Casey Sayles

Casey Sayles
No. 44     Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Sayles with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023
Born: (1995-09-04) September 4, 1995 (age 29)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Career information
StatusActive
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)Defensive tackle
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight289 lb (131 kg)
CollegeOhio Bobcats
High schoolOmaha North
NFL draft2017, undrafted
Career history
As player
2017*Los Angeles Rams
2018*Pittsburgh Steelers
2019Birmingham Iron
2019*Pittsburgh Steelers
2020St. Louis BattleHawks
2021–2022Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2023–presentHamilton Tiger-Cats
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star2023
CFL East All-Star2023
Career stats

Casey Sayles (born September 4, 1995) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football with the Ohio Bobcats.

Early life

Sayles attended Omaha North High School in Omaha, Nebraska.[1] As a senior, Sayles compiled 36 solo tackles and 40 assists, with 19 tackles for loss for 71 yards, including 4 1/2 sacks. He also registered four pass breakups, and while playing tight end, he caught nine passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns.[2] He helped Omaha North reach the Class A championship game and was named to the All-Nebraska team. Sayles signed with the Ohio Bobcats out of high school.[3]

College career

Sayles played defensive line for the Ohio Bobcats from 2013 to 2016. In 2013, he also played special teams and returned 4 kicks for a total of 30 yards.[4] In 2014, he played in only seven games. In his senior season in 2016, Sayles has 33 tackles and six sacks, earning Second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors.[5] He finished his four year college career with 111 total tackles and 12.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries in 50 games.

Statistics

Tackles Def Int Fumbles
Year School Conf Class Pos G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD PD FR Yds TD FF
*2013 Ohio MAC FR DL 11 14 18 32 5.0 3.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014 Ohio MAC SO DL 7 7 12 19 2.0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
*2015 Ohio MAC JR DL 13 9 18 27 6.0 2.5 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0
*2016 Ohio MAC SR DL 14 17 15 32 6.5 5.0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0
Career Ohio 45 47 63 110 19.5 11.5 0 0 0 0 6 3 0 0 0
*indicates bowl stats included. Reference[4]

Professional career

Los Angeles Rams

On May 3, 2017, Sayles was signed by the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent.[6] He was released by the team on September 3, 2017.[7]

Pittsburgh Steelers (first stint)

On January 18, 2018, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Sayles to a Reserve/Future contract.[7] He had four tackles in four preseason games.[8] On September 1, 2018, he was waived.[7]

Birmingham Iron

In 2019, Sayles played for the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football (AAF).[8] According to Pro Football Focus, he was one of the best defensive lineman in the league on a per-snap basis.[9] The league ceased operations in April 2019.[10]

Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)

On April 9, 2019, the Steelers signed Sayles to a one-year contract.[7] On August 30, 2019, he was released.[11]

St. Louis BattleHawks

Sayles with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2022

In October 2019, Sayles was drafted by the St. Louis BattleHawks via the 2020 XFL Draft. He was picked up in the first round of Phase 3: Defensive Front Seven.[12] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[13]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Sayles signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL on April 5, 2021.[14] He played for two seasons with the Blue Bombers where he won a Grey Cup in 2021 and became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 14, 2023.[15]

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

On February 15, 2023, it was announced that Sayles had signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.[15] On November 8, 2023, Sayles was named a CFL All-Star, after leading the team in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Profile: Casey Sayles". 247sports.com. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  2. ^ Hambleton, Ryan (December 8, 2012). "Casey Sayles, DL". Lincoln Journal-Star. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  3. ^ Pospisil, Stu (February 6, 2013). "Metro's Sayles, Keely twins sign letters". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Profile: Casey Sayles". sports-reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "Former Ohio Football Standout Sayles Set To Open Inaugural AAF Season With Birmingham Iron". Ohio Bobcats. February 9, 2019. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "Profile: Casey Sayles". rotoworld.com. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d "Profile: Casey Sayles". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Klinger, Jacob (April 9, 2019). "Steelers bring back former AAF DL Casey Sayles". PennLive. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  9. ^ Marczi, Matthew (March 7, 2019). "Casey Sayles Another Former Steeler Making Mark In Alliance With The Iron". Steelers Depot. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  10. ^ Rothstein, Michael; Wickersham, Seth (June 13, 2019). "Inside the short, unhappy life of the Alliance of American Football". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  11. ^ Asti, Mike (August 30, 2019). "Report: Steelers Release DL Casey Sayles". steelersnow.com. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  12. ^ Bender, Bill (October 21, 2019). "XFL Draft picks 2019: Complete results, rosters, players for new football league". Sporting News. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  13. ^ Condotta, Bob (April 10, 2020). "XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue". SeattleTimes.com. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  14. ^ Marra, Riley (April 5, 2021). "Bombers add Casey Sayles to roster". BlueBombers.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "TIGER-CATS WHITE AND SAYLES NAMED CFL ALL-STARS".