Reid missed essentially all of the 2025 season. That’s healed and is behind him now.

“I have had a lot of downtime, so I’m just getting started,” he says. “So I haven’t played my best year of football yet, but I know it’s only better with time. Like I say, each and every year I get better.”

Scott Milanovich on Bob Dyce: “We’re fortunate to have him”

In Wednesday morning’s coaching scrum, Scott Milanovich said the Ticats were fortunate to have Bob Dyce as special teams coordinator and assistant head coach. Milanovich said he’s respected Dyce for years: “He’s seen it all, he’s coached all over: offence, receivers coach, coordinator, head coach. He’s another voice I can use if I have questions or want a second opinion. We’re fortunate to have him.

Receivers pumped about Ticats’ passing game

Here’s the Ticats’ 1000-yard receiver Kiondré Smith on the multiple long completions and jump-ball wins during Sunday night’s Black and Gold Game: “It’s kind of just showing that we’re all firing on all cylinders. Bo ages like wine. His arm’s clearly still there as he threw a 109-touchdown and a bunch of deep balls. Keric (Wheatfall) showed his ability to stretch the field and then also stop on a dime. I think we had a deep one to Kenny as well. So it’s just showing that everyone was picking up where they left off, and there’s no drop-off.”

You can catch the full video of Smith and Wheatfall discussing the receiving corps at Ticats.ca/trainingcamp. Also, the ubiquitous Troy Durrell’s informative Ticats Today podcast is on the Ticats Audio Network.

A bit more from Smith on attacking defensive coverage  

“Honestly, I think guys like Keric, who very obviously stretches the field very well, let you push the defence further (back) so you can open up space underneath. And then, if they don’t want to respect the speed, take the top off.  So having guys like me, Kenny (Lawler), Keric, even Shemar (Bridges) when he gets into his stride, and Kurleigh (Gittens Jr.)  have shown that we can stretch the field, you’ve got to get depth or we will throw it over you. And once you start respecting that, we’re all really good route runners.

Golden era for upper-level Canadian coaches

In Dyce, Jarryd Baines and Brent Monson, the Ticats are the first team that anyone can remember having all three of their coordinators born and raised in Canada. CFL Head Statistician Steve Daniels points out that last season was the first time there were four Canadian head coaches: Dyce in Ottawa, Mark Kilam in Edmonton, Mike O’Shea in Winnipeg and Corey Mace in Saskatchewan. Plus, Calgary’s Dave Dickenson holds Canadian citizenship.

Arrivals and Departures

Here’s a reminder of some of the recent Ticat comings and goings. OL Temi Ajirotutu, out of Villanova, has signed. He’s another big, and young, lineman at 24 years old, 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds; American RB Nahree Biggins was signed, WR Kyrese Rowan was activated, 21-year-old DB Gavin Gibson, who played at North Carolina, East Carolina and Maryland was also signed; and QB Matt Shiltz who spent two years here was signed for one day so he could retire as a Ticat; Canadian WR Shedler Fervius, and Americans Kendall Bohler (DB), Jesse Matthews (WR) and TaMuarian Wilson (LB)  have been released.