Three Former Gryphon Football Student-Athletes Set to Play in May 31 CFL Preseason Game at U of G - University of Guelph Athletics (2024)

Football 5/30/2024 9:42:00 AM

Former Gryphons Royce Metchie, Coulter Woodmansey & Kiondre Smith set to suit up in Argos-Ticats preseason game May 31 at Alumni Stadium

GUELPH, Ont. – Three former University of Guelph student-athletes will be suiting up on Friday night (May 31, 2024) when CFL preseason action returns to U of G's Alumni Stadium. Royce Metchie (Toronto Argonauts), Coulter Woodmansey (Hamilton Tiger-Cats) and Kiondré Smith (Hamiton Tiger-Cats) will all be in action under the lights at their alma mater as the Argos host the Ticats in the final preseason game for both teams.

Tickets are still available for purchase at gryphons.ca/tickets, with kickoff set for 7pm on Friday night.

Toronto Argonauts vs Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Date:Friday, May 31, 2024
Time:7pm Kickoff, Gates Open at 6pm
Location:Alumni Stadium (University of Guelph)
Tickets:On sale atgryphons.ca/tickets

Royce Metchie, Toronto Argonauts

As a Gryphon
Royce Metchie studied sociology at the University of Guelph while competing on the Gryphon football team from 2014-2017. Roycewas a dynamic player for the Gryphons during his four-year career (2014-2017), making his impact felt at various positions on defence while also contributing on special teams. He recorded 108 tackles during his Gryphon career, to go along with one sack and two interceptions and during his senior season in 2017, ranked second on the Gryphons with 50 tackles. During his sophom*ore season as a Gryphon in 2015, Metchie was part of a Yates Cup championship, which marked the fourth conference title in program history and the most recent Yates Cup to this day for the Gryphon football program (2015, 1996, 1992 and 1984).

In the CFL
In 2024, Royce Metchie enters his 6th season in the CFL, and returns to the Toronto Argonauts for a third straight season after restructuring his contract with the team back in January of 2024. Metchie, who won a Grey Cup with the Argos in 2022, started all 18 regular season games for the Argos at free safety in 2023, recording 72 tackles, one interception, one touchdown and two forced fumbles. Born in Nigeria, Royce spent time in Taiwan and Ghana in his youth before moving to Brampton, Ontario. His younger brother, John Metchie III, is a receiver with the Houston Texans in the NFL.

Coulter Woodmansey, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

As a Gryphon
Coulter Woodmansey majored in real estate and housing at the University of Guelph while playing with the Gryphon football team from 2016-2020, making 28 starts in 32 career games as a Gryphon. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Toronto native anchored the Gryphons offensive line during his U of G career, helping the Gryphons finish 3rd in the OUA in rushing yards in 2019 (1,413 yards, 176.6 rushing yards per game). In the process, Woodmansey was named an OUA First Team All-Star and U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian. During his Gryphon career, Coulter was teammates with both Royce Metchie (in 2016 & 2017) as well as Kiondré Smith (in 2018 & 2019).

In the CFL
Coulter Woodmansey enters his 4th season in the CFL in 2024, having dressed in 41 games for the Ticats since entering the league back in 2021, including 39 starts. In 2023, Woodmansey started 17 games at right guard for Hamilton, helping Ticats running back, James Butler, eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Coulter was selected 5th overall in the 2020 CFL Draft, becoming the first U SPORTS player taken off the board in that draft after four straight NCAA selections were made to start the draft. By going 5th overall, Woodmansey also became the highest-drafted Gryphon in a decade, following in the footsteps of two-time Grey Cup champion, Rob Maver, who also went 5th overall in the 2010 CFL Draft. Coulter Woodmansey's younger brother, Curtis Woodmansey, who also played for the Gryphons, was signed by the Ticats briefly in 2024 before having the start of his CFL career cut short after suffering an injury in the team's preseason opener on May 25.

Kiondré Smith, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

As a Gryphon

Markham, Ontario native Kiondré Smith enjoyed a highly impactful career as a Gryphon. During the 2021 season, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound receiver established himself as one of the most dynamic players in the country, being the lone U SPORTS player to earn All-Canadian status on two separate occasions. The criminal justice and public policy major earned himself a spot on the U SPORTS FirstTeamAll-Canadian roster as a returner,after amassing 339 punt return yards (2nd in the OUA) and averaging 24.0 yards per return on kick returns. He also earned U SPORTS SecondTeamAll-Canadian status for his contributions on offenceas a go-to receiver for the Gryphons. As a receiver, Smith finished the 2021 season with 472 yards, averaging 94.4 yards per game (2nd in the OUA) and 13.5 yards per reception, he also found the endzonefour times. Smith finishedhisGryphon career with 635 receiving yards, 1,080 punt return yards, 681 kick return yards, and 6 total touchdowns.

In the CFL
Kiondré Smith was selected 37th overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2022 CFL Draft. In his rookie season Smith dressed for all 18 regular season games, starting 8 and recording 17 receptions, 247 yards, and a touchdown. In a September 17 matchup with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers he scored his first career touchdown on a 54-yard receptionfrom quarterback Dane Evans. In 2023, Kiondré hauled in 56 receptions 701 yards in 18 regular season games played, highlighted by a standout performance versus the Argos on September 23, 2023 where he set career-high's with 9 receptions for 156 yards. Kiondré's father, Adrion 'Pee Wee' Smith, played 12 years in the CFL and was a four-time CFL All-Star at corner and three-time Grey Cup champion.

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