Lions’ camp wraps: Meikle to dress, Taylor talks gambling suspension, Leos likely to keep camp in Kamloops

COLTON MEIKLE

A 19-year-old receiver from Kamloops, Meikle’s intention over the past few weeks was to make an impression and glean information he can put to use this year with the Kamloops Broncos in the junior B.C. Football Conference ranks.

“I’ve definitely stepped up my game,” said Meikle, who proved he belonged at rookie camp earlier this month and got the nod to make the jump to main camp.

“It’s been crazy taking in all the information I possibly can. They’ve been pushing me. I haven’t been getting many reps, but have definitely been taking advantage as much as I can.”

The Westyde Secondary graduate’s motor has been evident.

“He’s a hard worker,” Lions’ starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. said of Meikle. “He didn’t get too many team reps, but in individuals, he was locked in. He stays after with the older guys for walkthrough and he doesn’ t have to do things like that, so I appreciate his work ethic and learning from the pros is just going to make him better in the long run.”

Meikle said his best moments came early in camp during one-on-one drills. Route-running mistakes and the occasional drop were learning moments, he said.

Campbell plans to dress every healthy member of the roster for the game on Friday, including Meikle.

“It will be awesome to be standing on the sideline at BC Place in a BC Lions’ uniform,” Campbell said. “We have high hopes for him and look forward to seeing what he does in the future.”

Meikle is not expecting to see action in the pre-season contest.

“It will still be a great experience being on the sidelines with all the guys, learning what a day in the life is with the pros, seeing what they do before games and just learning.”

DEMETRIUS TAYLOR

Demetrius Taylor of Miami, Florida, joined Lions’ camp last Thursday (May 23), a late arrival whose signing was announced on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-1, 295-pound defensive lineman was suspended by the NFL in June of 2023 for violating its gambling policy during his rookie season with the Detroit Lions.

“I should have been more attentive to what that policy entailed,” said Taylor, who was released by the NFL Lions in May of 2023. “It was a big mistake on my part. It cost me a season in the league.

“I’m just learning from it. Go back and read every policy. I’m learning the rules here, so I won’t be messing up anywhere, just trying to keep a clean career.”

Taylor would like that career to include a successful CFL campaign with the Lions, but knows he must impress on Friday in his first game action with the club.

“God puts you where you need to be at all times,” Taylor said. “Me being here, it’s not by mistake. I’ve been in contact with these guys [the Lions] for about two years or so.”

Teammates were seen offering advice to Taylor on the Canadian game during a break from camp on Wednesday.

“It’s definitely challenging, given it’s different rules up here for me,” Taylor said. “You’ve just got to adjust on the fly. I wish I would have come earlier, just so I can really show what I can do.

“The field, in general, is my sanctuary. It’s been tough sitting out a season and not being able to play football and do what I love. I’m pumped. I’m ready to go out there and play.”

Campbell said his scouting staff was pleased to learn Taylor was available.

“He came in late, but he’s done a great job and he’ll be an interesting guy to watch on Friday,” Campbell said.

“We have to have our roster trimmed down by Saturday night, so we want to see everybody play and make sure we make good decisions on who to keep.”

The Lions will open the regular season on June 9, when they square off against the Argonauts in Toronto.

EXTENSION INCOMING?

CFJC Today learned on Wednesday that an announcement is likely to materialize soon on the Lions and the City of Kamloops coming to terms on a deal that will keep training camp in the Tournament Capital beyond 2024.

The Lions — who often rave about the one-stop shop offered at the Tournament Capital Centre, Hillside Stadium and Thompson Rivers University dorms — brought training camp to Kamloops in 2010 and never left, despite interest from other cities across the province.

There is an estimated economic spinoff of $300,000 per year into the community, according to the city, and the deal includes extensive marketing of Kamloops and the Tournament Capital brand on the coast.

FanFest is held each year during training camp, attracting tourists to the city and its hotels and restaurants.

In July of 2017, the Lions signed a three-year contract extension with the city to continue holding camp at Hillside Stadium through 2020.

That deal — the city to pay the Leos $45,000 in 2018, $50,000 in 2019 and $55,000 in 2020 — did not account for COVID-19, which forced the cancellation of the entire CFL schedule in 2020.

The city and the Lions agreed to roll over the final year of the contract to 2021, when camp was pushed back to July from its usual May start due to the pandemic.

Wildfires burning across the province that summer smoked out the Lions, who cut camp short and headed for the coast.

A labour dispute threatened camp in 2022 and had an impact on FanFest.

In 2022, the Lions and the city inked a two-year deal, for 2022 and 2023 (the city to pay the Lions $55,000 each year), with an option for 2024 upon mutual agreement.

Smoke from wildfires raging in Northern B.C. and Alberta rolled into Kamloops in time to force the Lions inside last year, moving training camp operations into the Tournament Capital Centre from adjacent Hillside Stadium.

Kamloops was not alone in 2023. CFL camps in Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon also moved inside.

by Marty Hastings

Lions’ camp wraps: Meikle to dress, Taylor talks gambling suspension, Leos likely to keep camp in Kamloops

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