Saluki O-lineman Cameron Dye brings pass-blocking skills to CFL’s Calgary Stampeders

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois offensive tackle Cameron Dye allowed just one sack during the 2025 season, and his pass-blocking ability is a big reason why the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League signed him to a free-agent contract on Wednesday.

In a league that spreads the field and throws the ball on nearly 70 percent of its snaps, Dye could be the perfect fit.

“They liked my film and how athletic I was, and they want me to come in and compete right away,” Dye said. “I'm going to come into camp and play tackle, but they want to put me at guard, as well, and see which I'm best at.”

The CFL begins its rookie minicamp one week from today and starts training camp the following week. The regular season runs from June through October.

Playing in the summer is not the only difference compared to American football. The CFL field is 12 yards wider than the American version, and end zones are 15 yards deep, rather than 10. Teams throw the ball more often because they only have three plays to get a first down. The CFL uses a 20-second play clock, while the NFL operates on a 40-second clock.

“It's going to be challenging to learn, but once I get the rules, I think it's not going to be that big of an adjustment,” Dye said. “I can see myself excelling in it.”

There are nine CFL franchises, and teams are permitted to have up to 20 American players on their 45-man rosters, so Dye is competing for one of about 180 roster slots. Dye is excited for the chance to follow in the professional footsteps of his father, Ernest Dye, who played eight seasons in the National Football League.

“This is something that I wanted to do my entire life, and just having the opportunity to play pro football at any type of level is a blessing for me,” Dye said. “Obviously, my dad was a first round draft pick in the NFL, and I look up to him a lot, and he's just glad that I got an opportunity because a lot of kids don't get this opportunity.”

Dye is one of three Saluki alums who will begin the 2026 season on CFL rosters. He joins Toronto Argonauts cornerback James Ceasar (2016-21), a third-year pro in the league, and Ottawa Redblacks safety Iverson Brown (2023-24), who enters his first season after signing a futures contract last October.