Latest news with #Rhymes
Calgary Herald
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Players to watch as Calgary Stampeders kick off season and new era after roster overhaul
And so it begins. Article content The hopeful turnaround of the Calgary Stampeders following a few futile seasons kicks off Saturday against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats at McMahon Stadium (5 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge, TSN). Article content Article content It's not like the Dave Dickenson & Co. sat on their hands and did nothing in the face of criticism offered over the last two campaigns. Article content They went out and made some noise, just as they promised they would in trying to U-turn their fortunes. Article content While the mission was to improve in all areas of the franchise — both on and off the field — it's the pigskin personnel that matters most to fans. Article content But the Stampeders didn't fall short on that, living up to their promise to be aggressive in the off-season. Article content The Red and White sent underachievers packing, made a monster trade and signed many sought-after free agents. Article content Good on them. Article content Article content And with that, here are five-plus talents to watch as the Stamps enter a new era … Article content QB Vernon Adams Jr. Article content It's arguably the biggest signing by the Stamps in decades. The veteran CFL pivot is a top-three QB in the league and comes armed with a desire to win a Grey Cup. A championship has eluded him until this point. He's charismatic and talented and should bring excitement to the field as both a passer and runner. After all, they don't call him 'Big-Play V.A.' for nothing. So if nothing else, the offence should be fun once again, with no apologies for the vanilla flavour we've seen from QBs in recent years. Article content Article content WRs Dominique Rhymes and Tevin Jones Article content 'The Twins', as they bill themselves, are tall, rangy, talented pass-catchers, giving Adams two more dynamic targets to go with veterans Reggie Begelton, Jalen Philpot and Clark Barnes. It's quite the receiving corps actually, with Rhymes and Jones bringing as much bravado as three-time 1,000-yard-man Begelton. Rhymes is quite familiar with Adams, so that connection is strong — they hooked up for big passing gains with the BC Lions. And Jones, who has similar traits to Rhymes, should be familiar to Stamps fans, having run amok for 200-plus receiving yards on the Red and White last Labour Day.
National Post
15-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Receivers in Calgary Stampeders camp: 'Twins' Tevin Jones and Dominique Rhymes join pass-catching corps
Article content 'That's part of football — it's the ultimate team sport. And when you've got two guys that care about executing, it can be magic.' Article content Plus Begelton — now without unsigned Marken Michel on his flank — is feeling 'good energy' from the new recruits, Jones and Rhymes, making for positive connections across the field. Article content Or so they hope. Article content Article content With Adams in town, that brought both Jones and Rhymes into the Stamps' stable of receivers. Article content 'I played with him previously, so I know the competitor and type of player he is,' said eighth-year CFLer Rhymes, who caught many a pass from Adams during his 1,401-yard career-best receiving season with the 2022 BC Lions. 'He's been like my brother ever since he came over to BC. I've always been cool with him and close with him even I was last year playing in Ottawa. I was always watching him, saying how proud I was, how good he was playing … Article content 'So once he came to Calgary and I was available to come to Calgary, I think it was a no-brainer.' Article content Jones feels the same way. Article content 'I don't know V.A. like Dom does, but as soon as Calgary popped up on my list, I was like, 'Oh, V.A.'s over there — that could be a place I can go,'' said Jones, heading into his fourth CFL season. 'So I was looking further into it and seeing Coach Dickinson here for a long time. And Craig Dickenson, the special teams coach here — he was my head coach over there in Regina with Sask. Article content Article content It doesn't hurt that both Jones and Rhymes have enjoyed big games at McMahon, either. Article content 'I just feel like it was a sign from God that this might be where I need to be,' said Jones, recalling his monster day at McMahon last September. 'If it's not with Edmonton, then at least I could play against them … you know … a robbery thing there. So just can't wait to play those guys.' Article content In three of his last four visits to McMahon, Rhymes has racked up yardage totalling 109 — plus two TDs — 101 and 91. Article content 'We've both had big games in this stadium,' Rhymes said. 'So I think that was a no-brainer to sign here, too.' Article content 'Now, this is our team …' declared Jones. 'So now, when we play here, every game will be a big game. Article content 'Every game.' Article content Keep your eyes on Canadians and fellow starters Jalen Philpot, from whom we're predicting a massive year, and Clark Barnes, who was as clutch as they came last year among Stamps receivers. Philpot grabbed 66 balls for 659 yards, and Barnes had 44 catches for 590 yards. Article content Article content Given their citizenship, they will see a ton of snaps, while 2025 draft picks Damien Alford — who was plucked first overall by the Stamps — and Vyshonne Janusas — a fifth-rounder by the Red and White — develop in their shadows. Article content Alford, in particular, has the height and size — at 6-foot-6, 224 lb. — to stand out and become an all-timer. Article content 'You already had people making plays here,' Rhymes said. 'Now they just bringing in 'Big-Play V.A.', so we're going to get a lot of big plays in this stadium. Article content 'It's going to be fun, man. I can definitely tell you it's going to be a lot of fun this year.' Article content Of the other American pass-catchers in camp, dynamic Cam Echols and speedy Ishmael Hyman are likely to retain their jobs of drawing in to help the ride. Echols joins explosive Erik Brooks as receivers with key roles in the team's return game to further their importance to the team. Article content
Calgary Herald
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Receivers in Calgary Stampeders camp: 'Twins' Tevin Jones and Dominique Rhymes join pass-catching corps
Article content The 31-year-old is coming off his third 1,000-yard receiving season and is a compelling voice of the offence. Article content And now the eighth-year CFL veteran has a bona fide quarterback with whom to play pitch-and-catch in Vernon Adams Jr. Article content 'I've always prided myself on doing the job,' said Begelton, who grabbed 1,150 yards last year for his second-straight 1,000-yard campaign. 'My job is to get open, and if the ball is there for me, then I can salute him because he's able to do his job. Article content 'That's part of football — it's the ultimate team sport. And when you've got two guys that care about executing, it can be magic.' Article content Plus Begelton — now without unsigned Marken Michel on his flank — is feeling 'good energy' from the new recruits, Jones and Rhymes, making for positive connections across the field. Article content Article content With Adams in town, that brought both Jones and Rhymes into the Stamps' stable of receivers. Article content 'I played with him previously, so I know the competitor and type of player he is,' said eighth-year CFLer Rhymes, who caught many a pass from Adams during his 1,401-yard career-best receiving season with the 2022 BC Lions. 'He's been like my brother ever since he came over to BC. I've always been cool with him and close with him even I was last year playing in Ottawa. I was always watching him, saying how proud I was, how good he was playing … Article content Article content 'So once he came to Calgary and I was available to come to Calgary, I think it was a no-brainer.' Article content Jones feels the same way. Article content 'I don't know V.A. like Dom does, but as soon as Calgary popped up on my list, I was like, 'Oh, V.A.'s over there — that could be a place I can go,'' said Jones, heading into his fourth CFL season. 'So I was looking further into it and seeing Coach Dickinson here for a long time. And Craig Dickenson, the special teams coach here — he was my head coach over there in Regina with Sask. Article content Article content It doesn't hurt that both Jones and Rhymes have enjoyed big games at McMahon, either. Article content 'I just feel like it was a sign from God that this might be where I need to be,' said Jones, recalling his monster day at McMahon last September. 'If it's not with Edmonton, then at least I could play against them … you know … a robbery thing there. So just can't wait to play those guys.' Article content In three of his last four visits to McMahon, Rhymes has racked up yardage totalling 109 — plus two TDs — 101 and 91. Article content Article content 'We've both had big games in this stadium,' Rhymes said. 'So I think that was a no-brainer to sign here, too.' Article content 'Now, this is our team …' declared Jones. 'So now, when we play here, every game will be a big game. Article content 'Every game.' Article content Keep your eyes on Canadians and fellow starters Jalen Philpot, from whom we're predicting a massive year, and Clark Barnes, who was as clutch as they came last year among Stamps receivers. Philpot grabbed 66 balls for 659 yards, and Barnes had 44 catches for 590 yards. Article content Article content Given their citizenship, they will see a ton of snaps, while 2025 draft picks Damien Alford — who was plucked first overall by the Stamps — and Vyshonne Janusas — a fifth-rounder by the Red and White — develop in their shadows. Article content Alford, in particular, has the height and size — at 6-foot-6, 224 lb. — to stand out and become an all-timer. Article content 'You already had people making plays here,' Rhymes said. 'Now they just bringing in 'Big-Play V.A.', so we're going to get a lot of big plays in this stadium.
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Productive SWAC RB headed to Big South-OVC champs
Former Southern University running back Kendric Rhymes announced recently on social media that he will start the next chapter of his HBCU football career at Tennessee State. "LAST RIDE ?," Rhymes tweeted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Rhymes decided to commit to Tennessee State after he entered the transfer portal on March 19. He shared a heartfelt note to Jaguar Nation about his plans to spend his additional year of HBCU football eligibility with the Tigers. "Thank you Jag nation for your unwavering support. To my coaches, teammates and fans-Southern will always have a special place in my heart," Rhymes wrote in the letter. Rhymes chose Tennessee State over offers from Texas Southern, University of Texas El Paso, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and Towson. The Houston native joins a Tigers' program under first-year head coach Reggie Barlow, who replaced former head coach Eddie George. In 2024, TSU won the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference co-championship, marking the Tigers' first conference title since 1999. "Unbelievable! The chance to be at Tennessee State University, with its rich history, tradition, and legacy of amazing players and coaches – it's truly an honor to follow in their footsteps," said Barlow when hired in March. In three seasons at SU, Rhymes rushed for 1,625 yards on 331 carries, registered 21 touchdowns, and averaged 4.9 yards per carry. In that span, he also caught 57 passes for 468 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 8.2 yards per catch. Statistically, the 2024 campaign marked Rhymes's best outing. In that season, he rushed for career highs in yards (702), rushing attempts (158), rushing touchdowns (8), receiving yards (212), and average yards per catch (11.2). Southern used Kendric Rhymes in the backfield as part of a tandem with running back Kobe Dillon, who led the Jaguars in rushing yards (801) last season. Rhymes and Dillon played an integral part in helping the Jaguars win the SWAC West and appear in the 2025 SWAC championship game against Jackson State. The post Productive SWAC RB headed to Big South-OVC champs appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
