The BC Lions announced on Tuesday the signing of 3 American players including 2 running backs and 1 offensive lineman. The signings included BJ Baylor RB out of Oregon State, Vance McShane RB out of Northern Iowa, and Jacky Chen OT out of Pace University.
BJ Baylor played 41 games over 4 seasons with Oregon State. Over his career, he rushed 308 times for 1,718 yards (5.58 yards per carry) and had 18 touchdowns.
Baylor’s best season in college was his last in which he was a redshirt junior. He started in 13 games in his final season in 2021 rushing 227 times for 1,337 yards (5.89 average) and scoring 13 touchdowns. Baylor led the Pac-12 in rushing yards in 2021 and was All-Pac-12 First Team.
He was with the Green Bay Packers through training camp in 2022 after being signed as an undrafted free agent before being waived. He spent 2022 on the Atlanta Falcons practice roster.
Vance McShane – RB – Northern Iowa
(Photo courtesy of University of Northern Iowa Athletics)
Vance McShane was with the BC Lions this past training camp prior to the regular season.
McShane played his final 2 seasons of collegiate football for Northern Iowa. Over 20 games he rushed 189 times for 1,041 yards (5.5 average) and 8 touchdowns. In his final season, he rushed for 711 yards on 128 carries (5.6 average) and 3 touchdowns in 11 games. He was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll in 2022.
Prior to Northern Iowa, he played for Saint Xavier where he played from 2018 through 2020 (the 2020 season played in the spring of 2021). At Saint Xavier, McShane rushed 480 times for 2,516 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also had 70 receptions for 468 yards and 4 touchdowns during his time at Saint Xavier.
Jacky Chen – OT – Pace University
(Photo courtesy of Pace University Athletics)
Jacky Chen was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings this past offseason. He was waived on August 14 and claimed the following day by the Houston Texans. Chen was waived by the Texans on August 25.
Chen played 30 games over 4 seasons. In 2022 Chen was on the All-Academic Honor Roll. He was named to the NE10 First-Team All-Conference as well as an honorable mention of the Don Hansen Football Gazette Division II All-America Team in 2022.
Jonathan Clink joined CFL News Hub in early April of 2023. His primary responsibilities are covering the BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes.
He self awarded himself the CFL Rookie Journalist of the Year in 2023 following the 2023 CFL season. He also proclaims himself to be a "really cool guy". He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and lived a large portion of his childhood in Northwest Ontario. He currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan and misses being being able to have 4 months of skating every winter.
Clink has written over 240 articles for CFL News Hub. He was the publication's boots on the ground at the 2023 Grey Cup in Hamilton.
Clink has always had an obsession for sport and has a background in other sports as well having played hockey all his life and soccer, basketball, and lacrosse in high school. As a young child he used to log his hockey statistics after every game which is either an indication that he was destined for the role or perhaps and indication that he is rather strange.